U.S. singer Ben Moody, who co-founded Evanescence with singer Amy Lee but then left the group more than a year ago, is starting a solo career.

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MTV.com reported Tuesday Moody plans to enter the studio in January to begin work on a still-untitled album, which is slated for release next summer.

Since he left the group, Moody has been writing and trying out songs in Los Angeles. He says he will record all the lead vocals himself, as well as play most of the instruments.

Moody wrote Evanescence's hits "Bring Me to Life" and "Going Under." He co-wrote Avril Lavigne's latest hit single, "Nobody's Home" and collaborated on two songs on the Kelly Clarkson new CD, "Because of You" and "Addicted."

Moody hasn't indicated what direction his first solo album will take, but after leaving Evanescence, the guitarist suggested he wanted to go in a more eclectic direction than the emotional goth-rock sound of his former band.