PRETTY LIGHTS
Another artist I have been meaning to write about is Pretty Lights. Pretty Lights is Girl Talk for those of us who truly appreciate great beats and samples, and can focus for more than a half second (yes, I’m a music snob). While both artists’ music is derived from a variety of samples, Pretty Lights creates much more thorough and thoughtful compositions than the haphazard mash-ups you’ll find on Feed the Animals. Pretty Lights, also known as Derek Vincent Smith, has released 3 albums and 5 EP’s to date. The songs he creates on these albums are just that: songs that keep your attention from start to finish, rather than a soundboard of the 2011 NOW! hits for the ADHD diagnosed. I’m not normally a big fan of electronic music, and let’s be clear that’s what Pretty Lights is, essentially a well choreographed, fluid blend of hip-hop and electronica, but I have become an avid fan. What got me hooked on Pretty Lights was the first time I heard the After Midnight mix from his NYE 2009 show. A 10 minute long compilation of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider,” Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight,” and one thumping beat, the song sets the stage for what Pretty Lights’ is all about. It moves in and out each sample, then to a beat driven by sounds akin to lasers from a science fiction movie, and back again, all the while keeping the listener captivated. Through samples and his own originals, Smith creates serious grooves and powerful, danceable beats that can keep your heading nodding for hours. During his live shows Smith mans his computer setup, while Adam Deitch joins him on the drum kit. What makes Pretty Lights even more appealing is the fact that all of his music is available for free download on his website (feel free to donate to the cause though). Check out some of the live videos from YouTube linked below, it makes me want to grab my glow sticks and rage all night. I would suggest individual tracks to listen to, but to be honest, you should download his albums and listen to them from start to finish.
More to come soon, but for now see you where the water tastes like wine…
Sneak peak:
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