Lets start from the very beginning. It was the summer going into my Senior year of high school when I traveled to Philly to do a summer Music Business program at Drexel University. It was an amazing experience, and I met amazing people, some of which I still keep in contact with! I met a girl the first day I was there and instantly connected with her. We did have a lot in common, but we were still different in every sense of the word. Weird I know... but that's just how it was and I loved it. She had such a unique style and awesome stories that it really inspired me to dig deeper and to be more creative.. and to ultimately just BE MYSELF. (She also has no idea how much of a break through she was for me in my life..she may think it's creepy or a compliment. I would hope a compliment haha) Anyway, at that point in my life there was so many things that I wanted to try regarding my looks, style, and my music, but was too nervous about what people would think to even go there. I always had a fascination with the artists that went outside of the box and ultimately were just...weird, but never thought that I could ever experiment the way they have.
My new friend and I talked about a lot of different things, but mainly talked about music. We were just hanging out at the hotel we were staying in while she showed me all of the cool artists and musicians that she loved and listened to, one being Lights. Once she put her music on I automatically became intrigued by her subtle voice and AWESOME synths. I took note of the name, and continued hanging out with the new friends that I had met at the program. When I got home I immediately bought Light's EP off of I-tunes and listened to those same 5 or 6 songs over and over again. At that time Lights wasn't a very popular artist (at least not in the US), but did have a really great fan following and was making youtube videos and touring. I increasingly became anxious for more music and found as many videos and songs made by her as I possibly could.
Everyone has that specific artist or band that literally just speaks to their soul, and Lights is that for me. I followed her every step of the way and believed in her simply for the reason that she had shown me music that was NEVER made before and was uniquely her own. I also love her style, and doesn't feel the need to change her hair and clothes a million times to transform into a different person. She is very simple, and I absolutely love that about her. She's not the best singer I've ever heard and she's not the best song writer that I've ever come across, and even a musical God wouldn't be able to do what she has done. She has passion, she has drive, and she's a damn hard worker. She signed a publishing deal at just 16 years old and started out by writing songs for other artists. She did everything possible to get to where she is today.. and you know what the best part about her? Although her music has evolved, grown, and developed in a tremendous way she is still that same HUMBLE human being that she was when she first started. She is the one of the most humble, appreciative artists that I have ever seen or experienced, and you can tell that the fame and fortune that she has received throughout the years hasn't gotten to her head. I actually saw her at a restaurant in Nashville the day I was going to see her concert and couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk to her. She welcomed me with open arms as I rudely ( well I did it in a polite manner) interrupted her lunch with her friend. She shook my hand and actually wanted to hear what I had to say.(Oh did I mention that she is much more beautiful in person?! I know what you're thinking... impossible) That night I went to her concert (which was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had in my whole entire life...brought me to tears) and recognized the friend that she was eating with at PM behind the merch table. Luckily she remembered me as well so it wasn't as creepy haha. Ahh I can't remember her name because this was months ago, but she too was so sweet and allowed me to ask questions. We actually had about a half hour conversation, and I found out so much about her and Lights' life. Definitely a moment that I'll never forget.
Honestly I could go on and on about my love for Lights' music, but there's one important point that I want to make. Her music helped me survive the difficult times in my life, her music has been blasted in my car while me and my friends dance around and act like fools, her music INSPIRES me and helped me develop myself as an artist. She helped me figure out what kind of musical career I aspire to have, and that is to keep writing music that I believe in and to stay humble and eternally grateful for everything that I have experienced in life. So, Lights.. if you ever see this (or if I happen to become a successful artist and we collaborate on something) I just want to say THANK YOU for being YOU and ultimately changing my life.
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