A classically trained cellist and pianist, Michalitsianos grew up in both Australia and England and first began writing music at the age of just five years old. It was during her time in Australia that she was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to study composition and orchestration. After graduating, her early career saw her working with a number of Australian bands as an improvisational cellist, but it was when she moved to New York at the age of 23 that she was approached by Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous to join the band on tour. In time this led to her contributing to Good Morning Spider and It’s A Wonderful Life, assuming a prominent role in the band, providing vocals as well as playing bass guitar and cello.

After her time with Sparklehorse, Michalitsianos set up her own studio in upstate New York and began recording solo work. However, when a fire destroyed all her equipment and material, she started afresh and began creating what would become her debut solo release, The Bells Of 1 2. Signing to independent label Gronland under the more pronounceable pseudonym of Sol Seppy, her first single ‘Move’ was released in January 2006 and was followed by The Bells Of 1 2 in April of the same year. Taking two years to complete, the entire work was performed, engineered and produced by herself and was met with widespread critical acclaim. This engaging debut combined looping beats, piano and cello accompaniments with accomplished vocal melodies and lyrics. Fusing styles ranging from classical through to alt folk and electro pop, the album drew stylistic elements from acts including Björk and Sigur Rós. The stand-out tracks included ‘Come Running’ and the second single ‘Slo Fuzz’, which was released in May 2006.