Metalcore band Veil of Maya is heading out on The [M]other Tour in early 2024 with special guests AngelMaker, Reflections, and Alluvial! Left to Suffer or Until I Wake will also be appearing on select dates. You can get tickets/VIP now at veilofmayaband.com.
1/19 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center*
1/20 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre*
1/21 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi*
1/23 – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag*
1/24 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note*
1/26 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre*
1/27 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep*
1/29 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre*
1/30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater*
2/1 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar*
2/2 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage*
2/3 – Jefferson, LA – Southport Hall*
2/4 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven)+
2/6 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground+
2/8 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage+
2/9 – Hartford, CT – The Webster+
2/10 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center+
2/13 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
2/14 – New Kensington, PA – Preserving Underground
The Lucidia Project is a metal outfit hailing from North Dakota. The band stands out with their unique blend of hard-hitting riffs, atmospheric stylings, and orchestral elements. Thus far, The Lucidia Project has released a self-titled EP (2022) and The Requiem EP (2023).
I recently chatted with lead vocalist/pianist Chase Baldwin about the founding of The Lucidia Project, their purpose, influences, and writing/recording process, as well as what’s next for the band.
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Mostly Music: First and foremost, thank you for reaching out!!!! Tell me about the formation of The Lucidia Project, and the story behind the band name (it’s rather unique).
Chase Baldwin: Thank you so much for interviewing us and for following us on Facebook! We really appreciate the support you are showing us!
The Lucidia Project was an idea that I had been thinking about for 15 years, so… a very long time, I know! I wrote songs for a demo EP back in the spring and summer of 2022, because I felt like in order for me to describe what I wanted musically for this band, I needed to provide sort of a template before showing it to anyone else. I met Benjamin Jacobs (our bassist live, but he plays guitars for us in the studio), through a website called Band Mix. I showed him early versions of the songs I was working on, and he loved the idea, and the two of us decided to start working together. I’ve been waiting a long time to find the right person creatively to collaborate with on original songs, and Ben has been amazing to work with!
The name kind of has a deeper meaning for me. Lucidia is a name that’s derived from the Latin word Lucida, which means “light, brightness, clarity,” and “distant star” in some translations. Our lyrical content focuses on some pretty heavy and dark emotional topics. These topics include trauma, addiction, wider political issues, abuse, darkness, depression, etc. The goal for me lyrically is to shine light upon these topics. Through our music, I am not only healing myself but also helping other people from their own personal struggles (at least that’s my hope). That’s where the “project” part comes in. “To shine light upon darkness” is, in essence, what The Lucidia Project is all about.
MM: Y’all definitely blend a plethora of subgenres in your music. Who are the band’s biggest influences? Do y’all come from similar musical backgrounds, or did you have to bring stylistic differences together in order to find your sound?
CB: We are a fusion metal and alternative rock project. Stylistically, it’s a mix of dark metal (gothic, doom, and some death metal), alternative rock/metal, indie singer/songwriter influences (think Tori Amos and Natalie Merchant), as well as symphonic and orchestral influences as well.
Ben and I kind of approach things from two different angles. I’m more influenced by the metal and sort of the darker elements of this project, Ben brings in a lot more of the alternative rock side (think Primus, Placebo, early Tool, Stone Temple Pilots), so we try and create this juxtaposition with the darker elements of metal and alt rock with the more vulnerable and sensitive piano singer/songwriter moments. The orchestral elements are there to add emotional depth to our music. All of this is meant to carry the lyrics and add deeper meaning to the project as a whole.
Ben and I are both classically trained musicians and have taken collegiate level music theory and composition courses. So we are able to construct pieces while speaking the same musical language, which helps us communicate our differences stylistically as well. Dan and Chris, who are both on guitars (lead and rhythm, respectively) step in usually once Ben and I have laid down the ground work or the blue print for the songs, and they help us figure out things like riffs, phrasing, and such.
MM: So I’m curious if you’ve had vocal classes of any sort? Because you do some really cool things with your voice, and have moments that are almost…operatic? It sounds so beautiful with the piano.
CB: I was training to be an opera singer when I was in college. I really wanted to just be a composer, but I was encouraged to go the vocal performance route. I almost finished my bachelor’s of music degree, but I switched to nursing before my final year of study.
MM: I can certainly hear that training.You guys just released The Requiem EP in September. What was the writing and recording process for that record?
CB: The writing process was mostly a collaborative effort between Ben and me. Chris also contributed melodic ideas, as well as the spoken word part in the song “Requiem.” We wrote and produced that EP before Dan became part of our group, so unfortunately, he’s not on it, but he has contributed to future music.
A couple of songs started out with just me at the piano completing the structure and then arranging them for the band to then add additional riffs, bass lines, and melodic ideas. We had two songs (“Eventide” and “Deliverances”) that were only fragments. Ben stepped in and helped me to complete those two structurally. And then I wrote the interlude by myself.
We recorded it out of my home studio. I did the initial engineering on it and then sent it to Danny Meyer of the German metal band Oversense to help with the post production on it.
MM: Do you have a song from the EP that is your favorite, whether because you connect to it more than the others or because it’s just a cool track?
CB: Ben and Chris love “Requiem” (the lead track) because it’s fun to play. I know that Dan has a handful of favorites, so he doesn’t have anything specific. My favorite is “The End of the Lies.” Because I get to be loud and angry, LOL. It was a very cathartic release for me lyrically.
MM: Did you always want to be a musician? (That may seem like an obvious question, given that you’re classically trained and studied music theory/composition, but some people use those studies for other paths in the musical world.)
CB: Ben started taking being a musician seriously at around 14 or 15 and knew this is what he wanted to do. His dad was in a band and he wanted to be part of something like that.
Me, I’ve always sang, and while I started playing piano when I was 9, I didn’t want to start being a musician professionally until I realized I could write my own songs when I was 16 years old.
MM: Do you remember what made you want to play music for a living?
CB: I remember wanting to write songs that touched people’s lives, and expressed who I was as a person. The side of me that most people don’t really get to see. I am really good at being fake happy, and pretending to be ok when I’m actually not. Music and lyric writing has always been my way of confronting myself with the truth. Then based on the messages in my lyrics, making choices in my life that lead me to a better place. So it’s more therapy for me than anything else.
Ben has always had a major passion for music, and playing it, so it’s just been natural for him to progress down that road. Ben also plays multiple instruments from guitar to piano to bass, so he can see things from many different angles musically. He’s kind of this musical polymath and his love for it shows in his dedication to his playing.
MM: What would be your dream lineup, if The Lucidia Project could play with anyone?
CB: It can be hard to find people who you love playing music with and who are good people to boot. The people in this band are talented and well trained musicians with big hearts, I couldn’t ask for better people to play with. As far as drummers go, we are without one, so my fantasy drummer would be either Will Hunt from Evanescence or Markus Hirvonen from Insomnium.
MM: I see that y’all have been added to a lot of playlists this year, as well as doing interviews and being picked up by radio stations. This may be a generic question, but how did it feel the first time you heard yourself on the radio? How much does it inspire y’all when you see these representations of your music reaching people and catching on?
CB: Scary! I’m a very private person but decided to start putting myself out there last year vocally, so it’s kind of surreal that so many people have heard my voice and my lyrics. And all of our playing as well. It was weird hearing myself on the radio. Exciting but still weird. I’m still getting used to it. It’s validating, though. It means that the vision for this band is strong and that people get it.
MM: And last but not least, what are your plans for the rest of 2023 and into the new year?
CB: Writing! We are working on a lot of new music and making plans for 2024 and 2025!
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Do yourself a favor and check out The Lucidia Project on their various socials and your favorite streaming platform. If you are a fan of Evanescence, Apocalyptica, Nightwish, and the like, you will definitely enjoy this band. I will share links and include my favorite songs below!
In This Moment and Ice Nine Kills are teaming up for the Kiss of Death Tour this November/December. Support comes in the form of Avatar and New Years Day. You can get your tickets at inthismomentofficial.com or iceninekills.com. (Ice Nine Kills also offers VIP experiences!)
11/3 – Gary, IN – Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
11/4 – Maplewood, MN – Myth Live*
11/5 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater*
11/7 – Indianapolis, IN – Blue Ribbon Pavilion
11/8 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
Update:Due to overwhelming demand, the show in Dallas on 11/3 has been moved from Sundown to the Granada Theater, and is now all ages as well!
Horror punk band Murderdolls’ debut album, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls, turns 21 this year! In celebration of this anniversary, frontman Wednesday 13 is hitting the road to perform songs from their first record, as well as their second and final release, Women and Children Last (2010). Wednesday’s touring lineup for this run includes Murderdolls’ alumni Roman Surman and Jack Tankersley.
The supporting acts are Gemini Syndrome, Infected Rain, and Black Satellite.
Suicide Silence and Chelsea Grin are kicking off their North American co-headline tour October 13th in San Antonio! The two legendary deathcore bands are bringing along I Am and PeelingFlesh. Tickets and VIP are available at suicidesilence.net!
10/13 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center
10/14 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
10/15 – Dallas, TX – Monster Mosh 2023
10/17 – Jefferson, LA – Southport Hall
10/18 – Memphis, TN – Black Lodge
10/19 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
10/20 – Lakewood, OH – The Roxy
10/21 – Rochester, NY – Water Street Music Hall
10/22 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
10/24 – Québec, QC – Le Capitole
10/25 – Ottawa, ON – Bronson Centre
10/26 – London, ON – London Music Hall
10/27 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s
10/28 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
10/29 – St. Louis, MO – Pop’s Blue Moon
10/31 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
11/2 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
11/3 – Saskatoon, SK – Louis’ Pub
11/4 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall Concerts
11/5 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
11/7 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
11/8 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory Concert House
British power metal band DragonForce are touring North America this fall with special guests Amaranthe, Nanowar of Steel, and Edge of Paradise. Tickets and a limited number of VIP experiences are available at dragonforce.com.
10/20 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater*
10/21 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel*
10/23 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage
10/24 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
10/25 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
10/27 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
10/28 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
10/30 – Atlanta, GA – Heaven at The Masquerade
10/31 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
11/1 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
11/3 – New York, NY – Palladium Time Square
11/4 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
11/5 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
11/6 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
11/8 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater & Ballroom
11/9 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre
11/10 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
11/11 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
11/12 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
11/14 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
11/15 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
11/16 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory Concert House
Update:The show on 11/14 has been moved from Racine, WI, to Belvedere, IL, at the Apollo Theatre!
Horror punk band Murderdolls’ debut album, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls, turns 21 this year! In celebration of this anniversary, frontman Wednesday 13 is hitting the road to perform songs from their first record, as well as their second and final release, Women and Children Last (2010). Wednesday’s touring lineup for this run includes Murderdolls’ alumni Roman Surman and Jack Tankersley.
The supporting acts are Gemini Syndrome, Infected Rain, and Black Satellite.
Italian goth metal act Lacuna Coil is returning to the U.S. this October with metal legends Fear Factory* and special guest Lions At The Gate! Tickets available at lacunacoil.com.
Note: Fear Factory will not be on the final three dates. God Forbid is replacing them on both 10/28 and 10/29.
Mostly Music 