After retiring his previous band, Vampires Everywhere!, in 2016, frontman Michael "Vampire" Orlando formed the post-hardcore/alternative metal outfit Dead Girls Academy. Less spooky occult shock-rock than Vampires Everywhere!, Dead Girls Academy leaned closer to the post-hardcore, punk side of the spectrum, while retaining Orlando's dark and dramatic aesthetic. Once Vampires Everywhere! ended, Orlando entered the studio with Ronnie Radke (Falling in Reverse) and producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette (Falling in Reverse, the Amity Affliction, blessthefall) to start songwriting for the project. DGA's first single, "I'll Find a Way," arrived in 2017, quickly followed by tours with Motionless in White, Issues, and Falling in Reverse. Orlando signed the band to Victory Records and began writing a full album. Before the 2018 Warped Tour kicked off, DGA released the singles "No Way Out" and "Everything" from their debut, Alchemy.