Song Of The Day: Pretty Lights - The Day Is Gone

Pretty Lights has just released this new track alongside a Recap Video for NYE 2013. From the video: "This is produced by Pretty Lights specifically for the shows in NYC on December 30 & 31, 2012. We hope you enjoy the recap!" This is the first original track released since "So Bright" was leaked, and the released by PLM. Both new tracks have a dark, soulful feeling to them, and this latest release is sure to stir buzz about Pretty Lights' upcoming album which as of now is still without a release date.

As always, Pretty Lights has a busy touring schedule, and will be headlining numerous festivals including Ultra Music Festival, Coachella, The Governor's Ball, Bonnaroo and Electric Forest.  Let's hope sometime this year he drops that new album.

Pretty Lights - The Day Is Gone

November - December 2012 Upcoming EDM Events for NYC

Oktoberfest may have to an end, but the real party is just around the corner. Even after such an impressive October lineup of shows, NYC is really getting ready to throw down between now and the biggest party of all, New Years Eve 2012! This city is no stranger to a good time, but the sheer number of incredible bands, DJs, producers and artists descending on us over such a short period of time could only mean the End of Days.

From the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival to Boys Noize, The Magician to Minnesota, Dan Deacon to DJ Shadow, Paper Diamond to Pretty Lights, and Squarepusher to Sound Tribe Sector 9, I cannot remember the last time I saw a more exciting concert schedule for the beginning of Winter in NYC. So here is a comprehensive list of every great show you're going to want to attend in November and December 2012.*

Image Courtesy of Mr. Bugsly Presents

Thursday, November 1^st

Squarepusher, Bonobo, Holy Fuck and Mount Kimbie at Terminal 5

Tickets - $32-40

Woodkid at Irving Plaza
Tickets - $18

Friday, November 2^nd

Sound Tribe Sector 9 at the Best Buy Theater

Tickets - $27.50

The Bloody Beetroots, Nobody Beats the Drum, Alex English and reckLES at Webster Hall

Tickets - $40
Official STS9 Afterparties: LowRIDERz, Love and Light and the Bins at Club 39

Tickets - $10-15
Sonar North American Tour 2012: Die Antwoord, Tiga, Paul Kalkbrenner and more at the Roseland Ballroom

Tickets - $55

Image Courtesy of 1320 Records

Saturday, November 3^rd

Sound Tribe Sector 9 at the Best Buy Theater

Tickets - $27.50

The Magician, Mighty Mouse, JDH and Dave P at (le) poisson rogue

Tickets - $12-15

Paper Diamond and MORRI$ at Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY)

Tickets - $15
Official STS9 Afterparties: NastyNasty, Horizon Wireless and Slugabed at Club 39

Tickets - $10-15

Tuesday, November 6^th

Pretty Lights at the Starland Ballroom

Tickets - $32.50-35

Thursday, November 8^th

Minnesota and Zion I at Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY)

Tickets - $10-12

Image Courtesy of HARD NYC

Friday, November 9^th

Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival - Multiple Venues (Brooklyn, NY)

Tickets - $35-65

Wolfgang Gartner, Proxy, L-Vis 1990 and Popeska at Terminal 5

Tickets - $35-50

Mimosa and Curren$y at the Best Buy Theater
Tickets - $20-30
moe. at the Capitol Theatre (Portchester, NY)

Tickets - $35

Image Courtesy of Mean Red Productions

Saturday, November 10^th

Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival - Multiple Venues (Brooklyn, NY)

Tickets - $35-65
moe. at the Wellmont Theatre (Montclair, NJ)

Tickets - $30-35

Tuesday, November 13^th

Yeasayer at The Capitol Theater

Tickets - $20-35

Wednesday, November 14^th

Dan Deacon, Height With Friends, Chester Endersby Gwazda, and Alan Resnick at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY)

Tickets - $15

Thursday, November 15^th

Matt and Kim at Terminal 5

Tickets - $24-28
Karsh Kale (Live) at Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $10

Image Courtesy of The Brain Trust

Friday, November 16^th

BassNectar, Gramatik, and GladKill at the Wellmont Theatre (Montclair, NJ)

Tickets - $40-45

Dan Deacon, Height With Friends, Chester Endersby Gwazda, and Alan Resnick at the Bowery Ballroom

Tickets - $15

Future Rock at Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $10
Birdy Nam Nam, Monsta and Kill Paris at Webster Hall
Tickets - $15
Phutureprimitive, Space Jesus and Soulacybin at the Glasslands Gallery (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $12-15

Saturday, November 17^th

BassNectar, GRiZ and GladKill at Terminal 5

Tickets (Sold Out) - $40-45

Matt and Kim at the Wellmont Theatre (Montclair, NJ)

Tickets - $24-28

Image Courtesy of BassNectar

Sunday, November 18^th

BassNectar and Gramatik at Terminal 5

Tickets (Sold Out) - $40-45

Rubblebucket and Reptar at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY)

Tickets - $18-20

Tuesday, November 21^st - Saturday, November 24^th

Robert Randolph and The Family Band at Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $15-17 
Kid Koala 12 Bit Blues Vinyl Vaudeville at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $20

Friday, November 23^rd
EOTO and Jansten at the Highline Ballroom
Tickets - $20-25


Saturday, November 24^th
Eric Prydz at the Roseland Ballroom
Tickets - $39.50

Thursday, November 29^th

AC Slater, Flinch and Harvard Bass at Santos Party House

Tickets - $10-15

Friday, November 30^th

Boys Noize at the Roseland Ballroom

Tickets - $40

Thursday, December 6^th
Break Science and Michal Menert at Irving Plaza
Tickets - $15

Simian Mobile Disco (Live) at Webster Hall

Tickets - $20

Friday, December 7^th

Skream, FaltyDL and Stryker Matthews at Webster Hall

Tickets - $15


Saturday, December 8^th
Dr. Fameus, Higher Organix and ShwizZ at the Paper Box (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets ($12-15)

Image Courtesy of Brooklyn Bowl

Tuesday, December 11^th

James Blake at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY)

Tickets (Sold Out) - $25
DJ Shadow: All Basses Covered at Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $25

Thursday, December 13^th
!!! at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $18-20


Friday, December 14^th
ill.Gates, Stephan Jacobs and :DFace  at Santos Party House
Tickets - $15-17
Gigamesh, Computer Magic and Lou Teti  at Glasslands Gallery (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets - $10

Saturday, December 15^th
Blockhead at the Paper Box (Brooklyn, NY)
Tickets ($15-16)

Friday, December 21^st
Zeds Dead and UZ at Webster Hall
Tickets - $20

Wednesday, December 26^th - Saturday, December 29^th 

The Disco Biscuits at the Best Buy Theater 

Tickets - $42.50

Friday, December 28^th - Monday December 31^st
Phish at Madison Square Garden
Tickets - $65-75

Sunday, December 30^th - Monday, December 31^st
Pretty Lights at the Roseland Ballroom
Tickets - $55-110

Monday, December 31^st

The Disco Biscuits at the Theater at Madison Square Garden

Tickets - $69

*If we don't all die on December 21^st.

Pretty Lights Announces NYE in NYC!

Image Courtesy of Pretty Lights Music

Pretty Lights has just announced a 2-night New Years Eve run in New York City. From the man himself:

"I'm taking it back to a more intimate vibe for New Years Eve this year with two shows at New York City's Roseland Ballroom. It's been over two years since I've had my own proper show in NYC, so I wanted to make my return to a city that inspires me something special. Both nights will feature extended PL sets, so you'l get hours of classics, bangers and new, unreleased tracks in a more intimate setting in one of the world's most amazing cities. It's going to be two extraordinary exciting evenings of beautifully bangin' futuristic yet retro electro hip-hop and funky ass soul music.. with Pretty Lights!"

Special 2-day passes go on sale Wednesday, October 17th at 10:00AM EST on Pretty Lights' pre-sale ticketing site for $110. Individual night tickets go on sale Friday, October 19th at 10:00AM EST in the same place. 

For those of you who haven't heard it yet, here is Pretty Lights' newest single, "So Bright."

Pretty Lights - So Bright

New Release: Pretty Lights - So Bright (Free Download)

Image Courtesy of Pretty Lights Music

Before so much as an announcement date for the new album (already a year and a half in the making), the track "So Bright" was leaked. Derek Vincent Smith aka Pretty Lights did the only logical thing and released the track as well on his own website along with the following statement:

"A new track from my upcoming record has leaked out unintentionally. The song is called So Bright. I was not ready to put this track out but some how it's now posted on multiple sites as well as for sale on multiple sites. I made it available for free download just now on the PL site because it has never been my intention to strictly sell any tracks off my new record. 

All the samples used in the track are from self composed one of a kind vinyl pressings. There is a short documentary to be released soon about the making of this upcoming PL album because it was a very unique and laborious process. I'm insanely excited to release the entire record but... I'd prefer to do it on my own terms:). Much love to all PL family, I hope you enjoy the track."

Obviously, I'm just another one of those sites sharing this, but since the cat's out of the bag, I couldn't help but share with you guys. Enjoy!

Pretty Lights - So Bright

Remixes I Like Better Than The Originals - Part 2

Today I will share the second part of what I hope to be a recurring series of remixes that I like better than their original songs.

Foxes - Youth (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) vs. Original


Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Plastic Plates Remix) vs. Original


BassNectar - Voodoo (Beats Antique Remix) vs. Original


Foster the People - Houdini (RAC Remix) vs. Original


Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) - Bibio Remix vs. Original


Special Consideration
Avicii - Levels (Skrillex Remix) vs. Original*


*Note that the now well known vocal hook from this song was sampled from Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me," and was previously sampled by Pretty Lights in the 2006 track "Finally Moving." Pretty Lights used the same sample again two years later in "Finally Moving Remix," and again in 2010 in "Finally Moving James Brown Remix." It boggles my mind that such a great original hook was sampled in not one, not two, but three good songs from a solid artist, but never became widely known until it was used in a shitty house song in 2011.

Song Of The Day: Pretty Lights - Summer's Gone

In anticipation for this Friday's Pretty Lights' concert with NiT GriT & Big Gigantic at the Pavilion in Boston, MA, today's song of the day is and oldie but goodie, coming from his 2008 release, Filling Up The City Skies. This double disc, sophomore album served as my introduction to the works of Derek Vincent Smith, and included such great songs as "Hot Like Sauce," "Finally Moving Remix," and "The Time Has Come." Pretty Lights recent rise to fame has paralleled the growing popularity of electronic music over the last few years. From his start as a relatively unknown Colorado-based producer, collaborating with fellow PLM artist Michal Menert on his debut album, Taking Up Your Precious Time, over the last four years Pretty Lights has grown tremendously both as a project, and as a label. Pretty Lights Music, Smith's record label, now boats an impressive roster of six amazingly talented artists including the prodigious drummer/producer Adam Deitch, former collaborater Michal Menert, and beatsmith Alex B (formerly of Pnuma Trio) as Paper Diamond. Looking at the transition from "Finally Moving" to "I Know The Truth," Smith's style has clearly evolved, as has his performance style, shifting from Monome to analog synths, and his presentation. However all of the music on Pretty Lights Music is, and will always be, free to download.

Pretty Lights - Summer's Gone


*Image Courtesy of Pretty Lights Music

Song Of The Day: John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads (Pretty Lights Remix)

Early, last Sunday morning, Derrick Vincent Smith of Pretty Lights debuted this track at the All Good Music Festival in Masontown, West Virginia. Celebrating its 15th year, All Good typically features a bevy of artists and musicians from Further to moe. to the Toots & the Maytals, though recently has been adding electronic artists to their late night sets. This years' line-up of electronic artists included Sound Tribe Sector 9, Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic, and Umphrey's McGee.

Pretty Lights has been touring heavily this summer, hitting festivals from coast to coast, and across the ocean. At this years' Camp Bisco Tenth Anniversary Party, Pretty Lights late-night dance tent set was easily one of the most attended of the weekend, but it's great to see that given his busy tour schedule, he's able to come out with some regular releases from 'I Know The Truth' at this year's Bonnaroo, and some of his mashups, 'Pretty Lights vs Summertime,' and 'Pretty Lights vs Radiohead vs Nirvana vs NIN.'



*Image Courtesy of RCA Records

Preview: Governor's Ball Music Festival

This Saturday, June 18th, marks the inaugural Governor's Ball, a dance-centric music festival located on Governor's Island in New York City, featuring some high energy headliners. The event also boasts numerous art installations, interactive events like a satellite Beer Pong tournament, table tennis, beach volleyball, and much, much more. Here is a little information about a few of the headliners.

Pretty Lights - Still Rockin (Big Apple Stage 10:30pm - ???)


Pretty Lights is Colorado-based producer, Derek Vincent Smith's most recent musical project. Relying heavily on old funk, soul, and hip-hop samples, Pretty Lights infuses this blend with his own style of Bass heavy music, and electro beats, to create a very unique and evolving sound. Smith performs live with fellow producer and drummer, Adam Deitch. Together, Pretty Lights has become one of the most sought after live performances in electronic music today, and with the combination of talented musicians, unique performance style, remarkable stage production, and high-energy sound, it is easy to see why.

Girl Talk - Still Here (Gotham Stage 9:05pm-10:25pm)


Musically, nothing is sacred when it comes to Pittsburg native Greg Gillis, aka Girl Talk. The self proclaimed king of the mashup has been starting dance parties around the country for the last few years, combining everything from Elton John to Notorious B.I.G. to create some of the most notable mashup mix tapes of the last decade. Expect to sweat, suddenly notice a large portion of the crowd has climbed up on the stage, and see Gillis standing atop this sweaty writhing masse of people, shirtless, laptop in hand, showing you why he deserves his title.

Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People (Big Apple Stage 8:00pm-9:00pm)

Known around the world for their ostentatious performances, and synth-pop anthems, this Australian electronic duo is no stranger to high energy events like Governor's Ball. I've never seen them before, but know few people who haven't heard some of their music by now, so I'm excited to see what they'll have to offer.

Neon Indian - Ephemeral Artery (Big Apple Stage 5:55pm-6:50pm)

After the release of their debut LP Psychic Chasms, this Texas-based group has been garnering both critical and popular attention, and are hitting this summer festival season hard, performing at Camp Bisco X and the North Coast Music Festival in addition to Governor's Ball. The group also recently partnered with Pitchfork for their 3d Music Video series with their song Mind, Drips. It will be interesting to see what they have in store for this performance.

Tickets to this event are still available, and can be purchased here, or at the gate on Saturday morning. Tickets include round trip ferry, and the first one leaves 11:15am from Pier 11.

Song Of The Day: Pretty Lights - Pretty Lights vs Radiohead vs Nirvana vs NIN

From PrettyLightsMusic.com: "Pretty Light's newest creation remixes and samples Radiohead's "Everything in its Right Place," Nirvana's "All Apologies" and Nine Inch Nails' "Closer." This is the .mp3 of the first release for Pretty Lights 2011 Remixes collection."



*Image Courtesy of Pretty Lights Music

New Video: Pretty Lights - "Future Blind" Video (PopMatters Premiere)

New Pretty Lights Mix

Pretty Lights Mix by TimeOutNewYork

Countdown to Electric Zoo: 16 Days!

Featured Artist: Pretty Lights

New Pretty Lights EP: Spilling Over Every Side

Derek Vincent Smith of Pretty Lights can deliver. "Spilling Over Every Side" is his 2nd EP of 2010, and the 6th free release on his website, Prettylightsmusic.com. There are 6 songs in total, all of which are noticeably longer than in previous releases (5 of the 6 are upwards of 7 minutes). This length allows for a mixture of the styles Pretty Lights has become known for, thumbing electronic hip hop beats, distorted synths, and more organic jazz sampled lyrics and horns. Smith explains the emphasis on longer, genre bending tracks in that, "I guess, because thats what I want to hear... fresh, intricate, beats that attempt to communicate ideas or tell a story somehow."



What's more impressive about the EP, is that Smith released it in the midst of a busy summer tour. Look for Pretty Lights, now featuring live drummer Adam Deitch, Saturday, September 4th at Electric Zoo.

Album Review: Pretty Lights - Passing By Behind Your Eyes

My apologies to Adam and Meg for the several month hiatus. Released on October 6th on their own Prettylightsmusic.com Passing By Behind Your Eyes, is Pretty Lights' third and, in my opinion, best album to date. The album features just 13 tracks as opposed to the 26 featured on their previous album, Filling Up The City Skies. Commenting on this in an interview on Boulder Colorado's 95.3 FM Green Light Radio, Pretty Light's Own Derek Vincent Smith stated that in spite of their trend of releasing all of their albums on their own at no cost (unless you feel like making a donation) he felt that the standard length allowed by CDs was more than adequate for the listening experience he wanted to provide with this newest release. And oh, does it provide.

Pretty Lights is known for blending Hard Hitting Electro beats seamlessly with a multitude of musical genres. Using Ableton, his Akai MPD24 and his trusty Monome, Derek Vincent Smith has infused Electro with Hip Hop, Jazz, Blues and Soul, to name a few, in a way that is not often seen, but greatly appreciated. Pretty Lights do not simply Mash-Up older records with a four on the floor beat, but rather intertwine wonderful compositions with intricate, non repetitive, and often live (Pretty Lights tours with Drummer Cory Eberhard) beats to create something more than just silly dance music for the MDMA fueled Disco Nation of today, but rather something newer and more organic. What results is something more akin to artists like Bonobo or Quantic, who often use full live bands in their compositions.


Where the Passing By Behind Your Eyes surpasses its predecessors is in its focus, rather than breadth. In the past, their albums have showed a range of composition from fast paced hard hitting dance tracks, to mellow, chill out tunes, almost an exposé of what they are capable of. In this case, the intention is clear: Pretty Lights wants you to fucking rage. While the musical scope of previous albums is present, it is so in the songs themselves, leaving the general feel of the album as a whole undisturbed. They want you to dance, they want you to throw your hands in the air, the want to rock your foundations, then they give you a moment to breathe, and they want you to do it all over again. The glitch-hop style that is synonymous with some performance artists like MEGASOID and Glitch Mob comes to mind, though Pretty Lights' sound is considerably more polished and refined. Tracks like Fly Away Another Day, Let Em Know Its Time To Go, and Keep Em Bouncin really exemplify this newly refined, heavy hitting, polished glitch sound that resonates throughout the album, even in some of the slower songs. All in all I think Pretty Lights has gotten the message, all of his music has been great, but the people want to dance. Keep it coming!

Pretty Lights is currently touring nationally, and will be in New York City at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza next Thursday, November 19th. His newest album, and all others are available for free at Prettylightsmusic.com.

Camp Bisco 8 Review: Pretty Lights

Well another Camp Bisco has come and gone, so I will spend the next few days recapping some of my favorite acts from the 3-day festivus. First up: Pretty Lights.

For me, Pretty Lights epitomizes the spirit of Camp Bisco; not so much in what goes into their music, but what comes out of it. To some, it may be easy to say that musical acts at Camp fall into 3 categories: Live Jam Bands, DJs, and Hip Hop. While Derek Smith, the remaining original member of the two man group, has stated that his production technique relies heavily on software and laptops, and that he has never touched a turntable, his collaboration since 2007 with drummer Cory Eberhard signals that Pretty Light's style is more of a mix between the first and second Camp 'categories.' While the resultig grooves sound similar to many of the live acts at Camp Bisco, like STS9 and Lotus (in past years), the Hip Hop influence is also evident. So while the performance is a blend of live drumming and use of software and the monome, the result is a blend of many of the musical styles that I saw at CB8.

Pretty Light's two most recent albums are available free for download here, so check it out if you want some good listening.