Veridia

Veridia, often stylized in all capital letters as VERIDIA, is an American alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2013, the group now consists of Deena Jakoub (vocals), Brandon Brown (guitar), and Kyle Levy (drums). The band's music has been charted on Christian rock and contemporary Christian music charts, although the band themselves reject this label.

For Veridia glass tubing, see Chance Brothers.

Veridia
Veridia in 2014. From left to right: Brandon Brown, Deena Jakoub, Kyle Levy, Trevor Hinesley.
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee
GenresAlternative rock
Years active2013–present
LabelsWord/Curb, Razor & Tie
Websiteveridiamusic.com
Members
  • Deena Jakoub
  • Brandon Brown
  • Kyle Levy
Past members
  • Trevor Hinesley

They released Inseparable EP in 2014 and Pretty Lies EP in 2015 on Word Entertainment/Curb, Warner Music Group. Summer Sessions Vol. 1 EP was released in 2016 as a free download. The Beast You Feed, their first full-length album, was independently released on October 26, 2018.

History

Beginnings (2012–2013)

Veridia formed when Deena Jakoub (vocals) and Brandon Brown (guitar) moved from Dallas to Nashville after the end of their previous band Don't Wake Aislin, in late 2012.[1] Seeking a new start with a fresh sound, they quickly recruited Trevor Hinesley (guitar) and Kyle Levy (drums) to round out the quartet (unnamed at the time) in December 2012.[2] They do not have a bassist as a permanent band member in the band, nor do they have one performing in a live setting.

In early 2013, the group began writing and demoing songs with various co-writers and producers in Nashville while trying to determine what they would name their newly formed group. They eventually settled on Veridia, a combination of the words "veritas" (Latin for "truth") and "veridical" (also meaning "truth").[2] Of the name, Jakoub says, "Veridia means 'of truth.' It's our creed, to strive for raw honesty in all that we do, being true to ourselves, the ones we love and in our music."[3] To include a form of "truth" as part of their name was inspired by Kahlil Gibran.[2] They call the naming process one of the biggest early challenges the band had overcome.[2] In a Q&A at Pulse Radio headquarters in 2016, guitarist Hinesley stated that the name for the band was almost "Aviara". "We had the dumbest band names in the world," he said. "Don't hire us if you need a band name!"[4]

Inseparable EP and Winter Jam (2014–2015)
The band playing at a venue in 2014

Before recording Inseparable, the band wrote more than 70 songs trying to develop their sound and find their identity as a young band.[5] Of those songs, they eventually narrowed the list down to 5 songs they would take into the studio with three different producers. "We Are the Brave," "Disconnected," and "Furious Love" were produced by Ian Eskelin; "Mechanical Planet" was produced by Matt Bronleewe; "Mystery of the Invisible" was produced by Stephen Keech (of Haste the Day).[6] Jakoub is quoted as to have been listening to bands such as Chvrches, Twenty One Pilots, and Panic! at the Disco while helping write songs.[2]

On February 4, 2014, the band released an album trailer video on YouTube and launched an iTunes pre-order with "We Are the Brave" as an instant free track. And on February 24, the band partnered with HM Magazine to stream the album the day before it was released.[7]

The song was later picked up by ESPN for use in their television broadcasts of NCAA Softball.[8]

Veridia performing in 2014

the band was tapped to open Suburbia Music Festival in Plano, Texas on May 4, 2014. The festival, produced by Live Nation and headlined by David Guetta, Alabama Shakes, and J. Cole, was the band's second show ever and first show in the Dallas metroplex, hometown of Jakoub and Brown.

A music video for "Disconnected" was filmed in Austin, Texas with director Traci Goudie the week of May 5, 2014 and later released on July 21, 2014.

They went on their first tour as the opening act for Red and Demon Hunter in August 2014.[9]

They performed at Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans, Louisiana on Halloween (October 31, 2014), which was produced by Live Nation and headlined by Foo Fighters, Outkast, Arctic Monkeys, and Skrillex.[10]

They served as the opening act on Winter Jam West 2014 boasting attendance of 112,000 over nine shows across arenas in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.[11] They will open for the East 2015 leg of the tour, playing 47 shows in arenas across the east coast, midwest, and south.

Pretty Lies EP (2015–2016)

In mid-2015, the group released a set of five videos of acoustic songs not on the "Inseparable" EP, titled Summer Sessions. In April 2016, they released these songs as a free download called Summer Sessions, Vol. I.[12]

In 2015, they released their second EP, Pretty Lies. The title track featured vocals from Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire. The music video was released on March 10, 2016 and a commentary video, featuring Jakoub, and filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, was also released.[13]

In late 2015, the band began their first headlining tour, the "Only the Crazy Survive Tour".[14] For their tour, they partnered with Mocha Club, an organization committed to helping people in Africa.[15]

In 2016, they went on a summer tour with band Random Hero and ILIA.[16] That September, they also played at Night of Joy for the second year in a row.[17]

Touring, Hinesley departure and hiatus (2016–2017)
Veridia interacting with fans after their show in 2017

On September 16, 2016, the band released "Still Breathing", to radio on September 23.[18] Being previously recorded on the Summer Sessions EP, it was rerecorded as full band electric song for the release.

On October 22, 2016, the band announced that Trevor Hinesley was leaving to focus on health and to spend more time with his family.[19] Hinesley would not join the band for their tour with Evanescence, but would play with them on the Christmas Rock Night in Germany in December, the band's first international show. On October 28, the band went on tour with Evanescence, opening in Dallas, Texas. On October 31, 2016, they released a music video for "Still Breathing", filmed in a haunted house in Nashville, Tennessee.[20][21]

During the early months of 2017, Deena Jakoub's father died.[22] Jakoub went to Egypt, where he was from, for the first time to bury him according to his wishes. The band went on hiatus for most of 2017 in order to take more time to spend with family.

The Beast You Feed (2018–present)
The Beast You Feed album release concert, October 6, 2018

On January 7, 2018, the band announced that they had signed with Razor & Tie, and they were heading into the studio.[23] The band recorded ten songs for the full-length album and held frequent live streams to update fans in the studio. While the band was recording the album, the Razor & Tie record label was acquired by Concord Music.[24] This led to VERIDIA being released from Razor & Tie, later announcing that they would be releasing the album independently and launching a crowdfunding campaign. On June 29, they announced that the album, The Beast You Feed, would be released in late 2018 and launched a PledgeMusic campaign for the album's release.[25] In less than a month, the band surpassed their goal.[26] On July 27, 2018, they released the first single, "Numb", off the album.[27] The album was officially released on October 26, 2018.[28] Other singles from the album include "I Won't Stay Down" released on September 28, 2018[29][30] and "Cheshire Smile" released on October 19, 2018.[31][32]

In 2019, the group toured the US and Europe with Evanescence[33][34][35] and the US with Icon for Hire[36]

On April 3, 2020, the band released their first single of 2020, "Blood Diamond".[37] The song embodies the concept giving unconditional love to someone, knowing how to endure breaking each other's heart and putting the pieces back together every time. Deena states "love is the most valuable thing in this world, and it’s expensive, but it’s so worth it".[38]

Style

They have been compared to Jesus music,[39] contemporary Christian music,[40][41] and female-fronted rock bands such as Flyleaf and Fireflight,[42] their style fitting into alternative rock,[43][44] and have been noted to have pop rock sounds. Signed to Christian record label, Word Records, they have been reviewed extensively by Christian media and have played and charted on Christian radio.

Jakoub has attempted to distance the band from the Christian band label stating, "we've actually never classified our music as 'Christian rock', we have always been an alternative band on all formats."[45] "I don't believe in using faith as a marketing tool, it's not a commodity. Just let an artist write from that place of vulnerable honesty, and let the listener connect through their own story."[46]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Heatseeker
[47]		 US Christian
[48]		 US Rock Album
[49]
The Beast You Feed[50]
  • Released: October 26, 2018
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 14—44
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Heatseeker
[47]		 US Christian
[48]
Inseparable[51] 417
Pretty Lies[52] 2230
Summer Sessions, Vol. I
  • Released: April 7, 2016
  • Label: Word/Curb, Warner Music Group
  • Formats: free digital download
 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles
List of singles, with selected chart positions showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Christian
[53]		 US
Christian Rock
[54]		 US
Hot AC/CHR
"We Are the Brave" 2014 —1— Inseparable EP
"Disconnected" 401212
"Furious Love" 34—8
"Pretty Lies" (featuring Matty Mullins) 2015 36129 Pretty Lies EP
"Still Breathing" 2016 26223 non-album track
'Numb" 2018 —26— The Beast You Feed
"I Won't Stay Down" 2018 ——— The Beast You Feed
"Blood Diamond (الماسة الدم)" 2020 ——— non-album track
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released, Album and source links
Year Title Album Source Note
2014 "Disconnected"[55] Inseparable YouTube Go
"Furious Love"[56] YouTube Go
2016 "Pretty Lies"[57] Pretty Lies YouTube Go
"Still Breathing"[58] Still Breathing YouTube Go
2018 "Numb"[59] The Beast You Feed YouTube Go Live video filmed at the album release concert
2019 "Perfume"[60] YouTube Go
"I Won't Stay Down"[61] YouTube Go
"I'll Never Be Ready"[62] YouTube Go
2020 "Blood Diamond (الماسة الدم)"[63] Blood Diamond Single YouTube Go Audio only video

Media usage
List of songs featured on various productions
Song Where Type
"We Are the Brave" NCAA Softball (ESPN)[8] Television
"We Are the Brave" 2015 SBENU LOL Champions Korea Summer Opening Title[64]
"Mystery of the Invisible" Risen: Songs that Celebrate the Epic Film[65] Soundtrack
gollark: How bad.
gollark: If you can give them physical objects, it is very easy, since you can just write "this is the front", "this is the right", and so on.
gollark: The screens might not be built the same way round. You seem to be missing the point.
gollark: There is no guarantee that their screens and rendering stuff do LTR like ours.
gollark: Android has a built-in sound to text transcriber now, so just use that.

References
  1. "Biography". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  2. "An Interview With VERIDIA…". Jesus Wired. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  3. "Introducing VERIDIA..." Word Label Group. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  4. "Pulse 101.7 FM - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  5. "Artist spotlight part four: Veridia". The Red Ledger. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  6. "Inseparable - VERIDIA". All Music. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  7. "HM Exclusive First Listen: VERIDIA's debut EP 'Inseparable'". HM Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  8. "Veridia featured on NCAA softball". ESPN. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  9. "Run & Escape Tour Dates Revealed". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  10. "2014 Voodoo Fest lineup to feature Foo Fighters, Outkast, Skrillex, Arctic Monkeys". Nola.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  11. "Winter Jam Brings Gospel to More than 112,000 on West Coast!". Premier Productions. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  12. "VERIDIA Offers 'The Summer Sessions' EP For Free". www.newreleasetoday.com. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  13. VERIDIA (March 14, 2016), VERIDIA // "Pretty Lies" feat. Matty Mullins (Story Behind The Music Video), retrieved October 24, 2016
  14. "Only The Crazy Survive Tour 2015! | Veridia Music Updates". Veridia Music Official Website. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  15. "Mocha Club and Veridia Announce Tour Partnership! | Veridia Music Updates". Veridia Music Official Website. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  16. "Random HERO BIG Summer TOUR w/ Veridia | ILIA". www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  17. "Night of Joy Overview". www.wdwmagic.com. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  18. VERIDIA (September 16, 2016), VERIDIA // "Still Breathing" [official audio], retrieved October 24, 2016
  19. "VERIDIA | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  20. VERIDIA (October 30, 2016), VERIDIA // "Still Breathing" [official music video], retrieved October 31, 2016
  21. "VERIDIA Release Haunted New Music Video For 'Still Breathing'". Giants In The Sound. October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  22. "Instagram post by VERIDIA // ▽△ • Apr 7, 2017 at 5:42pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  23. "We officially started recording the new album TODAY! New songs, new album, new label, new hair... pic.twitter.com/ElwWxNv9fF". @VERIDIA. January 8, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  24. "Concord Music Fully Acquires Razor & Tie". Billboard.
  25. "VERIDIA: New Studio Album - Coming This Fall". PledgeMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  26. "VERIDIA". www.facebook.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
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  28. The Beast You Feed by VERIDIA, October 26, 2018, retrieved October 30, 2018
  29. "I Won't Stay Down - Single by VERIDIA". Apple ITunes. September 28, 2018.
  30. "I Won't Stay Down - VERIDIA Single". Billboard.
  31. "Cheshire Smile - Single by VERIDIA". Apple ITunes. October 19, 2018.
  32. "New Releases October 19, 2018". Indie Vision Music.
  33. "Veridia Concerts May 2019". RockOnPurpose.
  34. "Evanescence Shows". JamBase.
  35. "Veridia September 2019 Concerts". TheFanHost.
  36. "VERIDIA 2019 Shows Shows". JamBase.
  37. "Blood Diamond - Single by VERIDIA". Apple Music. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  38. "New Single Out Now - Blood Diamond". Facebook. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  39. Andre, Jonathan (March 1, 2014). "Review : VERIDIA – Inseparable EP". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  40. Myatt, Wayne (June 1, 2014). "Veridia, "Inseparable EP" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  41. Andre, Joshua (October 4, 2015). "Music Reviews: VERIDIA – Pretty Lies EP". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  42. Francesco, Jonathan J. (March 13, 2014). "Braving the Mechanical Planet". New Release Today. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  43. Journey, Angel (February 25, 2014). "VERIDIA Unleash Their Electrifying 5 Star Debut "Inseparable" EP Today". Jesus Wired. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  44. Rumble, Darcy (February 4, 2016). "Veridia - Pretty Lies". HM Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  45. "VIDEO PREMIERE: VERIDIA'S 'NUMB' TACKLES LEARNING TO HEAL AFTER LOSS". LadyGunn. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  46. "Meet Deena Jakoub of Veridia". VoyageLA. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
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  48. "Veridia – Chart History: US Christian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  49. "Veridia – Chart History: Rock Album Sales". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  50. "The Beast You Feed by VERIDIA". October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
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  52. "Pretty Lies – EP by VERIDIA". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  53. "VERIDIA – Chart History: Christian Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  54. "VERIDIA – Chart History: Christian Rock". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  55. "Disconnected Official VERIDIA Video". IndieVisionMusic.
  56. "Furious Love Official VERIDIA Video". IndieVisionMusic.
  57. "Pretty Lies Official VERIDIA Video". HMMagazine.
  58. "Still Breathing Official VERIDIA Video". Tattoo.com.
  59. "Numb Official VERIDIA Video". MetalTemple.
  60. "Perfume Official VERIDIA Video". RockOnPurpose.
  61. "I Won't Stay Down Official VERIDIA Video". RockOnPurpose.
  62. "I'll Never Be Ready Official VERIDIA Video". Facebook.com.
  63. "Blood Diamond VERIDIA video". Facebook.
  64. 2015 SBENU LOL Champions Korea Summer Openning Title / 2015 스베누 롤챔스 서머 오프닝 타이틀. YouTube. June 25, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  65. "Risen: Songs that Celebrate the Epic Film". Christian Cinema.
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