Lights On The Coast – A Dream State

By starrymag | July 5, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q: How would you describe your sound?

A: The Lights On The Coast sound is a meld of multiple genres and super unique for sure. Essentially, it’s a splatter of deathcore, metalcore and post-Hardcore with electronic elements speckled in. All the good stuff. We’re essentially a modernized electronicore band. With that said though, our overall sound isn’t necessarily weighted down by one specific genre.

Q: Who are some of your musical influences?

A: Our influences differ quite a bit between members, but we can all agree that Polaris, Oceans Ate Alaska, Thousand Below and Attack! Attack! are huge contributors to our overall sound. Bands like Wage War, She Must Burn and Conducting From The Grave also inspire some of our grimy and raw qualities. We also are all about artists like Ghost Town, Palisades and I See Stars because of their intense and brilliantly incorporated electronic elements.

Q: Talk about the story behind your new song “Memories.”

A: “Memories” is a really personal story that’s close to our hearts. The story is an elaboration on internal thoughts throughout the process of losing someone close and having to deal with the struggles that process brings forth. The main message points out that finding one’s own value and realizing your worth in a difficult situation, while letting go of memories that hold you back, will help bring closure when you need it most.

Q: In what way does the song incorporate explorative elements?

A: This track was the second song written with the current lineup. We wanted it to differ a bit from our first and with that in mind, even more electronic elements and emotion was poured into it. The want for more ambience was real and that hugely drove the direction that was taken during the creative process. Reflecting on our own lives and our past experiences contributed to the overall expression that was captured in the lyrical aspect as well.

Q: What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A: The heavy intro draws you in from the start and solid introductions, we believe, are always an important aspect that helps engage the listener. Fans tend to like our immediate shift of styles throughout each song and this track in particular emphasizes that change in mood in a unique way.

Q: How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A: Originally, the idea for the video included a storyline that would’ve included a couple fading away from each other. Unfortunately, and beyond our control, the actor and actress we had fell through and we had a hard time finding replacements. We had to rethink our concept and the idea of adding lyrics to emphasize our main points came up. The emphasized lyrical visual aspect ended up adding more impact to the lyrics after all and we couldn’t be more pleased.

Q: What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A: Most of the time, our songs start off with a melody or hook that gets stuck in our heads. From there, it evolves and is refined until we feel a cohesive piece has been formed. Generally, we don’t need music before we can create lyrics, but it helps.

Q: How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A: We produce, edit and mix our tracks for full creative control and we feel that helps the unique qualities shine in our presence. Mastering is generally outsourced to a trusted engineer.

Q: What can fans expect from a live Lights On The Coast performance?

A: Our live performances are very personal. We embrace a close connection with the audience and make sure that we let loose and not hold back emotion in any way. After all, music is art and passion and expression and we like to play off of that.

Q: Will there be a full EP or album coming in the near future?

A: An EP was recently released called A Dream State, which has been very well received. We’re excited about that! As far as future releases, we’re always working on new material and at this moment we’re writing one song after another and might choose to release some of these newer tracks as singles or group the best ones and form an album. That decision is up in the air, but we assure that there is a lot in store for the future!

Q: Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A: As a band, we absolutely enjoy playing Launchpad in our hometown. That venue always has the best sound and holds a special place in our hearts, as most of us grew up watching some of our favorite bands perform there.

Q: Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A: If we were to collaborate with any of our idols and biggest inspirations such as Fronz, Kev Ghost and Kenny Davis, that would be a dream come true.

Q: What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A: Lately, we’ve been jamming The Color Clear from Reflections and it has inspired us so much creatively. That album is aggressive and progressive and each song is completely different. We like the kind of stuff that takes you on a journey in a dynamic way. That album does it so well.

Q: You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A: We’ve reached an age where an online presence is crucial for building and maintaining relationships with fans. Most of our lives are cast onto the Internet on a daily basis and for this reason alone it’s essential to broadcast our releases and what we’re up to in a way that lines up with the lives of others. We may reach new fans and develop new relationships in the process.

Q: What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A: We want to make sure our fans know that their support has guided us through the toughest times and gave us a reason to believe that what we do has purpose. We look forward to releasing new content that we hope will inspire our fans as much as we are inspired by them.