Today we’d like to introduce you to Deena Jakoub.
Deena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up on bluegrass/gospel/southern rock/R&B on my mom’s side in East Texas. My Egyptian heritage (Father’s side) has pulled Middle Eastern tones and scales into my influences, as well. I took my first stage at two years old, singing with my Grandparents’ bluegrass band. Music is in my blood! I later got into singing in jazz ensembles, and somewhere along the way was introduced to the alt/pop/punk/emo/rock world that lead me to meeting Brandon Brown (guitar/keys) and starting a band or two.
I lived in Dallas most my life but relocated to Nashville to pursue music full time (as did Brandon) and we started our alt/rock/pop act, VERIDIA, in 2014. We’ve split our time between Nashville and LA developing our sound, working and collaborating with our favorite writers and producers! You’ll hear some of those LA inspired collabs on our album with other local creatives like Mike Hart, Allison Kaplan, Fabian Ordorica, and Taylor Hill.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being independent has its own challenges, but with the help of our fans, we have since written and released a full-length album, ‘The Beast You Feed,’ as a three-piece (Brandon, myself, and drummer Kyle Levy) and have gained an incredible fanbase that supports us through Patreon, making it possible for us to do what we love. I am truly proud of how far we’ve come. From rehearsing in a dank basement to now preparing for a European tour with Evanescence this Fall, the music industry (and life) is so volatile. I don’t know what tomorrow will be bring, but I do know I get to do this for one more day, there are some beautiful people out there listening, connecting with, and sharing our music, and they inspire us to keep creating!
Another challenge has been defining our genre. Labels can be so limiting, implying that a brand only writes about topics or uses sounds relating to that label. So, we’ve always been an Alternative act, combining all our influences from pop, rock, R&B, urban, and even Middle Eastern music. Early on, we had a couple of No. 1 radio singles from our first two experimental EPs, but they were on Christian Rock radio, even though we aren’t a Christian act. So, there are places online that say we are a Christian or faith-based artist because of that airplay. 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.
Art is about provoking thought and conversation to inspire and learn from one another and I’ve always aspired to instill hope, gratitude, and a sense of community and respect for life and perspectives through our music. I am just as inspired by our fans as they are of us. Every artist is going to express their beliefs, thoughts, opinions, and stories in their own way from song-to-song, and it can definitely be unfair when other people try to take your platform and project their motives and opinions on you by saying, “you should be doing or saying this or that…” Well, then it wouldn’t be honest, and it wouldn’t be art.
Please tell us about VERIDIA.
I think what sets us a part, aside from our eclectic genre and my Egyptian heritage and influence is our passion for connecting with our fans. Every week, I get messages from fans who are so surprised that we personally write them back on social media. In the past two weeks, I spent 12 hours on Skype with fans that have supported us through Patreon, because I wanted to thank them “in person,” hearing about what they do and what inspires them. That’s what music is about, our ability to connect and be moved on a personal level, and as long as we get to do this, we will do all that we can to write back and meet as many people as we can at every show.
I am the lead vocalist, stylist, creative director, and main writer for VERIDIA. We’ve done and seen so much over the years but currently, I am most proud of the collaboration with Amy Lee (Evanescence). She played piano on our song “I’ll Never Be Ready,” after both of us suffered great losses – my father and her brother, around the same time. Since then, we’ve performed the song together on stage several times, and every time, we get the honor of meeting new fans who share their stories of grief and how the song brought them to a place of good memories. Connecting over loss with our fans has been such a powerfully vulnerable feeling, but comforting at the same time. Recently, I lost my grandmother the same week we filmed this music video. I would dance for the first time through my grief, alongside a choreographer that has inspired me through the years, Travis Cooper. He played my father in the video, and my little cousin Melea played a younger version of myself. We decided to push through our grief together, doing the video in honor of our grandmother as well as my Dad. I am so proud of her and that video, one step closer to healing through connecting and holding on to those good memories.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
When I was younger, I was hasty with taking opportunity as soon as it came, because I was afraid that it might only present itself once. I wish I could tell myself ten years ago, “You will have to leave family and friends behind to pursue this dream/career. Every opportunity comes with casualties. Be cautious and grateful for them when they come, but if it feels wrong, don’t be afraid to turn it down. There will always be another stage, even if it looks different than you expected. Be bold and brave with what you believe and want to share with this world. They actually want to hear it. Believe in your abilities!” After saying this, I honestly could still use some of these reminders today!
Pricing:
- Shirts $20
- Albums $10
- 15ml “Perfume No.3” handcrafted with essential oils by Deena Jakoub $45
Contact Info:
- Website: www.veridiamusic.com
- Email: veridiatheband@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/VERIDIA
- Facebook: facebook.com/VERIDIAMUSIC
- Twitter: twitter.com/VERIDIA
Image Credit:
Brandon Lajoie, Richard Agudelo, Justin Higuchi, John Panzer
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