2002
(Harp / Engineering - album:
Mystic )
The award-winning, progressive new age band 2002 has placed 11 albums on the Billboard Charts and made the list of top new age artists in a Billboard Magazine “Year in Review” issue alongside Yanni, Mannheim Steamroller, Jim Brickman, George Winston and Enya. Over their 22 year career, their ever-evolving sound has encompassed a wide range of genres – from wistful ambient soundscapes all the way to light progressive rock. This daring blend of musical styles has given them an undeniable “signature sound” that sets them apart from other recording artists.
Entering the music scene in 1992, their first album Wings was a lush, ambient tapestry garnering massive sales and critical acclaim. Sound Mind Magazine lamented that the “only regret is that our grading system goes no higher than 5.” 2002’s album, Land of Forever (1998) spent 54 weeks on the Billboard new age chart and an additional 39 weeks on the Billboard catalog chart. It was also nominated for an INDIE award by the AFIM. River of Stars (2000) spent 74 weeks on the Billboard new age chart. Billboard Magazine compared it favorably to Vangelis, James Horner and Enya, remarking, “What a way to begin the new millennium!” This Moment Now (2003) won the COVR Award for Best New Age Album of the Year. Trail of Dreams (2014) won “Best Vocal Album” from Zone Music Reporter. 2002 won “Best New Age Music Artist 2014” from BT Fasmer’s The New Age Music Guide.
Founding members, multi-instrumentalists Pamela and Randy Copus met in high school in the theater department. Their musical paths diverged throughout college as both explored a wide variety of musical styles, instruments, and bands – everything from jazz to industrial rock. Coming back together after college, they ultimately left their respective bands to form the progressive new age band they dubbed “2002”. The zeros in the middle were originally an infinity sign and the “twos” on either side represented them on either side of infinity. However, since it was not the easiest name to type on a computer keyboard, or to pronounce, they became known as “Two Thousand Two.”