Folk singer/songwriter Chris Ayer grew up in McLean, VA, and began playing guitar and writing songs in his teens. While attending Stanford University, where he studied philosophy and music starting in 2000, he launched his performing career and self-released his debut EP, Static, in June 2003. After a year of playing around the Bay Area following college, Ayer decided to move to New York, where he settled in Brooklyn in June 2005. He booked himself into shows around the country and released a second EP, New Songs, in August 2005. The full-length album This Is the Place (November 7, 2006) included the song "Evaporate," which won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the folk category. Ayer next released Live Sessions (September 2007) and the Center Ring EP (November 2007). His second full-length studio album, Don't Go Back to Sleep, came out on August 18, 2009.