LAUNDRY DAY---a shining example of authenticity in the music industry
In an industry ridden with superficiality and monetary motivation, there exists a beacon of hope—New York City – based band, LAUNDRY DAY.
I first discovered LAUNDRY DAY when I was in eighth grade. In December of 2019, shortly before the Covid-19 Pandemic forced us into quarantine, I stumbled across a video on Seventeen Magazine’s YouTube channel. Bestie Picks Bae, a silly teen dating show, had an episode where the contestant’s friends picked her prom date from a line of boys over several rounds of questions. As I was watching the show to keep me entertained in algebra class, I looked to the comments for laughs. I noticed a few commenters stating that one of the contestants, Etai, was the drummer for a band I had never heard of—LAUNDRY DAY.
Stricken with curiosity, I investigated everything about the band. The other members, their origin, their ages, their music style, I wanted to know it all. The first song I listened to was “BULLDOG" and I instantly fell in love with the band’s sound. As the Covid-19 pandemic progressed, I delved deeper into everything their community had to offer. Seniors at Beacon High School at the time, the members of LD (Jude Ciulla-Lipkin, Henry Pearl, Sawyer Nunes, Henry Weingartner, Etai Abramovich) were just like us—desperate for any sense of normalcy they could find. Like everyone else at the time, they discovered alternate ways to interact with their fans. From scheduled weekly livestreams* where each bandmate had their own ‘show’ on a designated night, to Zoom calls with fans (more on that later), the teenagers adapted to the new normal and never lost their focus. If anything, I would argue that the motivation to fine-tune their craft only grew, as they now had ample time on their hands.
*The schedule for their “livestream programming”; March 30, 2020
Through these livestreams and Zoom calls with their fans, LAUNDRY DAY developed a sense of community like no other. Thanks to their former manager, they even joined my virtual birthday party in April. (Looking back on it now, I have secondhand embarrassment, and this is my formal apology to them for having to deal with my fourteen-year-old self. So sorry.) In a time where we all felt incredibly isolated, their music provided me with a community to get me through these difficult times. I strongly believe that without the pandemic, I would not feel the love I do for the band today.
Over the next four years, as the band and their audience grew, their hustle grew with them. As they got older and developed their sound, they released two full-length albums and several singles. Three of the members (Etai, Sawyer, and Henry W.) also released their own music, proving their dedication to their craft. Although their sound may have changed over the years, their humility never did. They remained kind individuals who continued to appreciate their fans every day.
In 2022, I had the opportunity to see LD live for the first time. My parents and I made the trip from New Jersey to Washington, DC. for my sixteenth birthday present. I was conflicted over how to feel that I was about to see my favorite band for the first time. I knew they had a tradition of meeting fans outside of the venue after the show, which both petrified and thrilled me. What if they weren’t nice? What if they didn’t recognize me? However, as soon as I arrived at the venue and met up with my friends (Bea and Kat, who I had met through LD), my anxieties were replaced with excitement. I couldn’t believe I was about to see these people who I had been listening to and interacting with for the last two years of my life, and who had ultimately gotten me through the pandemic.
The show itself was incredible and I was a true mess of emotions. Hearing your favorite songs live in a venue where you are practically on top of the stage (yes, it was that small) is an experience words cannot even describe. A few tears were definitely shed during “Messy Eyes” and “Jane.” I only took around three photos and videos during the show because I was so blown away by their live talent and stage presence.
A visual representation of exactly how small the venue was. Humble beginnings.
After the show concluded, and I had cried all my makeup off, we anxiously waited outside for the band to come out. We spent what felt like hours (and probably was close to it) talking to them. It felt like old friends catching up, and in a way it was. I was taken aback by the fact that they were just, well, normal people. After many interactions with artists who have let fame change them, this was like a breath of fresh air. They all were very grateful that I had made the trip to see them and wished me a happy early birthday. Again, I was reminded of how truly authentic and genuine they are and this interaction reinforced why I love their community so dearly.
pictures with LD after their DC show.
A year later, my love for their music remained. As I grew older and navigated high school, I turned to their work for comfort and reassurance that there was still good in the world. I was able to enjoy their lyricism in a different way as I began to relate to it more and more. My friendships with the people I had met through them in 2020 may not have stayed the same as we led different lives, but I knew I always had people to talk about their music with. In November of 2023, I was able to see LAUNDRY DAY again when they opened for Neon Trees in Philadelphia. While their set was shorter, the experience of hearing their music live, this time with new songs added to their set, was the same. To their core, they are performers, and it is evident when they play shows, regardless of set length.
I had “accessible seats” (aka seats in the bar area where I could see the interpreters I requested) that happened to be right where they walked out after their set. I stopped them when they walked by and they recognized me, reminding me that they truly appreciate their fans. We continued the tradition of talking to them after the show. This time, I had driven into Philly with my best friend Erin, and she was taken aback by how kind they were. For those who don’t know the band well, like Erin, talking to them after the show is a very unique experience. Even a year later, after growing again in popularity, they were still the same genuine guys I had met in 2022.
In the months following the Neon Trees show, LAUNDRY DAY entered a new era of their careers. Their drummer, Etai, who had been with them since their founding in 2018, announced his departure from the band in a heartwarming letter on his website entitled “Leaving the Nest”. He detailed how he had come to his decision to leave the group after attending a yoga retreat in Nepal. In the letter, Etai expressed his desire to immerse himself in other cultures to learn and better himself. While this news did not come as a surprise to most, it was still a shock. We knew things were changing. LAUNDRY DAY had drastically grown in following through comedic TikTok videos and their fan base was expanding. They were not the same tiny band we had discovered in 2018 and 2019, and it was bittersweet. On one hand, we were proud of the immense growth they underwent. On the other hand, we were concerned about the potential impact of fame on their interactions with their fans.
On May 22nd, LAUNDRY DAY opened for Ed Sheeran at his Multiply anniversary show in Brooklyn. This was a proud fan moment for us all, as it was their biggest performance yet. That Friday, the 24th, I was able to attend their sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan. It was a beautiful moment for many fans to be able to see them at such an intimate venue after their performance at the Barclays Center. I was able to talk to the band after the show again, and when asked about the Ed Sheeran show and their recent growth, Jude admitted it was a crazy experience for them as well. He explained that the band is still trying to process it all.
To their core, LAUNDRY DAY are just four young performers from New York City. However, to those like me who have had the opportunity to see them grow over the last few years, they are so much more. They have served as a source of comfort and stability in my life and a reminder that there are still down-to-earth musicians in the industry. While there is no telling what may happen in the future of their career, if I know anything about their character as people, I have faith that they will remain the same humble guys I discovered in 2019.
If you are looking for authentic musicians who are dedicated to their craft, look no further—LAUNDRY DAY is the band to support.