Early Life, Education
Amy Loftus was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Loftus sang in private throughout her youth, and began writing poetry around the age of six. As a child she avidly listened to musicians such as Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin, and Joni Mitchell, and also loved Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. Other early influences included Annie Lenox, Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush, and Peter Gabriel.
While in Chicago she was an alumnus of the improv acting group The Second City. She also was a member of a professional dance company. She began to focus as well on singing at age 21, after an experience where she was invited on stage to sing "Revolution" by Tracey Chapman, after the male singer of the band the Cartoon Gypsies couldn't reach the notes. She later showed the band samples of her journals and poetry, and became their lead singer from 1994 to 1997, cutting one album.
In 1996 Loftus earned a degree in painting and art history from the University of Kansas, and then went on to study acting, all while writing songs.
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