Smith's music relies heavily on digital sampling and crosses many genres, forming a combination of "glitchy hip-hop beats, buzzing synth lines, and vintage funk and soul samples.". Pretty Lights' sound is generated by manipulating samples and organic beats using the Novation X-Station, monome and the Akai MPD32. Smith uses these digital controllers to program the music production software Ableton Live 8. When performing live, Smith uses two Macbook Pros running Ableton Live 8 and two Akai MPD32s. Smith usually considers his music as "Electro Hip-Hop Soul", a mix between elements of electronic based music, and beats from hip-hop and soul music.
Pretty Lights released A Color Map of the Sun on July 2, which is Grammy nominated for the Best Dance/Electronic Album . The two-CD collection contain the 13-song album A Color Map of the Sun plus a second album, Live Studio Sessions From A Color Map of the Sun.
A Color Map of the Sun builds on the original Pretty Lights sound and style that Smith pioneered. He spent a year composing and recording music and vocals that emulated genres and time periods that spanned the last century, then pressed it to vinyl. He 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.
For more information and to download all Pretty Lights albums at no cost, visit http://www.prettylightsmusic.com.
Flitting between moody downtempo and upbeat, densely layered material geared for club play, Colorado's Pretty Lights was the project of Derek Vincent Smith. Smith spent his high school years making hip-hop and ultimately dropped out of his freshman year at the University of Colorado at Boulder to focus on his music. He made his recorded debut as Pretty Lights in 2006 with the full-length Taking Up Your Precious Time, which he supported with gigs for acts including STS9, the Disco Biscuits, and Widespread Panic. From there, he kept up a busy release schedule for the rest of the 2000s, issuing the double album Filling Up the City Skies in 2008 and another full-length, Passing by Behind Your Eyes, the following year. In 2010, Pretty Lights went on an extensive North American tour, playing that year's Coachella, Ultra, Movement, and Electric Zoo festivals, among other stops. Smith continued touring into 2011 and also developed his Pretty Lights Music imprint, releasing albums by Michal Menert, Gramatik, and Eliot Lipp. In 2012, Smith appeared in the music documentary Re:GENERATION Music Project and began work on Pretty Lights' fourth album. Instead of sampling existing recordings, Smith worked with longtime drummer Adam Deitch, Soulive's Eric Krasno, the Harlem Gospel Choir, and members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Treme Brass Band to create vintage-sounding original music that he then refashioned into the Pretty Lights sound. The results were 2013's A Color Map of the Sun, which became the first Pretty Lights album to be released physically and digitally at the same time. ~ Heather Phares & Andy Kellman, Rovi
Finally Moving
Pretty Lights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah
Get a feeling that I
Never, never, never, never had before, oh, no
I get a good feeling, yeah
Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah
Never, never, never, never had before, oh, no
I get a good feeling, yeah
Just wanna tell ya right now that I
I really do believe it
Just wanna tell ya right now that I
I really do believe it
Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah
Get a feeling that I
Never, never, never, never had before, oh, no
I get a good feeling, yeah
Just wanna tell ya right now that I
I really do believe it
Just wanna tell ya right now that I
I really do believe it
The lyrics of Pretty Lights' song, "Finally Moving," revolve around the theme of experiencing a good feeling that the singer has never felt before. The repeated phrase, "Sometimes I get a good feeling," is an expression of the joy that the singer is experiencing at that moment. The refrain, "Just wanna tell ya right now that I really do believe it," indicates that the singer is confident in the goodness of the feeling and wants to share it with others.
The song is built around an upbeat and funky instrumental track, which provides a counterpoint to the lyrics. The music is designed to be uplifting and energetic, while the lyrics are all about the experience of joy and happiness. Together, they create a powerful expression of positivity and optimism.
Overall, the message of "Finally Moving" is one of hope and optimism. The song encourages listeners to embrace the good feelings in their lives and to share them with others. It is a reminder that even in difficult times, there is always a reason to feel good and to believe in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I get a good feeling, yeah
I experience a sensation of positivity.
Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah
Occasionally, I experience a sensation of positivity.
Get a feeling that I Never, never, never, never had before, oh, no
This positivity is unique and novel to me, unexperienced before.
Just wanna tell ya right now that I I really do believe it
I wish to express that my positive feelings are genuine and true.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Derek Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jessica Chasco
Everytime I listen to pretty lights it reminds me of the good old days. My best friend died from an overdose and she loved pretty lights. I was 15 16 years old going to shows every chance I had with her. I went til I was 23 and now I'm 28 in recovery and I still listen to the music because now it has so much more meaning to my life and I never want to forget the past nor shut the door on it. 🙏🍄🤘🤙😊😣🌻💗🌌☮️🌊💘💕💋😘
Sungazer
Thanks for sharing. One love !
Ledgonius
This is literally my favorite song, my mom would play this as we drove on our annual trip to Florida, makes it all that more surreal...
Mr Costa
You should listen to "Nightmares On Wax - I Wish"
Noodle
@Mr Costa WOW ty X
elizabeth
your moms cool asf
Carson
Soon!
micah kates
Dang brings back do many of many memories of when I started listening to electronic music my taste has evolved but I always love coming back to stuff like this. Love you pretty lights!
Rosmariani Manalu
This form of jazzhop is perfect for making my study activities relaxed.
John Haynes
Dude when i saw you at edc i was more psyched than anyone. I made sure i was up in the rafters, and it was so cool to see so many prople interested in literally my favorite artist, like f moby and astrix we were there. We waited for you, man. You are awesome and we all love you keep it up. Hope to see you performin more often even if i get to see it every 5 years its so good!