VERIDIA

VERIDIA

VERIDIA in 2014. From left to right: Brandon Brown, Deena Jakoub, Kyle Levy, Trevor Hinesley.
Background information
Origin Nashville, Tennessee
Genres Alternative rock, electronic rock, pop rock
Years active 2013–present
Labels Word/Curb, Warner
Website veridiamusic.com
Members Deena Jakoub
Brandon Brown
Trevor Hinesley
Kyle Levy

VERIDIA (stylized in all caps) is an American alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. Formed in 2013, the group consists of Deena Jakoub (vocals), Brandon Brown (guitar), Trevor Hinesley (guitar), and Kyle Levy (drums).

On February 25, 2014, they released Inseparable EP, their debut studio release, on Word Entertainment.

Their song "We Are the Brave" is a Billboard No. 1 single. It was also nominated for 'Rock Song of the Year' at the 2014 Dove Awards and featured during ESPN broadcasts of the NCAA Softball regular season and world series.

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, in late 2012. 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.[1] 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").[1] 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."[2] To include a form of "truth" as part of their name was inspired by Kahlil Gibran.[1] They call the naming process one of the biggest early challenges the band had overcome.[1]

Inseparable EP (2014–present)

Before recording Inseparable, the band wrote 40 - 50 songs trying to develop their sound and find their identity as a young band.[3] 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).[4] 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 for VERIDIA.[1]

On February 4, 2014, VERIDIA released an album trailer video on Youtube and launched an iTunes pre-order with "We Are the Brave" as an instant grat track. And on February 24, the band partnered with HM Magazine to stream the album the day before it was released.[5]

Inseparable was released by Word Entertainment through digital music outlets on February 25, 2014, and then released as a physical CD on March 25, 2014.

"We Are the Brave" was the first radio single taken from Inseparable and it reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts on April 19, 2014 and spent 4 weeks at No. 1. The song was later picked up by ESPN for use in their television broadcasts of NCAA Softball.[6]

VERIDIA was tapped to open Suburbia Music Festival in Plano, TX 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, TX with director Traci Goudie the week of May 5, 2014 and later released on July 21, 2014.

VERIDIA went on their first tour as the opening act for Red & Demon Hunter in August 2014.[7]

VERIDIA went to New Orleans, LA on Halloween (October 31, 2014) to open another music festival, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, which was produced by Live Nation and headlined by Foo Fighters, Outkast, Arctic Monkeys, and Skrillex.[8]

VERIDIA served as the opening act on Winter Jam West 2014 boasting attendance of 112,000 fans over 9 shows across arenas in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.[9] They will open for the East 2015 leg of the tour, playing 47 shows in arenas across the east coast, midwest, and south.

Jakoub was diagnosed with Addison's disease as a teenager and she takes extra precaution while touring to maintain her health and perform on a nightly basis. These precautions include a well-balanced diet, setting aside time before shows to relax and meditate, and taking her medication, Hydrocortisone.[10] She can be seen wearing a medical bracelet at all times, including while performing on stage.

Musical style

VERIDIA's music style is usually tagged as alternative rock or electronic rock because they add electronic programming to their songs. Their lyrics touch on relatable topics such as personal relationships, confidence in one's self, battling the changing world around us, and body-image with a hint of faith and spirituality.

Discography

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Heatseeker
[11]		 US Christian
[12]
Inseparable EP[13] 4 17
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Studio albums

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Christian
[14]		 US
Christian Rock
[15]		 US
Hot AC/CHR
[16]
"We Are the Brave" 2014 — 1 — Inseparable EP
"Disconnected" 40 12 12
"Furious Love" 34 — 8
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

List of awards, nominations, and results
Year Organization Category Nominee Result
2014 GMA Dove Awards Rock Song of the Year "We Are the Brave" Nominated

Media usage

List of songs featured on various productions
Song Where Type
"We Are the Brave" NCAA Softball (ESPN) [6] Television

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "An Interview With VERIDIA…". Jesus Wired. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Introducing VERIDIA...". Word Label Group. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Artist spotlight part four: Veridia". The Red Ledger. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Inseparable - VERIDIA". All Music. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ "HM Exclusive First Listen: VERIDIA’s debut EP ‘Inseparable’". HM Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Veridia featured on NCAA softball". ESPN. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Run & Escape Tour Dates Revealed". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "2014 Voodoo Fest lineup to feature Foo Fighters, Outkast, Skrillex, Arctic Monkeys". Nola.com. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Winter Jam Brings Gospel to More than 112,000 on West Coast!". Premier Productions. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Veridia influenced by battle with disease". The Daily Reveille. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Veridia – Chart History: US Heatseeker". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Veridia – Chart History: US Christian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Inseparable – EP by VERIDIA". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  14. ↑ "VERIDIA – Chart History: Christian Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  15. ↑ "VERIDIA – Chart History: Christian Rock". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  16. ↑ "VERIDIA – Chart History: Christian Hot AC/CHR". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.

External links