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The members of EXIT embarked on their musical journey in the fall of 1996 while attending the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Beginning as an acoustic act, the band swiftly learned that their lively cover sets led to booking requests by club owners and private parties all over the state. Inspired by the encouragement of their growing fan base, the band began working their original music into sets. Continued positive response to their original music prompted EXIT to begin work on their first studio album. "Two Words" was released in July 1999 and sold more than 1,000 copies during its first week of distribution. In support of the new album, EXIT performed more than 70 shows to polish their live act; received local radio airplay on mainstream stations in their market and found themselves playing alongside regional and national acts throughout the state. In May of 2000, EXIT received their first Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) award as Best New Group. Shortly after, the buzz surrounding EXIT and "Two Words" caught the attention of Hemisphere Entertainment producer Ralph Portillo. Portillo used "You Drive Me Wild" and "The Sidewalk" in his 2000 release, "Big Brother Trouble," starring Dick Van Patten and Mario Lopez (Slater, Saved by the Bell). "Big Brother Trouble" is still in regular rotation on the Showtime network of stations. EXIT received their second WAMI award in April 2002. This time, music lovers and industry critics voted them People's Choice as favorite band. National acts Garbage and Eric Benet also took home awards that evening. In December 2002, the action-adventure show "Outward Bound," featuring the band's hard charging song "Sixty Miles," debuted on Discovery Channel (KIDS). "Sixty Miles" was played in its entirety during the show. In April 2003, EXIT received five WAMI award nominations; they included, Song of the Year (Sixty Miles), Website of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year (Ryan McIntyre), Pop/Adult Contemporary Group of the Year, and the highly coveted Artist of the Year. On April 28 they took home the award for Pop/Adult Contemporary Group of the Year and were featured performers at the show. In September of 2003 EXIT spread their wings and performed outside of their home state beginning with an appearance on "The Mitch Albom Show" in Detroit followed by hitting the legendary stage at CBGB's in New York. Seven months after the release of "Scenes From Next Week," the band’s second studio project, which has already sold more than 5,000 copies, the members of WAMI nominated the band for an astonishing five nominations: Group of the Year, CD of the Year, Song of the Year (California in a Bottle), Pop/Adult Contemporary Group of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Producers of independent film “How to Live with a Vegan without Killing Them” selected six EXIT tracks for their film. Further proving the longevity and accessibility of the band’s music, three of the tracks were from 1999s Two Words. The six tracts selected were, from "Scenes": “California In A Bottle,” “Lonely People” and “Mary Go Round.” Selected tracks from "Two Words" were: “Blonde Beauty,” “Sixty Miles” and “Without You.” Milwaukee's Summerfest is one of the festivals EXIT performs at regularly. They have shared the stage with acts like The BoDeans, The Violent Femmes, The Pushtars, The Gufs and, most recently, The Gin Blossoms. In the fall and winter months, you can find the band at any number of Wisconsin's nationally acclaimed music clubs: Shank Hall, The Rave, Luther's Blues and The BBC to name a few.