“There’s no question Lott is a gifted composer and Lanterns is his most arresting album to date.” – NPR
“[Son Lux’s] music encompasses pinpoint orchestral arrangements as well as electronics that can be glitchy, glossy and dizzying.” – The New York Times“Brainy and muscular, propulsive and complicated, mournful and celebratory” – Pitchfork
Joyful Noise Recordings is pleased to reveal the video for Son Lux‘s “Build A Pyre (Begin Again)” from the producer/composer’s new EP Alternate Worlds, out this week. The new four song release, which is available on vinyl and digitally, features re-imagined versions of tracks found on Son Lux’s latest full-length album, the widely-acclaimed Lanterns. In addition to “Build A Pyre (Begin Again),” Alternate Worlds features a collaboration with Lorde on “Easy (Switch Screens),” which came to be after the New Zealand breakout star began covering the original version live.
NPR premiered the clip, calling it “an artful testament to ruin and rebirth.” Director, producer and editor Geoff Hoskinson noted “the main idea for the video was to visualize fire as an element of power and change. I wanted to symbolize the shared nature of human and flame.”
Son Lux is also announcing a west coast tour this fall, which follows an extensive European tour in support of Alternate Worlds. Tickets to the North American dates are on sale on May 30, and the full list of tour dates can be found below.
Released to much praise late last year, Lanterns sees Son Lux (aka Ryan Lott) at the helm of an impressive ensemble of instrumentalists and singers, including Chris Thile (The Punch Brothers), Peter Silberman (The Antlers), DM Stith, Lily & Madeleine, Darren King (Mutemath), Ieva Berberian (Gem Club) and yMusic (Dirty Projectors, Bon Iver). Meditative but heaving with energy, Lanterns finds a peculiar congruency between futuristic soul and ancient sentiment. Driving orchestral pop (“Lost It To Trying,” “No Crimes”) is placed alongside creepy minimalism (“Pyre,” “Enough Of Our Machines”), often starkly juxtaposing densely layered arrangements with Lott’s intimate voice.
Beyond releasing Alternate Worlds and worldwide touring, Son Lux released an album with Sisyphus, his collaborative project with Sufjan Stevens and rapper Serengeti, whose self-titled debut was released on March 18th via Joyful Noise / Asthmatic Kitty. Additionally, Lott is a featured songwriter, producer and performer on “Troubled World” off WinterSpringSummerFall, the new mixtape from Beyonce producer BOOTS. Lott, equal parts producer and composer, has been delving into further collaborations as Son Lux, with more details to be unveiled in the coming months.
Alternate Worlds tracklist:
1. Alternate World (Alternate Age)
4. Lost It To Trying (Mouths Only Lying)
Son Lux tour dates:
5/28 – Les Trinitaires – Metz, FR
5/29 – Way Back When Festival – Dortmund, DE
5/30 – Bad Bonn Kilibi Festival – Dudingen, CH
5/31 – Maifeld Derby Festival – Mannheim, DE
6/1 – Le Tammanoir – Gennevilliers, FR
6/3 – Broadcast – Glasgow, UK
6/4 – The Wardrobe – Leeds, UK
6/5 – Exchange – Bristol, UK
6/6 – Deaf Institute – Manchester, UK
6/7 – PLissken Festival – Athens, GR
6/20 – Firefly Festival – Dover, DE
7/10 – Apolo 2, Caprichos de Apolo – Barcelona, ES
7/11 – Les Ardentes Festival – Liege, BE
7/12 – Festicules Festival – Culles de Roches, FR
7/14 – Valkhof Festival – Nijmegen, NL
7/17 – Dour Festival – Dour, BE
7/18 – Latitude Festival – Suffolk, UL
7/19 – Longitude Festival – Dublin, IE
7/20 – Melt! Festival – Gräfenhainichen, DE
7/23 – Boomtown Festival – Gent, BE
7/25 – Appletree Garden Festival – Diepholz, DE
7/26 – Burning Eagle Festival – Reutlingen, DE
7/27 – Food For Your Senses Festival – Luxembourg, LU
9/19 – The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA
9/20 – Independent – San Francisco, CA
9/22 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
9/23 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC
9/24 – Decibel Festival @ The Crocodile – Seattle, WA
