EPIC {{arts & entertainment}}

Now we’ve gone over what a freaking hectic bit the whole of Warped Tour in Mansfield, Massachusetts was time and again. The pouring rain. The mud. The grounds that caused kids to herd like cattle to get from one bit to another with little sense of cohesion. Trying to see your favorite band and missing out isn’t the only kind of crap luck that can happen. Press and the likes was equally busy and bogged down, and the weather didn’t help any as we all tried to get one place to another, back on time, get some photos, and interviews, and whatever else while still enjoying ourselves, too! Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to conduct this interview in person due to some mix ups but LIGHTS was kind enough to answer our questions via e-mail. Not only is she sweet as your favorite sugary treat, but she has a gorgeous voice and magnificent presence. Be sure to check out LIGHTS— she’s going to be the next big thing when her album drops.

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What does LIGHTS mean to you?
Lights is my first name.

How did LIGHTS get started?
I wrote my first song when I was 11, and at 13 bought a little 8 track recording unit and started producing the songs I was writing. I got to a point where I would write and record around 13 songs every month. It was something I enjoyed doing so much, I would stay in and record in my attic like a crazy little scientist when everyone else was out and about. If you do something enough, over and over again, you’re bound to become decent at it! After years of practice, in 2005, when I was finally the most proud of my music and felt like it was finally ready, I started to put my stuff online for the world to see.

If your music had a physical manifestation what would it be?
A truffle cake thing. There are so many different layers and it looks kinda like it could be messy at first but its actually really neat and tasty, and is best chilled.

Has recording your debut full length differed from your ep? If so, how?
The process of making my full length was exactly the same as the ep. Just a non-rushed, non-stressful, super organic experience. Any time I had off I would go visit Tawgs or Dwave (the two I made the record with) and concoct some new songs. Or if I had a spare minute at home I’d sit down with my guitar and come up with ideas, lay them down in my two-bit home studio. After we had enough songs, we narrowed it down to the best of the best, and that was what determined when the record was done.

Your full length comes out this September, what is the title and how did you arrive at it?
The album is called The Listening, which is a track off the record. Also, you can learn a lot about yourself just creating, writing and listening to music. Pretty much everything I know about myself comes from having to analyze my emotional situation, resolve it, and turn it into a song. I wanted to give people something to listen to.

What song sums up LIGHTS? Favorite songs on the album?
While I wouldn’t necessarily say that it sums me up, my favourite song on the album is called “Quiet” and it’s the second last one.

What is your theme song?
Probably that 8-bit Nintendo melody in Super Mario.

Do you feel Warped Tour has helped you as an artist? If so, how?
Definitely! At Warped Tour you’re given 25 minutes to captivate, introduce, sum-up, and win-over an essentially entirely new crowd, in broad daylight without a soundcheck! I feel like I managed to do that with at least a few people over the course of the tour!

What are the best and worst things about Warped tour? Most overrated and underrated bands on the tour?
The worst thing is the humid heat in some of the cities, I almost lost my lunch after a show in Florida. The best thing is EVERYTHING ELSE. I had a total blast on Warped. Probably though, meeting everybody after the set, all your new and old fans. That’s amazing. Most underrated band was Shad, a rapper from Canada. As for overrated, I think everybody has done at least something to deserve to be where they are. There are always bands people are calling overrated, but put yourself in their shoes, they’ve probably put in the same effort as a lot of bands out there.

Advice to female (aspiring) musicians?
Never feel like you can cut corners or slack just because you’re a girl. Get good at your craft and aim to blow everyone away. And when you’re in a touring situation, make sure you make it all about the music, maintain your respect as a musician. It’s easy to be treated as a groupie but don’t let that happen.

What was your real name before LIGHTS? Why was it changed?
Diana Prince. I changed it so that people wouldn’t discover I was Wonder Woman. That would surely overshadow my musical career.

What are your tattoos of and what do they mean to you?
To name a few, my back piece depicts Wonder Woman fighting Giganta (a 300-foot woman). It says to me that small people can take on big things! On my lower stomach there is a life-sized lazer gun in the colours of my full-length record, purple and yellow. It’s the same lazer gun that the character I created with Tomm Coker of Marvel comics (short ‘Capt. Lights’ episodes coming soon!) always bears.

Favorite gaming console? Favorite games? How old were you when you started playing World of Warcraft?
As much as I love xbox (I play Deadspace and Mortal Kombat vs. Dc Universe) I would have to say my favourite console is the DS, simply because it’s the greatest companion on van tours (aka. almost all my tours). I play Final Fantasy: Ring of Fates and obviously all the Mario games I an get my hands on. I started playing WoW two years ago. I now have two level 80s.

How/when did you learn to use a rubix cube? What is your personal record?
I remember riding on the subway and seeing this young boy OWNING a rubik’s cube with one hand. It blew my mind. After that moment I promised myself I would learn how to do it. My boyfriend and I spent a weekend, about a month before Warped, on YouTube learning how to solve it. We challenge ourselves all the time to do it faster, and we race. My record at this point is 1 minute 20 seconds.

If you could be a super hero, what would your name be and what powers would you have?
As I previously mentioned a few questions up, I’ve been working with Tomm Coker (Marvel Digital Comics) on actually manifesting myself into a superhero-esque character. Her name is Captain Lights, and she is more of a rogue than anything. Somewhat like Han Solo, she scavenges through space looking for unique and bizarre sounds to collect. Along the way she always ends up in different battles, facing up to some pretty aggressive villains. Her power lies mainly in being super cool, but she is also very strong and well versed in martial arts, as well as has an epic lazer gun.

You’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with a lot of different artists— what has been your favorite? Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
One of my favourite collaborations so far was with Silverstein. I would love to collaborate with Justice or M83 someday.

If you can accomplish one thing via your music, what would it be?
To take you away from reality to a non-worry, non-stress atmosphere for 3.5 minutes.

What is something you feel really passionately about? Why?
It’s very important to me that every detail in a song is the way it needs to be. I will spend hours perfecting a snare sample because it effects the turn out of a song that much for me. If all the right textures are in place, the song is that much more powerful.

If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing, what would it be and why?
“You’re going to be alright, kid.” Then I’d steal the sweet rainforest wild-life shirt I was wearing and take it back to the future with me.

As an artist, what do you feel is the biggest issue in the music industry today? What are your feelings / stance on it?
I honestly have nothing to complain about. I’m doing what I love and that’s all that matters to me. I’m sure a lot of people could complain about how they’re not selling the same amount of records as before, and people are downloading, but I’m not in this for money. I feel blessed that I can even live off of my music. If people find something they appreciate enough, they will support it.