# Vedera

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"This Broken City" redirects here. For other uses, see [Broken City (disambiguation)](/source/Broken_City_(disambiguation)).

American rock band

Vedera Vedera performing in 2008 Background information Genres Indie rock art rock Years active 2004–2011 Labels Second Nature Epic Past members Kristen May Brian Little Jason Douglas Drew Little

**Vedera** (formerly **Veda**) was an American [indie rock](/source/Indie_rock) band from [Kansas City](/source/Kansas_City%2C_Missouri), [Missouri](/source/Missouri). The band was founded as Veda in 2003 by members [Kristen May](/source/Kristen_May), Brian Little, Jason Douglas and Drew Little. They released *[The Weight of an Empty Room](/source/The_Weight_of_an_Empty_Room)*, their first full length [LP](/source/LP_record) in 2005. That year, they changed their name to Vedera after a similarly named band pursued litigation against them.

After signing to [Epic Records](/source/Epic_Records) in 2007, Vedera toured with [The All-American Rejects](/source/The_All-American_Rejects) and [The Fray](/source/The_Fray). *[Stages](/source/Stages_(Vedera_album))*, their first studio album, was released in 2009 and peaked at No. 2 on the [*Billboard* Heatseekers](/source/Billboard_Heatseekers) chart. Vedera disbanded in 2011.

## History

The band members all grew up the Kansas City suburb of [Blue Springs, Missouri](/source/Blue_Springs%2C_Missouri). [Kristen May](/source/Kristen_May) was born into a musical family and her mother introduced her to the work of [Joni Mitchell](/source/Joni_Mitchell), [Carole King](/source/Carole_King), and [Jim Croce](/source/Jim_Croce). When May was 17, her father, a drummer, gave her a guitar and she began writing her own songs.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Meanwhile, Brian Little's father gave his son his first guitar at age 13 and Little played in bands throughout high school. May and Little knew each other in high school and began playing in a band together called, Red Authentic, after May returned home following an aborted stint at college in Nashville.[1] "I didn't want to study music anymore, I just wanted to play it", she said.[2]

In 2003, the band she had formed with her brothers needed a guitarist and they called on Little. However, with her brothers unable to tour, May and Little asked Little's younger brother Drew and high school friend Jason Douglas to join. The band was renamed "Veda".[3]

### *Veda* to *Vedera*

In the summer of 2004, Veda recorded its six-song EP, *This Broken City*, at [Black Lodge](/source/Black_Lodge) with the support of [Ed Rose](/source/Ed_Rose). In 2005, the band released an LP entitled *[The Weight of an Empty Room](/source/The_Weight_of_an_Empty_Room)*.[4]

In early December 2005, Veda's label, [Second Nature Recordings](/source/Second_Nature_Recordings), announced that the band had been forced to change its name from "Veda" to "Vedera" to avoid confusion with the band [Vaeda](/source/Vaeda), whose name was pronounced the same way.[3]

Beginning in the summer of 2005, Vedera toured with [Dredg](/source/Dredg), [MewithoutYou](/source/MewithoutYou), [Communiqué](/source/Communiqu%C3%A9_(band)), [Thrice](/source/Thrice), [Mae](/source/Mae), and [Underoath](/source/Underoath). In early January 2006, Vedera went on a 40 city tour opening for [Mutemath](/source/Mutemath), followed by an opening stint for [Owen](/source/Owen_(band)). In the Summer of 2006, Vedera joined a tour with Lucero and Murder By Death. After a month off, they headed back on the road for another tour with Mae and [The New Amsterdams](/source/The_New_Amsterdams). Kristen May and Brian Little subsequently married.[5]

In 2007, Vedera signed to [Epic Records](/source/Epic_Records) and were featured on the hit T.V. show, *[The Hills](/source/The_Hills_(TV_series))*. They were also featured on iTunes and played their single "Satisfy" on *[Ellen](/source/The_Ellen_DeGeneres_Show)*.[6] May also sang with the lead singer of [The All American Rejects](/source/The_All_American_Rejects) and [Jason Mraz](/source/Jason_Mraz) while they were touring with them.[7] Vedera opened for [Eisley](/source/Eisley) on their Combinations tour in early 2008.[8] In early 2009 Vedera opened for The Fray on their club tour and also performed in the spring with [The All-American Rejects](/source/The_All-American_Rejects) on the I Wanna Rock tour.[9][10]

### *Stages*

Recording of their album *[Stages](/source/Stages_(Vedera_album))* began October 17, 2007.[11] It was released online on October 6, 2009.[12] The album charted well, reaching No. 2 on the [Top Heatseekers](/source/Top_Heatseekers) chart[13] and No. 146 on the [*Billboard* 200](/source/Billboard_200) that year.[14]

May said that *Stages* is about "our blood, sweat, and tears over the past five years as a band on the road."[15] Vedera recorded *Stages* with Epic Records A&R executive Mike Flynn, who co-produced the Fray's double-platinum album [*How to Save a Life*](/source/How_to_Save_a_Life_(album)) and [Augustana](/source/Augustana_(band))'s 2008 album *[Can't Love, Can't Hurt](/source/Can't_Love%2C_Can't_Hurt)*, and Producer/Engineer [Warren Huart](/source/Warren_Huart) (The Fray, Augustana, [Howie Day](/source/Howie_Day)).[16]

### Breakup

In 2011, Vedera disbanded and announced that May and Brian would be working together on May's new solo album.[1]

On October 22, 2012, it was announced that May had joined the band [Flyleaf](/source/Flyleaf_(band)) as lead vocalist, replacing vocalist [Lacey Sturm](/source/Lacey_Sturm) until the band's hiatus in 2016 following her departure.[17]

## Band members

- [Kristen May](/source/Kristen_May) – vocals, guitar, piano

- Brian Little – lead guitar

- Jason Douglas – bass guitar

- Drew Little – drums

## Discography

- 2004: *This Broken City*

- 2005: *[The Weight of an Empty Room](/source/The_Weight_of_an_Empty_Room)*

- 2009: *[Stages](/source/Stages_(Vedera_album))*

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_1-1) Blabbermouth (January 5, 2016). ["FLYLEAF Singer KRISTEN MAY Releases 'Conversations' Solo Album"](https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/flyleaf-singer-kristen-may-releases-conversations-solo-album/). *BLABBERMOUTH.NET*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Interview: Vedera's Kristen May - A Moment There"](https://www.bloginity.com/2010/03/interview-vederas-kristen-may-a-moment-there/). *Bloginity.com*. March 5, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) Rork, Nicole (December 16, 2005). ["Veda change name to Vedera"](https://www.altpress.com/news/archive_260/). *Alternative Press*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Punknews.org (August 5, 2005). ["Vedera - The Weight Of An Empty Room (as Veda)"](https://www.punknews.org/review/4229/vedera-the-weight-of-an-empty-room-as-veda). *www.punknews.org*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Finn, Timothy (October 23, 2014). ["With Flyleaf, Kristen May finds a new voice"](https://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/back-to-rockville/article3208669.html). *[The Kansas City Star](/source/The_Kansas_City_Star)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Vedera"](https://www.ellentube.com/artists/vedera/). *EllenTube*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Harper, Jason. ["Vedera/All-American Rejects"](https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/vedera-all-american-rejects/Content?oid=2476740). *Riverfront Times*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Carr, Abbey. ["Indie rock group Eisley performs at First Unitarian Church"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201111022732/http://www.villanovan.com/indie-rock-group-eisley-performs-at-first-unitarian-church/article_b6e92cdf-0372-5f71-aa63-eb97acafe5cb.html). *Villanovan (Villanova University)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.villanovan.com/indie-rock-group-eisley-performs-at-first-unitarian-church/article_b6e92cdf-0372-5f71-aa63-eb97acafe5cb.html) on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** PETERS, KRISTEN. ["Band Vedera on the road without a bus"](https://dailyiowan.com/2009/07/23/band-vedera-on-the-road-without-a-bus/). *The Daily Iowan*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["All-American Rejects, opening bands rock out Kuhl Gymnasium for spring concert"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201116232310/https://www.thelamron.com/posts/2009/04/23/all-american-rejects-opening-bands-rock-out-kuhl-gymnasium-for-spring-concert). *The Lamron*. Archived from [the original](https://www.thelamron.com/posts/2009/04/23/all-american-rejects-opening-bands-rock-out-kuhl-gymnasium-for-spring-concert) on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Gintowt, Richard (March 31, 2008). ["Bigger "Stages""](http://m.lawrence.com/news/2008/mar/31/bigger_stages/). *m.lawrence.com*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Vedera | Videos | Photos | Editorial"](https://www.baeblemusic.com/artist/vedera). *baeblemusic.com*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Heatseekers Albums Chart"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2010-01-22). *Billboard*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Vedera – Chart history – Billboard"](http://www.billboard.com/artist/277752/vedera/chart?f=324). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved September 15, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** staff, Bay City Times (February 28, 2010). ["Hot new band Vedera plays Saturday"](https://www.mlive.com/living/bay-city/2010/02/hot_new_band_vedera_plays_satu.html). *mlive*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Welsh, Hugh S. (October 11, 2008). ["VIDEO: Behind the music"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201111142738/https://www.examiner.net/article/20081011/NEWS/310119845). *The Examiner of East Jackson County*. Archived from [the original](https://www.examiner.net/article/20081011/NEWS/310119845) on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Whitt, Cassie (October 22, 2012). ["Flyleaf announce departure of vocalist Lacey Sturm"](https://www.altpress.com/news/flyleaf_announce_departure_of_vocalist_lacey_sturm/). *Alternative Press*. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vedera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedera) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedera?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.