Just around this time last year I came across a DJ that would change my life forever! Alright, maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but it’s true. He was one of the main reasons I started this site. In fact, he was the first feature on it. This DJ I am referring to is none other than DJ Frane. Unlike most artists I’ve come across, when I started listening to Frane I couldn’t stop; each song after another was a rich & robust set of samples ranging from hip-hop to rock. I had heard of trip-hop before, but to me this is what defined the genre. After I was familiar with his music, I wondered when (or if) I would ever come across another DJ as gifted & prolific as him. Well, that day has come… I present to you: Derek Vincent Smith’s Pretty Lights…
Scanning over some blogs a friend of mine suggested, I discovered Pretty Lights on a clever & comically titled blog, Aurgasm. I was looking through the site’s hip-hop section when I came across this beaut. It was actually the first post of theirs that I listened to the samples they provided, and let’s just say I’m glad I did. Pretty Lights currently has three LP’s and one EP out, and I have listened to each album… twice! A lot of ‘em caught my ear, but only a handful really blew me away, though that number is growing on the daily.
The feature I decided to go with, “Solamente”, was actually not my first choice, but I have a reason for saving the best for later (not gonna explain myself, though). “Solamente” is a comforting dreamscape of a song with a nasty bassline. It, along with the rest of Pretty Light’s works, are freely available on their website, PrettyLightsMusic.com. Check it out, it’s a gorgeous site and there’s free music!
One other thing, if you really want to figure out my next posting of Pretty Light’s, i’ll give you two clues: it’s on the same album & features a beautiful, female R&B voice. If you post it in the comments section, i’ll give you mad props. Enjoy!
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Artist Information:
Genre: Electronica, Hip-Hop, Downtempo
Location: Denver, Colorado
Members:
Derek Vincent Smith: DJ, Producer
Cory Eberhard: Drums
Albums: Filling Up the City Skies (Disc 1), (Disc 2) | Passing by Behind Your Eyes | Making Up a Changing Mind | [...]
Similar Artists: DJ Frane | Bonobo | Sound Tribe Sector 9 | Big Gigantic | The New Deal
Links: PrettyLightsMusic.com | MySpace | Wikipedia | Facebook | Twitter | Last.fm | iLike | Y! Music | AllMusic
Track Information:
Album: Filling Up the City Skies
Release Date: October 30, 2008
Buy Links: Amazon Mp3 (Disc 1), (Disc 2) | iTunes (Disc 1), (Disc 2)
This is one of the most relaxing chill songs i have heard I love it!
Yea, I haven’t been so impressed by someone in a loonnng time. Glad I came across him :D
This screams summer evening, about ten o clock, just as the suns finally setting, and the warm breeze makes you glad to be alive.
Thanks for the intro, I think I’mma go to the site and if I can, I’ll make sure they know I found them because of you.
Cheers!
Love your description of the song. Goes nicely with the album artwork, too. Glad you enjoyed!