Already known for his stage name’s psychedelic influence — derived from Pink Floyd concert posters — Derek Vincent Smith, a.k.a. Pretty Lights, combines experimental soul and hip-hop samples with a heavy dose of science fiction and synth. With songs such as “Out of Time” and “Still Rockin” from the albums “Glowing In The Darkest Night” and “Making Up A Changing Mind,” respectively, Pretty Lights takes listeners on a ride akin to traveling through space in a 1971 Coupe de Ville with the top down.
As he includes both a flashback to some great funk grooves and a leap into more futuristic beats, Pretty Lights displays the mysteries of science fiction through his music, as well as through his album artwork. Artist Dan McPharlin has crafted the artwork for three of his albums, including the two previously mentioned works as well as “Spilling Over Every Side”. The large space landscapes depicted on these albums are filled with imagery ranging from a triple moon to elaborate machinery. The album titles are placed at the top of the art in a simple font in order to visibly demonstrate the contrast between high concept and minimalism with which each track is built.
Pretty Lights will be playing at the Roseland Ballroom on Dec. 30 and 31. The holidays are right around the corner, and if you want to usher in the New Year with some killer sounds and an even better light show, then Pretty Lights is not to be missed.
A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Dec. 6 print edition. Dania Duran is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].
