Today, THUMP, the new electronic dance music and culture channel from VICE, released an exclusive documentary on the making of Pretty Lights’ latest album, A Color Map of the Sun. The film is an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most unique musicians in the electronic realm as he creates his upcoming album, which will self-release on July 2.
The film is made up of footage shot over the last two years as Pretty Lights traveled to New Orleans and New York to record musicians and vocalists, making his first album that uses no samples whatsoever. He spent a year composing, playing and recording music and vocals that emulated genres and time periods that spanned the last century, then pressed it all to vinyl. He then used that vinyl along with a custom built analog modular synth to create A Color Map of the Sun. The resulting album is analog electronica – soulful, electro hip-hop that pays respect to music’s immense power to touch listeners emotionally, kinetically and inspirationally. PLM’s Creative Director, Krystle Blackburn, followed him from the street to the studio, documenting the vision and hard work that went into making this record a reality.
“The most important thing to me is that I made a record that I am incredibly proud of,” said Derek Vincent Smith/Pretty Lights. “When it’s all said and done it’s about the music, obviously, but with this record, the process was so unique I really wanted people to be able to get a glimpse of how it was made.”
Pretty Lights is one of the most unique musicians operating in the electronic space—this crate-digging Colorado native gives out all of his music for free and continually pushes the envelope with his sets that combine live instruments with DJing, developing a following of obsessed fans from Bonnaroo to Ultra. His label, Pretty Lights Music, has also done a lot to introduce similarly-minded artists likeGramatik, Break Science and Michal Menert to the world.
ABOUT THUMP
THUMP is a new electronic music and culture channel from VICE, in partnership with Recreation Worldwide. Launching in 2013 as electronic music and dance culture continues to resonate across the globe, THUMP is set to help define a cultural movement uniting young people into a fanatically devoted community. With a focus on the full range of electronic music and culture, from massive festival stages to renegade warehouse parties, THUMP will chronicle every aspect of the global dance music movement: the music, the artists, the fans, the experience. Through original videos from the most electrifying events around the globe, to weekly music video premieres, mixes from the most forward-thinking DJs, and an engaging slate of editorial features, THUMP offers a unique portal into the culture of electronic music. See for yourself: THU.MP and www.
