Indie Voice

Great artists, whether painters, actors, dancers, or musicians, tap into their own life experiences to enhance their craft. These experiences shape personalities, strengthen abilities and inspire work that touches others in one way or another. JULIA ROTHENBERGER, lead singer of the Wilmington alternative indie band Lady Die, was shaped, strengthened, and inspired throughout her childhood and chose to share her talents with others.

“I grew up in the woods of Pennsylvania, the youngest of three kids,” Rothenberger says. “I definitely fit the stereotype of the third child, and I think that position in life actually led me to pursue music. I was always in my own little world, doing my own thing.”

While no one in my family was musically inclined, Rothenberger felt like music was all around her.

“Being in a rural area, we didn’t have a lot of opportunities, but people in church helped me get involved with youth worship bands where they slowly taught me how to play piano, read chord charts, and stuff like that,” she recalls. “When it came to singing, I just tried my best to imitate people better than me and kept getting feedback from adults in the church saying that I could be on American Idol one day! I took that as a sign to keep pursuing music to see what happened.”

Rothenberger decided to continue her pursuit in college, where she majored in music performance.

“Being able to dedicate four years to learning your craft and instrument is such an incredible privilege and was a wonderful experience for me since I was pretty embarrassed to practice music around the house growing up,” Rothenberger says. “I loved having access to soundproof practice rooms and vocal lessons every week.”

She moved to Wilmington after she graduated in 2019. “After getting to know and understand the music scene here and its roots, I could see there was a place for me. Thanks to the internet, success in music doesn’t depend as much on moving to a big city to be discovered,” she says. “In the seven years I have been here, I have found so many interesting opportunities that have always produced more growth and creativity.”

Along with TANNER LACKEY (bass), SAMUEL MCNEILLY (drums), LOGAN STRAHLEY (guitar and production), and CAMERON PERRY (guitar), Lady Die was born.

“The connection with Princess Diana started while I was in college when some classmates said I kind of looked like her,” Rothenberger says. “I remember writing down in a notebook that Lady Die could be a cool band name someday. Princess Diana was such an incredible icon, showing bravery, kindness, and compassion in her life. Her actions and attitude really exemplified the importance of not conforming, which I feel like is a big theme in our music.

“Even spelling our band name Lady Die with d-i-e, plays on this idea of death to expectation and stepping outside of the boxes that the world wants to put you in,” she adds. “I don’t imagine that this project would be as successful as it is without these musicians by my side – shout out to the Lady Die guys!”

Rothenberger describes Lady Die as “alternative, a little pop, a little indie, melody driven, lyric centered, cruising down a sunny street kind of music.”

They released their debut EP, June, last summer.

“My hope for the future of Lady Die is just to be able to tap into new levels of creativity together,” she says. “It definitely requires a lot of time and emotional availability to show up and meet the inspiration, but I think if we just keep focusing on making the work good and keep that as our main goal, doors will open on our path, and we will be able to share this music in a bigger way.”

Upcoming opportunities to see Lady Die live can be found on the website ladydie.club. The band performs at The Fuzzy Needle on May 22, The Eagle’s Dare on June 12, and The Sandspur in Carolina Beach on June 27.

The band also is part of the BAD Day Music and Arts Festival’s lineup on November 14, where they’ll open up for The Revivalists and Grace Potter for the day-long takeover of the Brooklyn Arts District.

“We are so thankful for this community,” Rothenberger says. “Our opportunities were absolutely fueled by the hundreds of times people in Wilmington came to our shows, bought our merch, shared our music, helped connect us with other bands and always encouraged us. We are growing because of the support granted to us from our community here in Wilmington, and we cherish that.”

To view more of photographer and stylists Drewe & Kate’s work, go to dreweandkate.com

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