THE VINTAGE INSPIRED BAND FROM COLORADO: AN INTERVIEW WITH LADY DENIM
(photo by @jordanaltergott & @altr.agency)
If you are a fan of indie music, you have to check out Lady Denim! Formed in Colorado back in 2019 during the college years of the members, the band consists of Nick Lundeen (Vocals/Guitar), Nic Lubin (Lead Guitar), and Chris Lubin (Bass). The trio had numerous accomplishments last year including putting out their new songs “Oh, Martha” & “Pagosa,” headlining at the Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins, Colorado, and supporting Born Without Bones on their US tour. We got a chance to catch up with Nick in December to learn more about these projects, as well as what the band looks forward to this year:
How did your band form in 2019?
Nic and I literally signed a lease together at an apartment. We had an idea that we both played instruments but it was very cringy early on. We decided to do an open mic in Boulder and that's when Chris (Nic's brother) and Matthias joined on. All very organic.
What inspired your new track "Oh, Martha!"? Was any other media or life events used as an influence?
Oh Martha was honestly just written about being into the name of someone named Martha back in college. I thought it sounded cool and vintage and I wanted to write a Doo-Wop infused indie song to resonate with it.
Do you prefer to be on the road touring or in the studio working on music? And why?
As a band we have always enjoyed the process of writing music together, but I think that we are in a battle of trying to make up for time lost during the pandemic so touring has always been our favorite. We are back writing though and taking a break from touring for a bit!
Your aesthetic seems to be heavily inspired by past eras. What is it about the vintage feel that drew you to it? Does the band have a favorite decade?
Maybe it is a bit of escapism, but it just seems like the 50s/60s were much more simple and I love how they are romanticized in the movies. It feels meditative writing lyrics for a song that makes you feel like you are able to step away and transport to another decade.
(photo by @brettballachino)
Who are some other artists that you are currently enjoying listening to?
Right now, I am really into Mapache, Sam Cooke & Peter Cat Recording Co.
You guys are based in Fort Collins, Colorado. What is the local music scene like there? How do your surroundings influence your band? What is one thing people should know about Fort Collins if they haven't been there?
I credit most of our success to being a Fort Collins band. It is a thriving, artsy town that has ties of small-town values. You can pick up a conversation with any random person on the street and with that comes the strong understanding in supporting local businesses. The FoCo music scene is thriving with genre-bending artists. Some of our closest friends are anywhere from country, all the way to thrash metal.
What was your favorite show to play in 2023? Why did that one stand out to you?
Hands down our favorite show in 2023 was playing a sold-out show in San Diego at the Observatory opening up for The Buttertones. The crowd was insane and the indie kids there are so freaking cool.
(photo by @willowclairphoto)
How do you guys successfully work as a team? Do you ever have different opinions on a project you are working on and if so how do you go about finding a compromise?
I think it all depends on the song, but also we are all so close that we know how to communicate with one another. We tend to float around projects and make sure it is more of a collaborative effort.
Based on your Spotify Wrapped you had over 305k streams in 2023. What do you hope for your listeners to take away from your discography overall?
We are just happy that people have stuck around. We honestly started right before the emergence of bands blowing up on Tik Tok and we haven't really felt compelled or driven to use that platform. I guess what I am getting at is, in a day and age where people are oversaturated with so much music, it means the world that they chose to spend some of that time with us. :)
What are some hobbies that you guys partake in when you aren't focusing on music? Obviously music isn't like a normal job that has set hours. How do you guys keep a work life balance?
It's funny you ask that cause the last 12 months for me have been about finding that balance. Being in music, you can let the comparison game eat you alive or focus too much on the band identity and it becomes so lonely haha. I have been working on 'watering the grass' into other elements of my life. Whether that be climbing, snowboarding, therapy, catering to old friendships and video games haha. We started setting hours for music and not 'taking it home with us'.
What does Lady Denim hope to achieve in 2024?
I would LOVE to go on tour again haha. But I think we want to focus on music and (unfortunately) utilize platforms to help grow that audience to a larger scope.
The band recently announced that they will be playing a show in Fort Collins on March 11th at The Coast music venue. This will be part of Hockey Dad’s North American tour with Mind’s Eye. If you are in the area, make sure to grab your ticket to see them live!
We are excited to see what the band has in store for the rest of the year! To learn more about Lady Denim check out:
