All proceeds will be donated to the Doug Meis Gifted Artists of Tomorrow Scholarship Fund - Music Institute of Chicago.

Since their inception in 2000, EXO's goal has been quite clear…to make music by their own standards and no one else's. All original members were heavily involved in the Chicago music scene before being drafted by lead singer/guitarist Scott Tallarida, who had left Chicago's Trailer Hitch (Man's Ruin) earlier that year on a mission to create his ideal music machine. Consequently, there was a local buzz about EXO before the group ever set foot outside of their rehearsal room. After an immediate onslaught of showcase shows, EXO became uncomfortable with the idea of others trying to define and mold the band before the band had defined itself. So they disappeared, locking themselves in Scott's apartment to make a record and figure out who or what EXO really was.

The definition of EXO is simple, as it should be.

EXO is from Chicago

EXO is four men

EXO plays rock music

Nothing more, nothing less.

After spending 2007/2008 touring across the country and playing for thousands of people, Absentstar took a short break to regroup and plot their course. A few songwriting sessions invigorated the band, and at the end of 2008 they entered the studio to lay down the tracks that would become their third album, entitled "Where We Begin". Once again working with Chuch Gladfelter, and with fresh minds and ears, the songs they put together would represent feelings and thoughts from that time on the road.