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June, 2025

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Pretty Lights

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theabortionator
Posts: 52707 - Karma: 175,292
WTF??? When did that shit blow up? All I hear from all the highschool kids is omg omg omg, pretty lights, the new ep, omg omg pretty lights tickets. Apparently sold out red rocks? Wtf is going on?
15 years ago
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Mixy
Posts: 8358 - Karma: 50,505
indeed!
15 years ago
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-ROY-
Posts: 3633 - Karma: 1,503
shits tight. dont be such a hipster  and embrace this groups fame
15 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52707 - Karma: 175,292
Group? It's one dude pushing buttons on his laptop. He might still have a drummer with him.


I mean I was never big into it. It's fun at festivals at 3am when your spun, a nice dance party. I never got into listening to it during the day sober. Wasn't my thing. All the sudden everyone loves pretty lights. No hate, but there really is plenty of better music out there.
15 years ago
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-ROY-
Posts: 3633 - Karma: 1,503

welp everyones got their own opinion

15 years ago
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,852
Well, I don't think NS was the first to find out about Pretty Lights, and its all over the hype machine which anyone above 3rd grade goes on wether it be for the newest gangsta rap or the newest taylor swift.
15 years ago
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Dosh
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 14
not a huge fan of pretty lights. i prefer prefuse 73 and flying lotus
15 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52707 - Karma: 175,292
Some of the bands I listen to have huge followings. This band from vermont called phish, they are kind of a big deal. Just saying I don't dislike pretty lights just because he blew up. Fun dance party, not that talented, plenty of better music even of the genre.
15 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52707 - Karma: 175,292
I never said anything about ns.
15 years ago
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Gorilla.Steeze
Posts: 2215 - Karma: 43
marco esquandolas
15 years ago
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baethoven
Posts: 4953 - Karma: 337
Doesn't really DJ his music, but rather lets that shit play out. Its fun to do drugs and go to his concerts, but a sober PL show really isn't that fun.
15 years ago
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
taste in music is all opinion, you realize this dont you?
15 years ago
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,355
Pretty Lights is sick! So happy for any fame coming their way, even if it is half my college campus and high school tools.
Just a claim i knew it and saw them first nbd
15 years ago
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prosnurfer
Posts: 1842 - Karma: 83
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15 years ago
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Proze
Posts: 1094 - Karma: 7
Your kinda late on the uptake here man pretty lights has been around for a minute...saw him at the westcott theater with like 200 other kids, one of the best atmospheres iv felt at a show like that
15 years ago
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ChocolateMilk.
Posts: 1129 - Karma: 220
Now on Itunes top 100 i believe.
Does anyone know if he got rights.
15 years ago
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gyarados
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 401
i prefer poopfist over pretty lights any day
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15 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
Pretty Lights is the shit dude... I'm seeing him on the 20th
15 years ago
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FreeskierRocco.
Posts: 3740 - Karma: 91
Agreed. Phish is where it's at. Was about to see them a couple times this last month, but couldn't make it.
15 years ago
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easiestEC
Posts: 2471 - Karma: 489
pretty lights is the shit! already got my tickets to see him in reno
15 years ago
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sstricky
Posts: 1876 - Karma: 111
thank you...


stop hatin fools' and dig his new shit... its definitely on the bandwagon... but its dopppeee
15 years ago
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steve.o
Posts: 628 - Karma: 9
Pretty lights is the bees knees man, one of the best shows i've seen hands down.  and ive seen some damn good shows.
15 years ago
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.frenchy
Posts: 18232 - Karma: 12,411
They have some pretty dope beats I must say.
15 years ago
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E.C.
Posts: 3211 - Karma: 319
pretty lights makes my head go wow ow
15 years ago
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
i like them but i think rjd2 is a better sampler
15 years ago
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
Pretty lights was cool till he started doing heroin... I wish that were a joke, but really, his music went way down hill. He showed so much promise with his early albums, but now it all sounds the same.
He was dope at Coachella though, but that must have mostly been all the LASERSSS!!!

Anyway, Ive seen PL a bunch, he's from my hometown, and I listen to a fuck ton of electronic music, so that is where my reference comes from.
15 years ago
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meth_time
Posts: 2783 - Karma: 21
Pretty sure it's him and maybe like a dj or some shit.
Most electronic musicians are just themselves pushing buttons on their laptops.

Fuck you, pretty lights is sick.
15 years ago
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
To clarify, Derek Vincent Smith who "is" pretty lights, uses a monome live. I'm unsure as to how much is live and how much is DJing, but from what I understand, and from watching him perform, he does quite a bit live, which is cool.

He also has a drummer with him most of the time. His first drummer is now in the band Dubskin, which is a dope reggae group I would recommended you check it out.

He has a new drummer, but in all honesty, I dont think the live drums add a whole lot to the performance.
15 years ago
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
I was borrowing his old monome for a minute. he uses two synths, ableton, and some random controllers now though, not as much monome.
15 years ago
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
His set at Outside Lands was INSANE! He hit the scene big there, the web blew up after that.
15 years ago
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
word, any insight into how much he's doing live? I haven't seen him in a while and frankly dont have much desire too, but he's still worth following a bit. He was def. doing some live remixing when I saw him a few years ago, but honestly not too sure anymore.
15 years ago
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meth_time
Posts: 2783 - Karma: 21
Is a monome just basically a synthesizer?
15 years ago
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TROLLED.HARD
Posts: 1032 - Karma: -11
fuck all them motherfuckers hipsters.
15 years ago
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
Not a synthesizer at all. It is a controller, basically just a bank of buttons that with a little geeky tweaking can do almost anything you want. Its hard to really explain until you start to do it yourself, but here is a video that honestly wont help you understand it at all...
15 years ago
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meth_time
Posts: 2783 - Karma: 21
But couldn't you just do all of that in ableton? I don't understand the use.
15 years ago
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DoublyDeeze
Posts: 625 - Karma: 3,863
everyone needs to stop being such contrarians, who cares if Derek blew up and is well heard now, thats good for him

his music is still bomb whether a lot of people all of a sudden like PL, or not
15 years ago
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
what gnarshed said. its even less than most controllers, as you have to tell it exactly what to do, whereas most controllers come in with least some sort of plug&play functionality. but once you get it going its pretty sick. most people use it as a sequencer that you can use to "glitch" out your audio..
15 years ago
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bdonn
Posts: 725 - Karma: 89
Anybody going to the Pretty Lights concert this Friday in Boston ?????????
15 years ago
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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216
That thing blows my mind.... Would be SO damn useful, you could make amazing, amazing stuff with that. I really want it now. I have no idea how it works but I'm getting one.
15 years ago
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
I'm gonna say this.. if you don't have at least basic, better yet mid-level programming skills, don't get one. way to much to wrap your head around. there are pre-made programs for them you can find, but then you might as well get something like a launchpad and run nonome, much cheaper..
15 years ago
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LoftyLawnChair
Posts: 846 - Karma: 220
That means that its not good right?
15 years ago
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*TURBONERD*
Posts: 15099 - Karma: 9,337
wrong, it means it is the best music out there bro
15 years ago
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
THIS!
I highly reccomend the APC40 if you want a... beginner is the wrong word... but a more developed controller. I have one and it is plug and play with ableton. still requires some set up to get it to do what you want, but has a lot of handy automapping features.

I don't know a whole lot about under-the-hood midi mapping so to speak, but I am taking a class next semester that should teach me some of it as well as get me a certificate in music technology.

I digress... Anyway, you gotta remember that MOST electronic musicians are nerds first and rockstars second. Sure anyone can DJ, but some of the hard work these people do before a sound is even made is astounding. I am currently learning a programming language called supercollider that basically allows you to create your own digital sounds/effects/instruments all from running lines of code, and there are people that compose full songs and even improvise life using nothing but text.

Hows that for a mind fuck?
I know this isnt really the point of this thread, but fuck it, a "why is pretty lights so popular" thread had no chance of going anywhere positive...
15 years ago
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
the nerd thing is so true, I go to monthly ableton meetings, and 99% of the people that show up are outrageously nerdy. they are all super talented and imaginative, but I feel like none of them will ever make it out of the little niche electronic circles because they have no mass-appeal. socially awkward and not good looking does not a star make. deadmau5 being one of the few exceptions to programmer musicians, but even he is pretty ugly and nerdy as fuck, he only acts like a rockstar when he is under his mask.

I use an apc40 when I play out, so simple and gets everything done, and nothing goes wrong on it, which is a plus.

15 years ago
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
my friend is really into ableton and just learning the basics it is the most complicated fucking program. if you're not a computer nerd you will never succeed with ableton
15 years ago
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
Thats a total misconception. it takes maybe a day to get oriented and you can be making songs or playing out after that. tell him to go to heatercore.net and start working his way through the 365 live tips, or buy that guys book if he needs help. he has tips for both DJing and producing. it gets tricky when you start building your own controllers or programming with max, or truly integrating plug-ins, or making your own softsynths, etc.
15 years ago
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,355
I would also add it's definitely one of the best live acts i've ever seen.
Crying tears that i can't see them in Albany this Saturday.
15 years ago
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
I've been meaning to start going to those meetings. My friend and I are both Ableton junkies here in Boulder. Both Electrical and Computer Engineers as well. I'm really stoked to start this program next semester because it teaches ableton, supercollider, maxmsp, cubase, etc... all in a professional environment with professional equipment. I can only do so much in my bedroom "studio" trying to learn off youtube tutorials and what not ha.

Have you ever met that dude marc thats in charge of it all? I've chatted with him a bit on facebook, he seems really cool and down to earth.

The group sounds like it is really cool and not so concerned with who can throw the dopest party and do the most drugs, which is sweet, cause i mean its all about the music after all right?

Gotta ask real quick, you don't happen to have a USB Audio Interface you are looking to sell do you???
15 years ago
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
yeah, I've met marc a few times. He's been around the electronic music block a few times for sure. They run the Bass-Bus thing that is out on first fridays by Lucid Gallery, its pretty sick if you like dubby music, which I don't, but yeah. I don't have an interface for sale, but there was an audiocontrol 1 on CL a few days ago for 50$.. could still be there. That class sounds sick, is it offered as a non-credit course to people who don't attend CU by chance? I've taken a few non-credit courses through CU Denver to boost my music knowledge, but I always like to learn more.
15 years ago
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
no that's where he is now. he's starting to build custom shit and it's the most complicated thing

im talking about my experience. i failed with it
15 years ago
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
Not certain, here is a link to the website for the program:
http://coloradomusictech.com/
The guy in charge is John Drumheller Shoot him an email at Drumhell@colorado.edu

I will be taking MUSC 4081 Intro to music technology next semester. Not sure how detailed it is, but I can certainly let you know at some point when I have a better idea.

Lemme know if you are ever up in Boulder or something, we should meet up, or go shredding sometime. We'd probably have a lot to talk about haha
15 years ago
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