Image courtesy of the artist
The Set List caught up with alt-pop phenomenon Lights via email as she heads out on tour with PVRIS and Flint Eastwood. This tour rolls into DC on October 16 to the 9:30 Club. Read on to hear all about her new album and how it’s coming to life in a whole new way! Get your tickets here.
For those not familiar with her music, Lights describes it as, “electronic feely rage fantasy soul pop.” Her own description feels accurate, as the music her fans have come to know and love defies a single genre. Lights’s passionate fan base grew throughout her first three albums and has been by her side as sold out tours around the world and over 200,000 record sales in the US alone have come her way.
Lights’s fourth studio album, Skin&Earth, is her most open and honest release by far. But, it is much more than just a record. A comic by the same name, written and drawn by Lights herself, accompanies the album.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to see happen, a pop album with a comic counter-part. I figured I might as well be the first to do it. I liked the challenge of trying something I’d never done.”
This album/comic concept revolves around a character called Enaia –En for short– living in a post-apocalyptic world under the full control of a super corporation. En is on the search for any kind of hope. Although En is somewhat of an alter ego of Lights, the singer explains that she drew inspiration from the relatable characters in movies, video games, and comics that have experienced struggle for themselves. Of Enaia, Lights says, “She’s not always strong, but she’s trying to find that something that will bring it out of her, and I think we’re all on that path.”
On the album side of things, Lights brought in Corin Roddick of Purity Ring, Big Data, and Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots to bring “a whole new dimension” to their respective tracks simply by doing what they do best.
With this massive creative endeavor underway, Lights credits the old gym class term, “Personal Best,” as inspiration to push the boundaries, shake up the music world, and maintain a sense of fulfillment with each release.
After the tour with PVRIS, Lights has no intention of slowing down, except to make time for the important things on her time off: gaming, ice cream and family, of course. The comic book release will continue into December along with a music video to accompany each issue, as well as interactive content on the concept’s Instagram world. Fans can expect more tour dates and additional content to bring the project to life in the near future.
Skin&Earth came out September 22. All of the comics are available for pre-order now. Follow Lights on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with all things Skin&Earth (and her super adorable daughter), or visit her website!