Lido Beach

Lido Beach is hardly a blip on a map that lives just in the shadows of Long Beach, New York. It is also, as it happens, the name of Scott Waldman’s musical foray, and the place where he grew up. It’s also a mere 45 minutes from Broadway, which was integral to Waldman’s early musical background as an “over-dramatic and melodramatic child” before starting his first band in eighth grade and, from there, becoming a guitar teacher. Perhaps it was there, in the shadow of Long Beach, that Waldman first learned he was not content to merely stay in the background.

Taking a brash risk, Waldman moved to Los Angeles in 2003 where he soon thereafter began playing bass in pop-rock band the City Drive. While creating music under another musician’s vision, Waldman continued to write on his own, and there, in his writing and through his personal struggles at the time, Lido Beach was born. It is his testament to remembering his roots, to working hard, and to connecting with others in a meaningful way.

“I really just wanted [to write] heartfelt, emotive lyrics,” Waldman notes. “Definitely that’s how it started.”

While back then, Waldman was in a very “f*ck my life” mental state that very much shows in his early work, he’s now found himself in a much different position. “[2018 single] ‘You Fell Hard’ is an interesting song because it’s an ‘I love my wife and I love my life,’ song. So, we’ll see where I go now.”

These days, Waldman does take a backseat to manage artists and a selection of producers as his primary gig, but as of 2018, is creating again and resurrecting his old music with the help and fresh ears of several producers to sate what he describes as a “creative lull.” That is not to say he’s sidestepping the other facets of his career. As with his entire musical journey, Waldman will continue the hustle, doing double duty behind the scenes and in the spotlight.

“I just needed to let some stuff out, so I wrote new songs and revisited old ones, and it’s been extremely fulfilling, and it’s reminding me why I’m an artist manager and why I moved to Los Angeles in the first place.”

With the help and vision of several producers, Waldman is giving new life to old tracks, one of which being “My Oh My,” which was played during the Superbowl, and is a clear fan-favorite. To Waldman, the voices that have sung the song back to him across multiple states and countries are even more valuable than the cheers surrounding his words during one of sport’s most noteworthy events.

“I just want to touch more people and I want more people to be taken out of all the rigmarole and negativity of social media, because it’s all so toxic. I want to be whatever the antonym for ‘toxic’ is,” says Waldman. “I want to be a source of light, and if a negative experience has gotten me to write and record something, that, I feel, is so much more positive that punching a wall or drowning my sorrows in drinking or drugs. It’s like a meal that I cooked in 2007 and people just keep eating and enjoying over and over.”

You can catch Waldman on his regular Idobi Radio show “Waldman’s Words” every Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET.

More music, including another reimagining of an old Lido Beach track, a cover and a brand new love song are set for release in the near future.