The visionary music of Derek Vincent Smith has only been around for half a decade, but in the short amount of time his popularity has snowballed exponentially. Playing massive shows like Electric Daisy Carnival, Lightning in a Bottle, and most recently Bonnaroo, Colarado based Pretty Lights is intent on delivering a jaw dropping performance to his loyal fan base time and time again. During a recent festival, Derek and I have a sidebar in artsy golf cart parked behind the main stage where he will be playing later that night. Derek finishes his beer, sparks a joint, and enlightens me about his forthcoming productions.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen at Lightning in a Bottle so far?
The coolest thing I’ve seen so far is this pimped out four wheel drive golf cart that we’re sitting in right now. It has monitor speakers, hanging tassel things, bobble head Jesus on the dashboard, and an island beach towel backdrop. We’re doing this interview in a golf cart behind the main stage. This may be the coolest place I’ve ever done an interview.
It’s definitely the coolest golf cart ever, that’s for sure. Can you tell me what your favorite show you’ve played is?
As Pretty Lights I play all kinds of shows from private sweet sixteen birthday parties where I am paid too much money to turn it down. I did that one time and I swear it would never — admit it. Oops.
So, Derek, you are essentially Pretty Lights.
Pretty Lights is my vision. I used to have a drummer who didn’t have any part in producing the music. It was just a live thing to add to the visual dynamic, but since I’ve expanded to massive stage production I just perform as myself. Even though Pretty Lights is plural, it’s just me.
What project are you working on right now?
I’m working on a lot of different projects from a new album to a new show production to a new documentary about the new album.
First, what sort of show production is this?
When I say show production I am referring to the live show as a whole. Manipulating the stage as well as a massive light show and video aspect that goes along with it. When I say show production, what we’re moving into is 3-D, LED, videography sort of stuff. LIB is actually the last show I am playing with the current production, then I’m dropping a whole new large scale show production for my next tour.
When is the new album going to be finished?
I am taking my time with it, so I am not going to put a date on it. In 2010 I announced the release date of 3 EPs before I even started and was way off.
Can you give a ballpark estimate so the fans can get a grip on what to anticipate?
No, I can’t.
What is I going to look like in terms of length or tracks?
I can’t say.
Okay — so what are you working on right now? Writing new music?
Well in the past my music has been a fusion of sampled material. Like, vintage samples with new electronic music. With this album I’ve actually created a series of vinyl to sample from, which is a long and expensive process. That process is actually what the documentary is about. I basically created a studio where everything predates 1970. Everything went straight to tape, we recorded it the way it would have been done back then, and then I cut everything to lacquer so even though I’m working with live musicians and recording it all, it still sounds like it was made in the 60s. That is what the first part of the documentary is about.
Cool. Where is that based?
I do most of this in Denver and Brooklyn.
So regarding live performances, because of the existence of premiere venues like in Vegas where they have fire breathers and belly dancers and cirque de ole type shit going on, obviously the bar has been raised. How do you compete with high profile concert halls like that?
I’m not trying to compete with Las Vegas concert halls. I take the money I made from playing shows and I put it back into future shows. So I am recycling the income as it grows bigger and bigger. For instance, Bonaroo is going to be bigger than any festival so far. Spend money to make money.
Specifically what type of theatrics do you have in mind for your next line of performances?
3-D audio synchronized LED cities.
That’s pushing the envelope. Derek, where do you see the future of music trends heading?
What I would hope to see is that pop music picks up on a lot of the cool things happening in the underground scene. It’s becoming less and less underground and the aspects of what makes it good are breaking into mainstream music. I’ve already seen it. It’s happening with some artists who notice things going on at festivals. I don’t know what’s going to be the next big genre in two years. I wish I did; I would have a major fucking leg up on everyone if I did. I just hope the trend is more good music and more people appreciate music I objectively thing is good. I feel like it’s a big cycle.
Going from underground to mainstream popular music as it gains momentum?
Uh-huh.
Freq Nasty told me the exact same thing.
Oh Yeah?
Yeah. How about your music in particularly. Where do you want to take your music in the future?
I’m just trying to evolve the pretty and the heavy. The beautiful and the banging. The hard shit and the shit that draws tears.
What is your set up for live performances?
I use Ableton with different triggers. I use a monome. I use Ableton to not only manipulate the audio but to send midi triggers tomedia servers to trigger the video of the LED from Ableton.
Wow. What do you use for studio production on this new album?
I’m trying to do everything analogue. All the gear I’m using is old school analogue shit. I’m still doing a lot of cutting and pasting in a laptop but all of the creation is analogue and also way more expensive. With the success of Pretty Lights I am able to invest in a studio that is based around an analogue set up. Electronic music is making a huge comeback but it is so digital sounding. I’m trying to take that out of it.
The quality definitely suffers.
Maybe, but I’m trying to add some warmth and soul into electronic music.
Made with love.
Made with love.
The owner of the golf cart emerges and claims the pimp mobile, giving us the boot. Derek finishes his joint, stomping out the roach, and we part ways.
