Review Fix chats with Light Star’s Leah Page, who discusses the band’s upcoming EP, origins, creative process and more.
Review Fix: How did the band get together?
Leah Page: When we first met, Johnny and I were composing rock music in a full band setting, and it became apparent to us both that our musical chemistry would lend itself in a more freeing and open space in the electronic realm. We decided to move forward on our own as an electro duo, fusing elements of rock, electronic and trip-hop into a unique sonic experience.
Review Fix: What bands inspire you guys?
Page: We are inspired by an array of artists ranging from mainstream pop to the more obscure. The most important key to us both is authenticity and originality in composition and melody from other artists, and this is how we approach our own music- with truth. We are heavily inspired by Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Portishead, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, Japan, Sia, Big Sir and Omar Rodriguez Lopez.
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before?
Page: Our sound is simultaneously minimal and expansive. We undulate from quiet moments to louder more thrashing tones to reflect the ebb and flow of our emotions with an emphasis on melody and driving beats. We range from ambient and pleasant sounds to more haunting and dissonant progressions with a strong melodic undertone. It’s not something you’ve heard before, to be honest.
Review Fix: What’s the tone of this EP?
Page: The tone of our upcoming EP, Lux Oscuro is as the name suggests- it is a reflection of the juxtaposition of lightness and darkness. Synthesizer and drum machines are frequently used to draw the listener in through moody and bright tones that tell a story and compliment the vocals and lyrics of each track.
Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this EP?
Page: We both have found a new love for music in the electronic world. There are more musical opportunities for us in terms of improvisation and creative expression. We have learned how self-reliant we can be and trust in the process. The dynamic of being two people as a duo is easier and more fluid to work with in a symbiotic manner. We just look at each other and know what the next measure will be- it’s a shared feeling. We do not speak musically, rather, like Peter Gabriel stated, we “talk in pictures; not in words.†Our songs are the pictures of our thoughts- this is how we communicate.
Review Fix: What makes “Waking Life†a special track? How was it written?
Page: It’s so crazy and magical how “Waking Life” emerged. We both stated playing on the keyboard at the exact same time without a word spoken to each other and wound up composing the first verse of this song. This track is so special to us, because, it was musically composed by both of us in such an organic way. Moreover, the lyrics talk about waking up out of a coma-state and coming into the world as a reborn version of self. It talks about the fact that progress is a process and promotes self-love and self-care. We many people can relate to feeling numb and dumb just walking through life. It’s a song about re-emergence and a genuine gratitude for being alive.
Review Fix: In a perfect world, if you could open up for any band, who would it be? Why?
Page: In a perfect world, we would love beyond measure to open up for Nine Inch Nails, because we have immense respect and love for Trent Reznor and his music.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of the year?
Page: Our goals for the rest of the year include: touching others through our music and helping others see the other side of darkness where there is light; completing our first full length album, remixing tracks by killer DJs, playing shows and honing our craft. Getting on a solid national tour, expanding our fan-base and moving others through our songs.
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