Lydia (band)

Leighton Antelman, William Bradford, Evan Arambul, and Steve McGraw started writing music and booking shows when they were in seventh grade.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecultureshock.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=876&Itemid=44|title=TheCultureShock.com|author=|date=|website=www.thecultureshock.com|accessdate=2 August 2018}} The band really got their start as Rolo 15 while attending Greenfield Jr. High.{{cite web|url=http://www.bombshellzine.com/hotseat/2010/lydia.htm|title=BombShellZine – Leighton Interview|author=|date=|publisher=|accessdate=2 August 2018}} They then went on to change the name to Nextabest.{{cite web|url=http://mindymaygan.tumblr.com/post/165958098/q-a-answered|title=Mindy White|work=tumblr.com|accessdate=8 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817080212/http://mindymaygan.tumblr.com/post/165958098/q-a-answered|archive-date=17 August 2014|url-status=dead}} After that the band broke up, Antelman and McGraw continued to write and play music. They then soon added drummer Loren Briton and bassist Dustin Forsgren.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrcIKSqMM-w|title=Lydia Interview|date=2 October 2007|work=YouTube|accessdate=8 August 2015}} They won a contest and were able to get a song on the Atticus: ...Dragging the Lake, Vol. 3 compilation CD.

Lydia was signed to the Arizona-based record label HourZero, through which they released their debut album This December; It's One More and I'm Free.{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/lydia%7caccessdate|title=Featured Content on Myspace|work=Myspace|accessdate=8 August 2015}} Since then, they have toured extensively throughout the country and participated in the Zumiez Couch Tour, Vans Warped Tour, and The Bamboozle festival. They also played on the first annual Bamboozle Roadshow with Saves The Day, Armor For Sleep, Set Your Goals and Metro Station in 2008.

In 2007, Lydia won the award for Best Emo Band at the 2007 Arizona Ska Punk Awards Ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona. The band won the award again the following year, as well as the award for Best Indie Band, at the 2008 Awards Ceremony. In 2010, the band took home the Best Indie Band Award once again at the 2010 Arizona Ska Punk Awards.{{Cite web|url=http://www.badstainrecords.com/skapunkawards|title = Skapunkawards}}

They released their second album, Illuminate on March 18, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=500811|title=Lydia Goes Major Label|work=AbsolutePunk|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

They went on a late summer tour with The Dear Hunter, Eye Alaska and You, Me, and Everyone We Know.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=349561|title=The Dear Hunter Headlining Tour|work=AbsolutePunk|accessdate=8 August 2015}} It was announced on August 25, 2008, that the band had signed to Low Altitude Records and re-released Illuminate on October 21, 2008. They went on tour with Copeland, Lovedrug, and Lights in November.

They shot a video for the song "I Woke Up Near The Sea" in December and released it online on February 24. The video was a success among fans, and won the Video of the Year Award at the 2009 Arizona Ska Punk Awards Ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona.

The band went on their first headlining tour, called the "Illuminate Yourself Tour" in February with Black Gold and also did a West Coast headlining tour with PlayRadioPlay!, Eye Alaska and Brave Citizens.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=741222|title=Message – AbsolutePunk.net|work=AbsolutePunk|accessdate=8 August 2015}} On October 12, 2009, they released a tour only EP titled Hotel Sessions which features 4 acoustically re-recorded songs off their first album.

It was announced on March 10, 2010, that Mindy White had decided to leave the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1590272|title=Mindy Leaves Lydia|work=AbsolutePunk|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

The band finished recording in the studio with producer Matt Malpass for their next release which was given a tentative release date of July 2010{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1591732|title=New Lydia in June?|work=AbsolutePunk|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

On May 11, 2010, a version of "We Clean Up So Well" was posted on their Myspace page with a note announcing that the band will break up after a nationwide tour in July. The tour was titled "The Lydia Finale: A Goodbye & Farewell Tour".{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1690262|title=The Last Of Lydia|work=AbsolutePunk|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

In a later interview, Leighton explained the breakup, stating, "It's quite simple, the two original band members don't want to put out music together anymore. Simple as that."{{cite web|title=Substream Magazine|url=http://www.substreammusicpress.com/Interviews/lydia.html|work=substreammusicpress.com|accessdate=8 August 2015}}[http://www.friendsorenemies.com/profiles/blogs/3184036:BlogPost:699406 PropertyOfZach Interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003043308/http://www.friendsorenemies.com/profiles/blogs/3184036%3ABlogPost%3A699406|date=2011-10-03}}

Their third album, Assailants was released to online retailers on July 20, 2010. The album stayed in the Top 15 albums sold spot for over two days.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LYDIAmusic/status/19226169164|title=Lydia|work=Twitter|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

It was announced on July 12, 2010, that guitarist Steve McGraw had decided to leave the band and would not be playing on their final tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1795972|title=Steven Leaves Lydia Early|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} On September 15, 2010, a trailer was released for their first ever DVD, Lydia: A Goodbye and Farewell.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1911932|title=Say Goodbye To Lydia On DVD|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} It was announced on December 22 that all of the footage for the DVD was lost in a hard drive crash.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/lydiamusic1/posts/170902926281549 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/22229530872/170902926281549 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Lydia – It truly sucks to share this. After a few month's... – Facebook|work=facebook.com|accessdate=8 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}[http://www.friendsorenemies.com/profiles/blogs/3184036:BlogPost:699406 Interview: Leighton Antelman/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003043308/http://www.friendsorenemies.com/profiles/blogs/3184036%3ABlogPost%3A699406 |date=2011-10-03 }}

On September 30, they made announced plans to take their farewell tour to Australia in late November.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1939562|title=Lydia Lydia Lydia, Oi Oi Oi|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} The band also released a music video for their song, "I've Never Seen A Witch".{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1944332|title=Lydia Have Never Seen A Witch|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

The band returned in September 2011 with a new song, "Dragging Your Feet in the Mud".{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/aptv/video/premiere_lydia_dragging_your_feet_in_the_mud|title=Premiere: Lydia's "Dragging Your Feet In The Mud" – Alternative Press|work=Alternative Press|date=26 September 2011|accessdate=8 August 2015}} An album, Paint it Golden, was released in October, 2011. The band released a cover of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" on December 20, 2011.

The band supported The Maine on their 2012 Spring/Summer tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/artists/1948387-lydia/calendar|title=Lydia|work=songkick.com|accessdate=8 August 2015}} They were featured with Arkells and The Maine on a cover of The Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends" that was released on May 1, 2012, on Spotify{{cite web|url=http://propertyofzack.com/post/22212919077/the-maine-release-beatles-cover-ft-lydia-arkells|title=The Maine Release Beatles Cover Ft. Lydia, Arkells|work=propertyofzack.com|accessdate=8 August 2015}} and featured two live tracks on The Maine's The Pioneer North American Tour Live EP.

They spent the end of 2012 recording their new album and going to a west coast winter tour. To accompany the tour, they released the Acoustics EP.{{cite web|url=http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2949982|title=Lydia "Acoustics 2012" Coming Soon|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

On January 28, 2013, they announced new tour dates and a March 19, 2013, release date for their new album Devil.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3028212|title=Lydia To Release New Album "Devil" + Tour|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} They released their first single from the album, "Knee Deep" the next day.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3029291|title=Lydia's New Single "Knee Deep" Now Available|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} Following this, the band re-released Devil as a deluxe edition with a bonus disc of b-sides on October 15, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3417701|title=Lydia Releasing Deluxe Version of Devil|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

On December 17, 2013, the band announced plans to play Illuminate from start to finish across North America in the spring of 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152075892235873&set=a.394292875872.202910.22229530872&type=1&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/22229530872/10152075892235873 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Lydia – Timeline Photos – Facebook|work=facebook.com|accessdate=8 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}

On August 7, 2015, Lydia announced the release date, cover art, and first single from their upcoming fifth LP, which was released on September 18, 2015. The first single is titled "Past Life", and is available for streaming through the band's SoundCloud account. Pre-orders for the new album were made available in various formats including vinyl and CD. Leighton Antelman stated in an article featured on Alternative Press that the new album would be "a little darker" than their last release, 2013's Devil. The forthcoming album, titled Run Wild, will coincide with a 30-date tour alongside Turnover and Seahaven. For Run Wild, the band worked with two producers—Colby Wedgeworth and Copeland's Aaron Marsh—and vocalist Leighton Antelman explained via press release, "This was the first time for us using two producers. We simply felt like the more the merrier. When ideas start pouring out and bouncing around the room something special happens there."{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/lydia_announce_new_album_stream_past_life|title=Lydia announce new album, stream "Past Life" – Alternative Press|work=Alternative Press|date=7 August 2015|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

On August 21, 2015, the band released their second single from Run Wild, titled "Late Nights" through their website. The track was made available for streaming and free download.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3731433|title=chorus.fm|author=|date=|website=chorus.fm|accessdate=2 August 2018}}

On March 8, 2018, Lydia announced the release date, track listing, cover art, and first single from Liquor, their sixth LP. The first single is titled "Goodside". Pre-orders for the album were made available in various formats including vinyl and CD. "Goodside" was made available for purchase on March 9, 2018.

On October 30, 2020, Lydia announced their new album I Was Someone Else would be released on November 20, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CG-ufB-HeZF/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CG-ufB-HeZF |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=registration|title=The Making of a Record|author=|date=|website=Instagram|accessdate=2 November 2020}}{{cbignore}}

On December 18, 2020, Lydia released their new album, 'This December (A Favorite of my Dreams). This album is a complete re-imagining of their 2005 debut album. Maria Sais De Sicilia reappears on this album.

• Ethan Koozer is currently playing guitar for the New Jersey–based band gates which contains former members of Bears & Bright Lights.{{cite web|url=http://www.gatesnj.com|title=gates|accessdate=8 August 2015}} Their debut EP, The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home was released on January 25, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2142541|title=Gates Releases Album|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} They released their second EP, You Are All You Have Left to Fear on May 29, 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2671232|title=Gates Teaser Video|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} and released their first full-length, Bloom & Breathe in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://purenoise.bandcamp.com/album/bloom-breathe|title=Bloom & Breathe – Pure Noise Records|date=21 October 2014|work=Pure Noise Records|accessdate=8 August 2015}}
• Mindy White formed a band with Bryan and Stephen Laurenson (formerly of the band Copeland) called States.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1670032|title=Message – AbsolutePunk.net|work=absolutepunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} Their first release, the Line 'em Up EP was released on October 12, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1923522|title=States EP and Tour|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} They released their first full-length album, Room to Run on October 18, 2011, and released it on June 19, 2012, via Tooth & Nail Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2761662|title=States to Re-Release Debut via Tooth & Nail|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}}
• Leighton Antelman and producer Matt Malpass created a project called The Cinema. They released their debut album, My Blood Is Full of Airplanes on September 13, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2413822|title=The Cinema Release Date|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} They also released a collaborative EP with rapper Somnous titled, Postcards on June 15, 2012.
• Steve McGraw plays under the name The Saturn Hands. They released their first song "Silver Spoon-Fed Sleep Part 1" on January 11, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2019802|title=The Saturn Hands (ex-Lydia)|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}} On March 30, 2010, they released another song titled "Junk Brain Pie".{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2247562|title=The Saturn Hands Posts New Song|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}}
• Maria Sais de Sicilia joined the band Bears of Manitou with touring member Matt Funderburk.{{cite web|url=http://bearsofmanitou.com/2010/12/introducing-maria-sais-de-sicilia-now-w-bears/|title=Introducing Maria|author=|date=|publisher=|accessdate=2 August 2018}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} They released their debut album Origins on March 14, 2012.[Origins on iTunes https://music.apple.com/us/album/origins/508477937]
• Loren Brinton has played drums for A Rocket to the Moon, Brighten and Austin Gibbs and the States.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=928442|title=Austin Gibbs Posts New Song|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=8 August 2015}}

• Leighton Antelman – lead vocals, guitar
• Matt Keller – keyboard, guitar, programming
• Shawn Strader – bass guitar
• Evan Chapman – drums, percussion

• Dustin Forsgren – bass guitar, vocals
• Maria Sais De Sicilia – vocals, keyboard
• Loren Brinton – drums
• Evan Arambul – bass guitar
• Ethan Koozer – guitar
• Jed Dunning – bass guitar
• Mindy White – vocals, keyboard
• Steve McGraw – guitar
• Justin Camacho – guitar
• Craig Taylor – drums
• Jeremy King – guitar, vocals

{{Main|Lydia discography}}

• This December; It's One More and I'm Free (2005)
• Illuminate (2008)
• Assailants (2010)
• Paint It Golden (2011)
• Devil (2013)
• Run Wild (2015)
• Liquor (2018)
• I Was Someone Else (2020)

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/user/Lydiabandchannel YouTube Channel]

{{Lydia}}

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Category:Indie rock musical groups from Arizona

Category:People from Gilbert, Arizona