LIGHTS inspires with newest acoustic album


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Canadian musician LIGHTS will release her new acoustic LP, Midnight Machines, on April 8. The album will feature six songs from her third studio-length album, Little Machines, in addition to two new songs, “Head Cold” and “Follow You Down.”

Midnight Machines is a success and sounded as if each track were meant to be acoustic in the first place, rather than her usual electronic, synth-pop sound. With string section accents, the album is put together well through a rustic yet uplifting approach.

Midnight Machines is more than just an acoustic record — it’s a complete reinvention of some of the songs from Little Machines,” LIGHTS said in an Alternative Press article. “I worked with a string section and my band to create this ultra-vibey, late night version.”

While Little Machines is an electronic-based LP, Midnight Machines takes on a new element, straying away from synths and dabbling in a completely acoustic sound. Right away, a notable shift is seen alone in the album name alone. Little Machines has a symbolic feel in that the album evokes of little machines working to tie each track together. Midnight Machines, while offering a similar perspective, also gives way to dark imagery and a more serious tone.

The album has an almost somber vibe, and while it is a lot slower and more raw-sounding than Little Machines, the album is uplifting and real. LIGHTS’s voice will leave listeners in a trance, feeling inspired and full of wonder. The album is soft and hopeful, yet vulnerable at the same time. Her soothing voice has a calming effect, and it feels as if one were in the room listening to her play one-on-one.

Each track is personable, and has authentic components. Her new track, “Head Cold,” hones in on the struggle of moving forward and not looking back, a common circumstance many people can relate to. With a verse that identifies with being human, “caught in a landslide, stuck on the inside, like everybody else,” she emphasizes a “keep moving” message. LIGHTS uses a head cold as a metaphor for life and the struggles that will come, but soon will pass.

For those who are fans of Birdy, Daughter or Ellie Goulding, LIGHTS is the perfect musician to listen to. In addition to its warm and inviting theme, Midnight Machines works cohesively and achieves a depth in sound through its classical-sounding instrumentals and acoustic base. Midnight Machines shows LIGHTS’s versatility as a strong musician.