Lydia Night
Lydia Victoria Night (born October 13, 2000) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter primarily known for serving as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the indie rock band The Regrettes.[1]
Raised in Los Angeles, Night began performing music at an early age, forming her first punk-pop duo, Pretty Little Demons, at age 12 with drummer Marlhy Murphy.[2] She founded The Regrettes in 2015 while still a teenager, with the band gaining recognition for their energetic live performances and releasing three studio albums: Feel Your Feelings Fool! (2017), How Do You Love? (2019), and Further Joy (2022).[3] The group performed at major festivals including Coachella and Bonnaroo, establishing Night as a prominent figure in the indie and punk scenes.[4]
Following The Regrettes' disbandment in 2023, Night transitioned to a solo career, releasing her debut single "Pity Party" in April 2025 and her first album, Parody of Pleasure, in August 2025, which explores themes of personal vulnerability and pop experimentation.[5][6]
Biography
Early life (2000–2011)
Lydia Victoria Night was born on October 13, 2000, in New Orleans, Louisiana.[7][8][1] She is the daughter of Morgan Higby Night, a nightclub owner, and a mother who played in a metal band during her teenage years, providing an environment immersed in music from infancy.[9] Night displayed an early interest in performance, beginning live singing as young as two years old, including covers of punk songs such as the Ramones' "Beat on the Brat."[10] Throughout her childhood, she received guitar lessons that integrated singing and songwriting, fostering her foundational musical skills amid familial encouragement to pursue creative expression freely.[9]Early musical projects (2012–2014)
In 2012, at the age of 11, Lydia Night formed the punk-pop duo Pretty Little Demons with drummer Marlhy Murphy, whom she met at the Burbank School of Rock; Night served as lead vocalist and guitarist, writing songs that reflected her early influences in garage rock and punk.[11][12] The band released tracks such as "Daisy" in December 2012 and performed locally, including a record release show featuring "The Country Song" in April 2013.[13][14] In March 2013, Pretty Little Demons performed at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, marking them as the youngest act to play the festival at the time, with Night aged 12.[12][15] Their set drew attention from actor Ryan Gosling, leading to an invitation for the duo to open for his band Dead Man's Bones later that year; Night began performing live with Dead Man's Bones as a collaborator during this period.[11][16] The band also issued an EP titled Flowers around this time, showcasing Night's raw, energetic songwriting style.[17] By 2014, Pretty Little Demons continued local performances and song releases, such as "Bag of Rocks," while Night's involvement with Dead Man's Bones provided exposure to larger audiences and theatrical elements in live shows, influencing her development as a performer.[18]The Regrettes (2015–2023)
The Regrettes were formed in 2015 in Los Angeles by Lydia Night as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, alongside Genessa Gariano on lead guitar, bassist Sage Chavis, and drummer Maxx Morando.[19][3] The band quickly gained traction with their debut single "Hey Now" released that year, establishing a raw punk rock sound influenced by 1960s garage rock.[20] Signed to Warner Bros. Records shortly after formation, they released their debut EP Hey! in 2016, followed by their first full-length album Feel Your Feelings Fool! on January 13, 2017, when Night was 16 years old and the other members were teenagers.[21][22] The band underwent lineup changes after their debut album, with Chavis and Morando departing in 2018; they were replaced by bassist Brooke Dickson and drummer Drew Thomsen.[23] Night and Gariano remained the core creative forces.[24] The Regrettes released their second album How Do You Love? on August 9, 2019, exploring more mature themes of relationships and self-reflection, and their third album Further Joy on June 3, 2022, which shifted toward a broader indie rock style.[3] They toured extensively, including headline shows, world tours like the "Come Through" tour, and festival appearances at Coachella and Bonnaroo in 2018, drawing praise for their energetic live performances.[4][25] On November 14, 2023, after nine years together, the band announced their mutual decision to disband in order to focus on individual projects.[26] Night stated that she wanted to end the band while it was still successful rather than risk decline.[2] Due to demand, they extended their farewell performances to three nights at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood from December 19 to 21, 2023, featuring guest appearances and spanning their discography.[27][28]Solo career (2024–present)
Following the disbandment of The Regrettes in 2023, Night began developing material for her solo project, signing with Warner Records for distribution.[29] Her debut solo single, "Pity Party," was released on April 4, 2025, marking her first independent output and featuring a music video co-directed by Night and Ramisha Das.[29][30] On June 27, 2025, Night announced her debut solo album, Parody of Pleasure, scheduled for release on August 8, 2025, via Warner Records.[31] The album's lead promotional singles included "Gutter," released alongside the announcement, followed by "The Bomb" on August 7, 2025, with an accompanying official music video.[31][32] Post-release, additional singles from the album were "Chameleon" on September 25, 2025, and "Meltdown," which received a music video on October 23, 2025.[33][34] Night performed her first solo headlining concert on August 13, 2025, at The Echo in Los Angeles, shortly after the album's release, showcasing tracks from Parody of Pleasure.[35] She embarked on a North American tour in support of the album, with dates including Minneapolis on November 4, 2025; Chicago on November 5, 2025; Toronto on November 7, 2025; and Ann Arbor on November 8, 2025.[36]Musical style and influences
Key influences
Lydia Night's key musical influences draw from mid-20th-century rock and roll, 1990s riot grrrl punk, and modern pop, reflecting the eclectic blend in her work with The Regrettes and her solo career. Early exposure through her parents' music led her to appreciate 1950s artists like Buddy Holly for direct lyrical narratives and Elvis Presley for foundational rock energy, as well as 1960s girl groups including The Ronettes, The Marvelettes, and The Crystals for their harmonic structures and vocal dynamics.[37] [38] Punk and grunge elements stem prominently from riot grrrl acts, with Night citing Hole—particularly their 1994 album Live Through This—as a formative impact discovered around age eight or nine, alongside Bikini Kill and L7 for their raw attitude and feminist edge.[37] [38] She has also highlighted Sleigh Bells' noisy pop-punk hybrid, especially their track "Infinity Guitars," as a middle-school favorite that influenced her performance style.[38] Contemporary inspirations include Beyoncé, whom Night has called her top influence for overall artistry, as well as Charli XCX for innovative production, The 1975 for songwriting and visuals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs for indie rock vigor, and Brockhampton for experimental group dynamics.[39] In her 2025 solo transition to pop, she referenced childhood listens to Britney Spears' Blackout via her mother, Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby., and elements from Gorillaz and Justin Bieber for playful, boundary-pushing structures.[12]Evolution of style
Night's musical style with The Regrettes initially drew from punk rock, garage rock, and riot grrrl aesthetics, characterized by raw energy, doo-wop harmonies, and 1950s rock influences on their debut album Feel Your Feelings Fool! released in 2017.[40] This phase emphasized high-tempo, confrontational tracks that critiqued social norms with youthful irreverence.[41] Subsequent albums marked a shift toward more polished production and genre experimentation; How Do You Love? (2019) incorporated emotional ballads and R&B elements alongside punk roots, reflecting band members' maturation.[42] By Further Joy (2022), the sound had evolved into their "poppiest" work yet, blending disco-funk rhythms, swaggering pop hooks, and introspective lyrics on anxiety and growth, diverging from early garage punk toward accessible, radio-friendly structures.[40] [41] Transitioning to her solo career in 2024 after The Regrettes' disbandment, Night fully embraced alt-pop, prioritizing confessional vulnerability and synthetic production over rock instrumentation.[2] Her debut single "Pity Party" (April 2025) introduced uber-relatable pop anthems with fresh sonic elements, while the album Parody of Pleasure (August 2025) represented a deliberate pivot to uninhibited pop, incorporating playful irony, romantic chaos, and unfiltered personal narratives.[43] [44] This evolution allowed greater creative autonomy, moving from band-driven punk ethos to solo alt-pop risk-taking, though retaining thematic continuity in emotional rawness.[12] [45]Personal life
Family background
Lydia Night's father is Morgan Higby Night, a filmmaker and former owner of the Shim Sham music venue in New Orleans, which specialized in punk and rock performances during the early 2000s.[46][12] Her parents divorced when she was very young, after which her mother dealt with personal challenges that prevented relocation, while Night moved to Los Angeles with her father.[2] Night has credited her mother with early exposure to pop music, including artists like Britney Spears, contrasting her father's punk influences.[12]Relationships and privacy
Lydia Night was in a romantic relationship with actor and musician Dylan Minnette from approximately 2018 until their breakup in late 2022.[47][48] On December 8, 2022, Night announced the split via her Instagram Story, stating, "Dylan and I have decided to end our romantic relationship. we love and care for each other very much and that won't change."[47] No other public romantic relationships have been confirmed by Night or reported in verified accounts. In a September 2025 interview, she described the emotional and logistical aftermath of ending a four-year cohabitation, including shared pets and independent living adjustments, but did not name the partner or elaborate further.[49] Night has consistently prioritized privacy in her personal affairs, limiting disclosures to broad reflections on love, regret, and vulnerability in her music and occasional interviews, rather than specific details about partners or dating history.[39]Controversies
Allegations against Joey Armstrong
In July 2020, Lydia Night, lead singer of The Regrettes, publicly accused Joey Armstrong—former drummer of the band from its formation in 2015 until his departure in 2016 to focus on SWMRS—of emotional abuse and sexual coercion during their past romantic relationship, which began when Night was 16 and Armstrong was 21.[50][51] Night detailed her allegations in an Instagram post, stating that she initially viewed the relationship as consensual but later recognized it as involving manipulation and coercion due to Armstrong's greater industry experience and influence, particularly in the context of the broader sexual misconduct scandals at Burger Records, to which both bands were connected.[52][50] Armstrong responded the following day with a public statement on Instagram, acknowledging the harm he caused, expressing remorse, and stating, "I recognize that I acted in ways that were disrespectful, hurtful, and ultimately damaging to someone I cared about," while denying any intent of coercion but accepting responsibility for the power imbalance.[51][53] He emphasized personal growth through therapy and committed to accountability, though he did not detail specific actions taken.[53] The accusations contributed to fallout for SWMRS, including severed ties with Burger Records and internal band discussions; in October 2022, SWMRS vocalists Cole and Max Becker addressed the matter publicly, confirming they believed Night's account and noting it strained band dynamics but did not result in Armstrong's removal.[54] No criminal charges were filed, and the matter remained a public dispute without formal resolution or further legal proceedings as of 2025.[55] Night has since referenced the experience in discussions of industry exploitation but has not pursued additional public actions against Armstrong.[55]Reception and impact
Critical assessments of The Regrettes
The Regrettes' music has generally received positive critical reception, praised for its energetic blend of garage rock, punk, and pop influences, as well as Lydia Night's candid songwriting on themes of relationships, adolescence, and emotional vulnerability. Critics have highlighted the band's ability to deliver raw, youthful intensity in their early work, with Feel Your Feelings Fool! (2017) lauded for its "ballsy candor and musicianship exceeding its creators' individual years" and described as one of the best rock albums of the 2010s for its head-bobbing appeal and emotional depth.[56][57] The album's straightforward lyrics and rough edges were seen as strengths, evoking comparisons to 1960s girl groups and punk acts while flooring critics with the band's precocity.[58] Subsequent releases showed stylistic maturation, with How Do You Love? (2019) earning acclaim for its explosive formula and exploration of love's complexities, including "sleepless nights" and relational resistance, across 15 tracks blending doo-wop and emotional intelligence.[59][60] Reviewers noted its confident power chords and reflective chaos, though some found it "mild" and "lukewarm" compared to the debut's ferocity, suggesting a tamer rock edge.[61][62] The album solidified the band's lyrical precision in targeting "innermost caverns" of the mind.[63] Further Joy (2022) marked a pivot toward pop, with critics observing the band "sanding off rough edges" while retaining emotional vigor and personal growth narratives, drawing from artists like Charli XCX and St. Vincent for a "proud pop streak."[64][65] It was commended for its hopeful tone amid mental health themes and self-acceptance, creating a "new and surprising yet familiar" experience reminiscent of early-2000s pop-punk, though the shift from punk roots prompted notes of it leaving behind "teenage angst."[66][67][68] Overall, the band's evolution reflects increasing polish and thematic breadth, consistently valued for honesty over genre purity.[69]Reception of solo work
Lydia Night's debut solo single "Pity Party", released on April 4, 2025, was praised for its catchiness and vocal experimentation, with reviewers noting its simple yet effective chorus structure and emotional directness.[5] Her follow-up singles, including "The Hearse" and "Gutter", contributed to building anticipation for her full-length release, emphasizing themes of romantic chaos and self-reflection.[70] The album Parody of Pleasure, issued on August 8, 2025, via Warner Records, marks Night's shift toward alt-pop, drawing mixed critical responses focused on its ambitious yet uneven execution.[71] Paste Magazine critiqued the record for lacking cohesion in sound and persona, arguing that Night's pop ambitions were undermined by inconsistent stylistic elements despite strong individual songwriting.[72] User aggregates on Album of the Year echoed this divide, commending her lyrical vibe and introspection while faulting the instrumentation as flat, whether viewed through pop or indie lenses, resulting in an average score reflecting tempered enthusiasm.[73] Live receptions of the solo material have been more uniformly positive, with accounts from her debut headlining show at The Echo on August 13, 2025, highlighting leaner arrangements that amplified the material's vulnerability and signature wit.[35] Observers described the performance as a confident pivot from her band era, underscoring Night's ability to connect intimately despite the nascent stage of her solo career.[74]Commercial performance and legacy
The Regrettes garnered attention in the alternative rock genre through high-profile live performances, including appearances at Coachella and Bonnaroo in 2018, which helped build a dedicated fanbase despite limited mainstream chart penetration.[4] Their albums, released via Warner Bros. Records, such as Feel Your Feelings Fool! (2017), How Do You Love? (2019), and Further Joy (2022), achieved modest streaming success, with recent data showing spikes in Spotify monthly listeners exceeding 5,000 new additions in late September 2025, though specific sales figures remain unreported.[75] Lydia Night's solo career, launched with the debut album Parody of Pleasure on August 8, 2025, via Warner Records, represents a pivot to alt-pop, but as of October 2025, it has not yet registered significant chart positions or disclosed sales, reflecting an early-stage transition from band dynamics to individual artistry.[76] Listener growth on platforms like Spotify has been noted, with over 2,000 new monthly listeners added in July 2025, signaling initial traction in niche digital audiences.[77] The legacy of Night's work with The Regrettes endures in the alt-indie scene, where the band is credited with bridging punk roots and pop evolution, fostering a space for adolescent expression and influencing subsequent young acts through their raw, genre-blending approach.[78] Their disbandment in November 2023 did not diminish this impact, as their music continues to resonate for its unfiltered portrayal of teenage anxieties and stylistic versatility, from garage punk to synth-infused indie.[79] Night's solo endeavors extend this foundation, emphasizing personal reinvention amid commercial uncertainties.[12]Discography
Solo studio albums
Parody of Pleasure is the debut solo studio album by Lydia Night, released on August 8, 2025.[80] The album marks Night's transition from her work with The Regrettes to independent solo production, featuring 13 original tracks that explore themes of pop satire, personal vulnerability, and emotional rawness.[81] Recorded following the band's disbandment, it was self-produced in part by Night, emphasizing her creative control over the songwriting and arrangement process.[6] The tracklist includes:- Pity Party
- Little Doe
- The Hearse
- The Bomb
- Gutter
- Puppet
- Meltdown
- Trust Fall
9–13. [Additional tracks as per full listing on official sources]
Solo singles
Lydia Night's solo singles commenced with "Pity Party", released on April 4, 2025, as the lead track promoting her debut album Parody of Pleasure.[29] This release followed the 2023 disbandment of The Regrettes, shifting Night's focus to independent artistry characterized by introspective pop elements.[5] "The Hearse" followed on May 9, 2025, featuring production by Idarose and a music video directed by Night and Ramisha Sattar.[85][86] "Gutter", issued on June 27, 2025, accompanied the album announcement and emphasized warped art-pop stylings.[71][87] "The Bomb" arrived on August 8, 2025, simultaneous with Parody of Pleasure's Warner Records launch, including a co-directed music video by Night and Sattar.[88][32] Post-album, "Headshot (From 'Super Strike')" was released September 19, 2025, as a contribution to the video game soundtrack.[89][90]| Title | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "Pity Party" | April 4, 2025 | Lead single for Parody of Pleasure |
| "The Hearse" | May 9, 2025 | Album track; music video released |
| "Gutter" | June 27, 2025 | Album promotional single |
| "The Bomb" | August 8, 2025 | Album single with video |
| "Headshot (From 'Super Strike')" | September 19, 2025 | Soundtrack contribution |