LIGHTS

Bang Tidy were lucky enough to get the opportunity to delve deep into the wonderfully artistic, futuristic and pretty much awesome mind of one of our favourites, Canadian artist LIGHTS. She spoke about new album Siberia, her biggest fears, David Hasselhoff and much more...

How are we Lights? Excited for the world to experience Siberia?

I've been ready since.... well... since it was done. Which seems like ages ago! So glad to finally set it to launch!

Here at Bang Tidy we believe in not putting our artists into musical boxes. We don't like to label you. Music is music! What's your opinion on this mantra?

One thing I've found through my experience in the industry is that people have a hard time understanding what they don't have a grid for, so comparisons and boxes help categorize what perks their ears. As handy as this natural function is, I wish it wasn't the case because it makes any changes or new ideas freak people out. Maybe that's a good thing? Either way, I like this mantra. Let's shake it up!

Do you know what "Bang Tidy" means? If not...take a guess!

Um, no idea. Whenever I go over to the UK you always surprise me with fresh lingo that makes me feel like an old, outdated leviathan. I don't even think I can take a stab at that one! Does it mean 'AWESOME'?

Ummm, we'll go with that...Having been inspired by Dub-step, something that originated in South London, what do you think of English music as a whole?

Britain has always had a knack for being on the cusp of cool music. It always seems to take another year or two to translate over here, so I hold high respect for what comes out of there!

If you could go back in time or zoom into the future, which time period would you choose and why?

I'd be afraid to zoom ahead because I don't want to know how much time we have left at the rate we're going... yikes. I don't want to go back because then I wouldn't be able to enjoy the things in life that I've worked so hard for, and the relationships and the people now. I think I'll stay right here, and write sci-fi stories about time machines and awesome beasts of wonder!

What is it about gaming that has you so enchanted by it?

They provide an escape, it's a cheap vacay. If I have things on my mind, a few hours of Warcraft takes your mind right off it. Mind you, it's no solution, it's there when you log off. But it's a great temporary fix that serves as imagination inspiration. The thoughts and background, visuals and ideas put into these games are incredible. Inspiring!

We don't know if you've noticed but online there seems to be a trend with artists naming their fan bases, and then these fans going head to head in slanging matches via Twitter, Bang Tidy have seen some pretty vile exchanging of words. What is your opinion of this type of behaviour? Do you think social networking sites are working for or against our generation?

To me, it's apparent that people have always been this way, rivalrous and opinionated, only now it's just easier. The mask of anonymity causes people to say things they wouldn't normally say, but also causes you to read them in a way maybe they weren't meant. It's important, just like anything, to walk into these scenarios and not take things for face value. I've learned that along the way. Social media has done amazing things for our generation as well, so you just learn to take the bad with the good.

Being brought up in various places, what kind of effect did this have on you as a person? In terms of experience, what did it teach you about the world?

It taught me that your relationships and your family are your constant, not the ground you're standing on or the house you live in. This is kind of what Siberia is about. It doesn't matter where you are or what you have, happiness is much deeper than that!

What is your biggest fear?

I don't like boats much.

Is it hard having to draw from your lowest and most heartbreaking moments to write a record? Are you sometimes scared in the face of re-living these experiences?

Writing helps to exorcise those feelings. But one thing I've learned, especially with Siberia, is writing happy songs, outside of your dark self, can be just as fulfilling.

We know you're the type of artist that really writes from your heart, so after such a heartfelt album like The Listening, how do you find new inspiration? Do you ever find it hard to find the motivation to write? If so what do you do to get out of that mind frame?

I've matured a lot as a person and artist since The Listening. The inspiration for this record came from a different place, I didn't feel the need as much to speak on what I was going through, struggle wise. I was able to write from a happier place, more confident place, and just delve into these other dimensions of visuals, landscapes and lyrics. It was such a crazy, exciting process. Every night in my hotel room when I was writing lyrics was a trip to another place. I just wrote about what I saw there.

Tell us a little bit about the process of making your new album Siberia. Did you do anything different from The Listening?

Thanks to the collaborations we brought in, like Holy Fuck, I got to experience writing in a different way. While some of it was done traditionally, like the last record, some was completely invented live. The first jam session I had with Holy Fuck spawned the bed tracks for Siberia, Everybody Breaks a Glass, and Day One. In face Day One was the last 9 minutes of it. It's a raw, real way to create electro that I'd never experienced before.

Give us one epiphany type experience you had in-between the two albums that really hit that inspirational spot whether it inspired your new musical direction, the name of your album, or just the overall vision for Siberia.

I had a Clyde Caldwell (D&D, Magic: The Gathering, Heavy Metal Mag) art book and I thought, I want to make music that goes with this. Darker but still fantastical.

What makes Siberia different from The Listening? What kind of Bang Tidy flavour have you added?

It's sonically dirtier, vocally more dynamic, and lyrically happier and more visual.

What is your personal favourite from the new album?

Flux and Flow.

Is the song 'Toes' a reference to the way you dance on your tip toes......? No...? Bang Tidy likes that anyway.

I wish I could say yes, but unfortunately (or...fortunately) I don't see myself from the audience perspective. I SENSE that I dance like that but would probably rather not actually witness it.

Siberia has an obvious Dubstep influence, who/ what exactly inspired this musical direction?

I went to a dubstep DJ night in Montreal and really enjoyed what I felt. It was heavy, hard, minimalist, half-time groovy and totally electronic. I wanted to apply these things I loved about what I heard to my generally soft tunes.

We all have that dark place we delve into every now and again, is that the "god forsaken precipice" you refer to in the song 'Heavy Rope'?

Yes.

We LOVE the song 'Flux and Flow' and can just see ourselves having one too many drinks with our arms spread wide singing the chorus "the flux and flooOOOOooow"...ahem... do you have a big hand in the production side of the music as well as writing?

I like that visual. Let's make that happen! I co-produce all my material, I have very specific ideas of the way I want things to sound.

European tour dates in the pipeline anytime soon?! Bang Tidy want to visit SIBERIA!!!

Siberia wants to visit you! We will be back next year!

Last but certainly not least... who's more Bang Tidy, David Hasselhoff or Piers Morgan?

I think I'm starting to get a sense of the name.... HASSELHOFF. A) German B) has an awesome (weird) single on youtube somewhere.

Lights, you are officially BANG TIDY.

Now I think I can say... thanks!! :D

"Siberia" is available for download on iTunes now.