Meet Lysithea | Band

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lysithea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lysithea, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Aaron – Getting out of my comfort zone and accepting opportunities despite how nervous it makes me. I definitely was nervous about my ability to meaningfully contribute to a band, but I feel so lucky to be a part of Lysithea and have been loving every minute of it!

Alex – I’ve tried to approach everything as an opportunity to learn, develop new skills, and generally be open to all the possibilities that may arise. I joined the band shortly after moving to LA and it’s really given me a new and exciting way to experience the city with a great group of people!

Joelina – I think being fearless and stepping out of my comfort zone has helped me a lot. I have always loved music, but being in a band has shown me different aspects of loving and making music. Being a team player and open to others ideas has helped me gain insight to many different perspectives of our music. The decision to let go and embrace the journey that I’m currently on has also changed the way I live and breathe music. Sacrifice, passion, and courage are the most important things to have when being in a band.

Ryan – For me especially, it was allowing myself to take time off. I had been musically inactive for 7 months prior to the formation of the band due to burnout and grieving. I started back up with this current band because I felt ready and wanted to embrace the catharsis it could and would bring. We take short breaks every so often and I think it’s really helped us out so far. We all have plenty going on outside of the band and that can require our full attention occasionally.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Aaron – I’ve always been drawn to the drums but ended up playing other instruments my whole life. When Ryan tapped me in for the Lysithea spot I was nervous but decided to take the leap of faith. My main takeaway is that accepting scary opportunities can pay off in ways you don’t expect, so you should go for it!

Alex – I just play bass man

Ryan – The biggest influence on how I operate comes from the many musical experiences that didn’t pan out for better and for worse. Nothing new, I’m sure but it goes to show that one of the best ways to learn really is to put yourself out there and be ready to fail.

Joelina – Vulnerability plays a major role in my story. As a shy person at heart it was hard for me to open up to others, but music and songwriting has helped me share my story. If I ever feel lost in the world, I find myself within the music. Allowing yourself to share the deepest, weirdest, and darkest moments of your life through an art form such as music allows you to move on. Music is therapy and always will be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Aaron – Cha Cha Chicken by Santa Monica Pier is insane, a must try. Technically not the city but any hikes down the OC Coast are fantastic, I like Crystal Cove State Park especially!

Alex – Honestly #1 recommendation is to drive up Duane St. in Silverlake it’s unbelievably steep and weirdly easy to get there by accident

Ryan – It can get crowded but Little Tokyo is a blast every time. Tons of great places to eat as well as some cute (and strange) shops to visit. Skip Kura, get some ramen or sushi, save some room for a crepe or taiyaki from SomiSomi. If downtown LA isn’t your style then everything I just mentioned can be found also at Sawtelle Japantown. Still gets pretty busy there too.

Joelina – After a long week my favorite place to go and relax and do some retail therapy would be Best Of Times in Burbank, CA. The owner is an absolute gem and always has the best of things there. The dress I wear in our single cover of “My Game” is from her shop and was handmade! The Record Parlor in Hollywood has also been a haven for me. I have found so many awesome LPs there. I usually come here whenever I feel down or out of place (Almost Famous was right about “If you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends” quote) The Record Parlor has been there for me when no one else has <3. My favorite place to grab a bite is The Old Place in Cornell. I've been going there since I was a kid and their food and vibe never disappoint. Galco’s in Highland park has the most delicious sandwiches ever. Since we record in Highland Park I love grabbing a sandwich there beforehand with a crazy soda to pair. Also growing up in LA, I would hang out in Echo Park a lot in my teenage years and would love to eat at burrito king and get an orange bang and French fries. I also still LOVE to get carne asada tacos at Leo’s Taco Truck on Glendale Blvd. Lastly, for entertainment I love going to The Smell. I have been going there since I was 14 and it was very surreal playing there recently after going and volunteering there for so many years and Jim Smith, the owner, has always helped me. I also love venues like the Pasadena Playhouse and hidden gems like Parson’s Nose Theater in Pasadena for open readings and plays.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Aaron – Credit has to go to all the venues in the scene that maintain artist-friendly performance spaces like The Smell, giving small bands space to perform without getting ripped off.

Alex – Big shout-out to Transplants Brewery in Palmdale for being extremely welcoming and genuinely caring about supporting local music! Our producer/engineer Javi Cruces at the Hobby Shop Recording Studio has also been amazing to work with (and talk a lot about music gear).

Joelina – I would like to give a shoutout to all the artists that have helped us along the way. Local artists such as Dead By Sunday and our friend moodswing helped us book our first couple of gigs when we just began our performance journey. Also venues like The Smell have opened their arms to us to play and show our gifts with our friends and family. Producer/Engineer Javier Cruces has been a joy to work with. My talented 4lyfer, Anya GTA, for capturing my visions onto art. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and family that have supported us. Whether that be going to a show, buying a t-shirt, or even playing our songs, it means the world and they motivate me to keep going.

Ryan – For being a Rock/Shoegaze band, I feel like we’ve gotten a lot of help from bands and scenes that are not related to us whatsoever genre-wise. We continue to play in the Antelope Valley music scene thanks to a Psychedelic Rock band called King Ghidra helping establish us. Another band to shout out would be a Doom Metal band called Wömb who are 3 super kind guys who live it up. We have been invited to join them for a few shows so far this year and it sounds like it’s only a matter of time before we share the stage again.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lysithea.band/

Facebook: Lysithea

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lysitheaband?si=VX4ODQ84OmfAKBKk

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3b20140Z72jsTR17KF3gr0?si=CpH5AMbDSIi8O4ownnajAA

Image Credits
photo credits: Megan Maxine