Behind the Band: Lives Lost - Finding Hope in the Heavy
Lives Lost began during one of the strangest periods in recent history.
During the COVID lockdowns, vocalist and songwriter Tanis Pellegrini found himself with extra time after work while his melodic metalcore band was on hiatus. Sitting in his studio apartment, he started writing something different, music rooted in post-hardcore and rock, but centered around mental health, grief, loss and finding a way forward. That music became Lives Lost.
Today, the band has grown into Tanis on vocals, Chad Wynn on guitar and vocals, Shawn Lauderback on drums and programming, and Dan Cheesman on bass. And while the sound has grown considerably since those early apartment recordings, the reason behind Lives Lost hasn't changed.
Finding Hope Inside
The band's name came directly from the experiences that inspired the music. Tanis was thinking about the people he'd lost throughout his life while also dealing with his own feelings of being lost and displaced. The original idea was actually Our Lives Lost, but its similarity to Our Last Night led him to shorten it.
That decision ultimately gave the band a name that perfectly represents its message.
“This band is and always has been a bit of a ministry around mental health and perseverance and finding a way to carry on and move on.”
It's also where the band's longtime phrase “Find Hope Inside” comes from. Lives Lost even calls its fans the Lost Ones, a reminder that feeling lost doesn't mean having to be alone.
Building the Lives Lost Sound
Ask Tanis to describe the band's music and he'll jokingly give you two comparisons: “Angrier Deftones. Heavier The Spill Canvas.” But underneath the joke is a pretty good indication of how wide the band's influences run.
Lives Lost pulls heavily from the alternative metal and post-hardcore of the 2000s, Deftones, Korn, AFI, Saosin, Underoath, Thrice and 36 Crazyfists, alongside modern bands including Bad Omens, Wage War, I Prevail, The Plot In You and Dayseeker.
Then there are the influences you probably wouldn't expect. Tanis points to everything from '90s country to Otis Redding, Dean Martin, Usher, Elvis and Johnny Cash, while Chad brings a love of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Motown, funk and soul. All of it eventually finds its way into Lives Lost.
The Songs That Changed Things
Most Lives Lost songs begin in the same place: a guitar riff. Tanis estimates about 99.9 percent of the band's material starts with him finding a riff and building outward. Occasionally, a vocal hook comes first instead.
That riff-driven approach has also played a role in the band's recent growth. Tanis points to “Champagne” as an early moment when things began gaining momentum. Then came “Found,” featuring Kellin Quinn, which pushed the band even further.
As their music became heavier and more riff-focused, Tanis noticed another shift.
“When we got instrumentally a little heavier/riffier, that's when it really started to pop.”
For someone discovering Lives Lost today, however, he'd start with “Haunted.” It combines the pieces he feels represent the band best: a strong guitar riff, accessibility, and breakdowns.
From the Studio to Bigger Stages
One of the band's biggest moments came this past summer with Rock Lansing, surrounded by a run of tour dates.Playing a stadium show introduced Lives Lost to a much larger crowd and gave the band a glimpse of exactly what they're working toward.
The ultimate goal?
Making Lives Lost a full-time career, touring internationally and finally meeting Lost Ones around the world. They've already opened for numerous established artists and built relationships with musicians in larger bands. Now they're waiting for the opportunity to take that next step and join a national act on tour.
New World Disorder
That next chapter starts October 2 with the release of “NEW WORLD DISORDER.” And according to Tanis, this one's made for us:
“It's a big riff song, so I know that this is for the Riff Culture BIG TIME.”
The band also recommends checking out their recent tracks “SLEEPLESS” and “HAUNTED” while waiting for the new release.
There are plenty of challenges that come with being an independent band, recording costs, videos, marketing and simply trying to cut through an increasingly crowded music landscape. Lives Lost approaches that by treating every new release like it could be their biggest yet.
What began as one musician writing songs alone in an apartment has grown into a band chasing something much bigger. But the message behind it remains remarkably simple: Find Hope Inside.
