December 2024

Preparetobecaptivatedbytheharmonious blend of artistry, energy, and emotion that defines LANiiDAE, one of Charlotte, NC’s most intriguing bands. Known for their ability to transcend genres and connect with audiences on a deeply personal level, LANiiDAE has carved out a space in the local music scene that’s entirely their own. With their evocative name inspired by the family of songbirds known as shrikes, LANiiDAE’s music takes lis- teners on a flight through themes of resilience, vulnerability, and raw pas- sion. Their unique sound, paired with electrifying live performances, has quickly earned them a loyal following and a reputation as a band to watch. In this exclusive Ryze-Up Magazine in- terview, we dive into the heart and soul of LANiiDAE—exploring their creative process, their roots in Charlotte, and the vision that fuels their journey. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering them for the first time, you won’t want to miss what this talented group has to share. Get ready to meet the band that’s re- defining what it means to soar in the music world. LANiiDAE is here, and they’re taking us all along for the ride. What inspired the formation of LANii- DAE, and how did your shared musical vision come together as a band? We formed initially as a two piece back in 2018. Joey (guitar) had written a hand- ful of songs and asked me (Chris, vocals) to come lay down some tracks with him. We were both in bands at the time, and LANiiDAE was our project to just do whatever we wanted. We were both in heavier bands, so the earlier songs leaned towards a heavier sound, but we quickly found ourselves writing out of the box and embracing a more melodic and ex- perimental sound. It was a breath of fresh air for us both and the creative freedom was addictive. LANiiDAE, also known as the family of shrikes, is a unique name. Does it hold any symbolic meaning for your music or philosophy as a band? Joey had the band name picked out from the very beginning. I believe it was spurred by a late night Animal Planet binge, and as soon as he told me the name I thought it was perfect. The bird itself is pretty unassuming, but they’re actually vicious predators, impaling their prey on tree branches. Which is metal as hell. Can you walk us through your song- writing process? How do you balance individual contributions with creating a cohesive sound? The songwriting process can begin a cou- ple different ways for us. Joey is a riff ma- chine and has his own studio, so often- times the songs start with something he’s written. In recent years, J (vocals, synth) brings us ideas that they’ve been cook- ing up and we start there. J is awesome at writing catchy modern hooks and you can see the influence that’s had on our more recent songs. From there it’s a col- laborative effort, sending tracks back and forth to Kyle (bass) and Larry (drums), getting feedback, and fine-tuning the song so it’s ready for vocals. As for me, I typically sit in on most writing sessions and have a general idea of where I want to go vocally. After a few hours of sitting in the studio and hashing out ideas, voilà! A LANiiDAE song is born. I will say, the 13