Sergio Medina (born September 10, 1993) is an American rock musician and songwriter. Born in El Paso, Texas, his family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada where he attended the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts as a teenager. He is currently the lead guitarist in the American post-hardcore bands Eidola, Royal Coda, and Nova Charisma.
Sergio Medina | |
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| Birth name | Sergio E. Medina |
| Born | (1993-09-10) September 10, 1993 (age 28) El Paso, Texas, United States |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
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Following his time at Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts, Medina joined the post-hardcore band Stolas. With the band, they released their debut studio album, Living Creatures (2013), which became the first release on Blue Swan Records. The band released their sophomore album, Allomaternal (2014), before signing to Equal Vision Records and releasing their third and final studio album, Stolas (2017). After becoming acquainted with Dance Gavin Dance guitarist Will Swan, Medina co-founded post-hardcore band Sianvar with Swan, in 2013, later releasing their self-titled debut extended play in January 2014 and debut full-length studio album, Stay Lost, in August 2016, before disbanding. Medina temporarily joined the post-hardcore band Chiodos as a touring guitarist in 2014 and Dance Gavin Dance as a touring bassist in 2022.
Medina became the lead guitarist for the progressive post-hardcore group Eidola, in 2017, which led to the release of their fourth studio album, The Architect, in September 2021, on Rise Records. He also co-founded the band Royal Coda, alongside Kurt Travis, and released two studios albums, Royal Coda (2018) and Compassion (2019). Medina has been commended for his unique approach to guitar playing and his energetic on stage performances.
Sergio E. Medina was born in El Paso, Texas on September 10, 1993. At the age of three, him and his family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. In the eighth grade, Medina became inspired to pursue music as a professional career after being influenced by listening to bands such as At the Drive In, Led Zeppelin, RX Bandits, and The Mars Volta.[1] After auditioning for the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts, he would perform guitar and vocals in various different musical groups.
Medina became acquainted with RJ Reynolds in grade school and later formed the Vegas-based post-hardcore band Stolas with guitarist and vocalist Jason Welche and drummer and vocalist Carlo Marquez, who were both in the local Vegas band The Akashic Record.[2] In 2011, the four came together as a group and co-wrote the song "Time & The Sun." By the end of the year, the four-piece began recording music under the name Stolas and had recorded their debut EP titled Losing Wings, which was released on February 25, 2012.[3]
While temporarily touring as a guitarist for the American post-hardcore band Hail the Sun during Dance Gavin Dance's headlining Rock Yourself to Sleep Tour in November 2012, Medina became acquainted with Will Swan and showed the musician Stolas' music to which he later signed the band to his record label, Blue Swan Records.[4][1] After signing to the label, the released their debut studio album, Living Creatures, on March 14, 2013. The album was recorded at Pus Cavern Recording Studios in Sacramento, California in late-2012 with producer Josh Benton and features guest appearances from Donovan Melero of Hail the Sun, Tilian Pearson of Dance Gavin Dance, Kurt Travis and Cory Lockwood of A Lot Like Birds, and Jonny Craig.[5] It was also mastered by Kris Crummett at Interlace Audio Recording Studios in Portland, Oregon.
After multiple tours, Stolas released their second studio album, Allomaternal, on November 7, 2014, becoming their second release on Blue Swan Records.[5] To support the album, the group toured on the Allomaternal Tour with Artifex Pereo, Eidola, and Icarus the Owl.[6] On October 22, 2015, it was revealed that lead vocalist guitarist Jason Welche left the band.[citation needed] Marquez began to provide lead vocals with Medina providing more vocal duties as well on tours and future recordings.
On December 8, 2016, Equal Vision Records had announced that they signed Stolas as a three-piece band.[7] Medina spoke about the band's signing, explaining "I have always wanted to work with Equal Vision in some capacity. Since high school, it’s been a goal of mine." He continued, "based on our style of music, and Equal Vision’s alumni being so musically versatile, I just feel it’s a good home for us." The band released their third studio album, Stolas, on March 17, 2017.[8] The album was produced by Mike Watts at VuDu Recording Studios in Port Jefferson, New York and was the first of the band's discography to feature lead vocals from drummer Carlo Marquez. Shortly after the album's release, it was revealed that bass guitarist RJ Reynolds had left Stolas.[9] In support of the album, the band headlined a US tour with Mylets and Icarus the Owl.[10] On May 28, 2018, the band announced that they would be performing their final tour, the Our Last Night on Earth Tour, in the US with support from VIS, before disbanding.[11]
During the Rock Yourself to Sleep Tour in November 2012, Medina confronted Dance Gavin Dance guitarist Will Swan about signing Stolas to his record label, Blue Swan Records. Medina later became vice president on the label.[12] During his time with the label, himself along with Swan began the progressive rock band Sianvar. Hail the Sun vocalist Donovan Melero and A Lot Like Birds bass guitarist Michael Littlefield and drummer Joseph Arrington all joined the supergroup shortly after. The group released their debut single "Sick Machine" on November 11, 2013, which was followed by the released of their eponymously titled debut EP on January 5, 2014, on Blue Swan Records. Sianvar performed their first concert on January 8, 2014, in San Francisco, California. In support of the release, the band toured with other musical groups such as A Lot Like Birds, Strawberry Girls, Stolas, The Venetia Fair, My Iron Lung, EROS, Idlehands, Artifex Pereo, and Eidola.
Michael Littlefield departed from the band in February 2015, subsequently being replaced by A Lot Like Birds guitarist Michael Franzino.[13] Sianvar began tracking for their debut full-length studio album in July 2015. On June 26, 2016, the band announced their debut studio album, Stay Lost, its track listing, and release date.[14] Two days later, the group released the lead single "Omniphobia", accompanied with its music video, which premiered on Alternative Press.[15] The band embarked on their headlining Stay Lost Tour beginning at the Red House in Walnut Creek, California on August 4, 2016.[16] Sianvar embarked on a second headlining tour in support of Stay Lost in January 2017 with Icarus the Owl and Frameworks.
Sianvar toured as a supporting act on Dance Gavin Dance's headlining 2018 spring tour along with Erra and I See Stars, from May 26 to June 21, 2018. On September 11, 2018, Michael Franzino announced his departure from the group, stating that he wanted to focus on his own music career. Will Swan announced that he would be recording bass guitar for the band's second studio album. On September 27, they revealed that they would be moving forward as a four-piece band. Despite recording their second studio album, Sianvar announced their break-up on April 8, 2019.[citation needed] The announcement read "All Sianvar music releases and activities have been postponed indefinitely." It continued, "This isn't a permanent goodbye, though it could be a while before we meet again".
In December 2017, it was announced that Medina would become the lead guitarist for the Salt Lake City based post-hardcore band Eidola.[17] Medina's first performance with the band was at the first annual SwanFest in Anaheim, California on March 30, 2019.[18] The band released their fourth studio album, and first to feature Medina as lead guitarist, The Architect, on September 17, 2021, through Rise Records and Blue Swan Records.[19] The band supported Dance Gavin Dance on the Afterburner Tour in September and October 2021.[20]
Royal Coda was founded by Medina in 2017 after wanting to pursue a solo musical project that would explore new musical styles outside of his current projects. The band announced its formation on January 28, 2018, revealing that they signed to Blue Swan Records. Former A Lot Like Birds members Kurt Travis and Joseph Arrington joined as lead vocalist and drummer, respectively. The band released their debut studio album, Royal Coda, on April 27, 2018. The album was recorded at VuDu Studios in Port Jefferson, New York with producers Dominic Nastasi and Mike Watts.[21] The band performed their first two concerts at Family Vacation Music Festival in Sacramento, California on May 19 and at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California on May 20.[22] They toured as support on Tilian's headlining US tour in August and September 2018.[citation needed] On July 16, it was confirmed that The Fall of Troy frontman Thomas Erak would join Royal Coda as a touring guitarist and backing vocalist.[citation needed] On August 25, 2018, it was revealed that Erak and former Dance Gavin Dance bass guitarist Jason Ellis were official members of the band. However, Erak left the band halfway through Tilian's headlining tour reportedly focussing on his solo career, leaving Royal Coda to continue as a four-piece outfit. Ellis later departed from the band as well.
On February 11, the group announced its first headlining tour, which took place from March 14 to March 30, 2019, with support from Body Thief.[citation needed] They also toured as support on Hail the Sun's The Mental Knife US tour in September and October 2019. On June 5, it was announced that Dance Gavin Dance guitarist Will Swan had joined the band and would write guitar parts for the group's second studio album; this marks the second musical group Sergio Medina and Swan have been a part of together in addition to Sianvar.[citation needed]
On September 12, the band announced their second studio album, Compassion, with a scheduled release date of November 7, 2019.[23] To support the album, the band were to support Dance Gavin Dance on their spring 2020 tour – however, this was postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and led to the band falling off the line-up.[24]
In February 2021, it was announced that Swan's record label Blue Swan Records would be merging with Rise Records.[25]
On August 19, 2019, Medina and Hail the Sun vocalist Donovan Melero announced the formation of the post-hardcore duo Nova Charisma.[citation needed] Equal Vision Records revealed that they had signed the duo.[26]
Sergio Medina and Donovan Melero have worked diligently throughout their careers to earn reputations as hard rock innovators. Medina’s next level guitar work and intricate arrangements in Stolas were integral to the band’s status as a beloved cult favorite and pivotal to the expansion of progressive rock. Melero has led Hail The Sun to a revered position at the forefront of the scene built on musical dynamism and a knack for raw, emotional connectivity. When the longtime friends came together as members of the experimental rock supergroup, Sianvar, a partnership was forged that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the genre. As they launch Nova Charisma, the artistic limitations they’ve always bucked against are little more than specks in their rearview.
The band released their first EP, Exposition I, on August 22, 2019, consisting of three tracks produced by Brian McTernan and featuring musical contributions from former Stolas drummer and vocalist Carlo Marquez, who performed drums on the record.[27] The duo performed acoustic renditions of tracks from Exposition I before every show on Hail the Sun's Mental Knife Tour.[citation needed] On November 1, 2019, the group announced their first run of shows, scheduled for December 2019, in the US.[citation needed] Their live band featured the addition of Ice Nine Kills guitarist Joe Occhiuti, drummer Carlo Marquez, and Hail the Sun guitarist Aric Garcia.[citation needed]
On December 6, 2019, Nova Charisma released Exposition II.[28] On December 31, the group announced that they had begun writing for their forthcoming debut full-length studio album.[citation needed] On April 30, 2020, they released their third EP, Exposition III.[29]
In 2014, Medina briefly toured as a guitarist in the American post-hardcore band Chiodos along with Joseph Arrington, who drummed for the band.[30] Medina wrote guitar parts for the songs "Born to Fail", "Prisoner", and "Nothing Shameful" on Dance Gavin Dance's ninth studio album, Afterburner, released on April 24, 2020.[citation needed]
In February 2021, Medina launched a podcast along with his former Stolas bandmates Carlo Marquez, RJ Reynolds, and Jason Welche. It was titled Sail The Ocean, Live At Sea and saw the four musicians discussing their time in the band, how they formed, sharing tour stories, and their break-up.[31]
Medina filled in as bass guitarist for Dance Gavin Dance during their US tour in April and May 2022 following the death of the band's bass guitarist Tim Feerick, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2022.[32]
With Stolas
With Sianvar
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With Royal Coda
With Nova Charisma
With Eidola
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