On April 6, 2016, Son Lux will be at Covenant College’s Bakertree Festival.
It’s kind of a big deal.
Son Lux started out as the solo project of Ryan Lott, a New York-based musician who got his start writing commercials of all things. Since 2008, he has released 5 full length albums and 3 EPs.
He calls himself post-rock, but only for lack of a more specific genre. Son Lux utilizes elements from many different genres, sometimes leaning heavily on electronica and at other times pulling from hip-hop and rock influences. At the same time, he is firmly rooted in Indie Pop. This amalgamation of different stylistic cues creates a wholly unique and versatile sound that Lott utilizes well.
His debut was in 2008 with At War with Walls & Mazes, where Lott experimented with percussion and rhythm but focused on lyric writing, resulting in a full sound that tempts the audience to lean in and listen closer. This release earned NPR’s “All Songs Considered’s” “Best New Artist” award.
Son Lux’s second album, We Are Rising, was written in only 28 days and released in 2011. Son Lux began to feature more electronic elements that complement his trembling tenor. In 2013, Lanterns was released, and the following year saw an accompanying 4-song EP release including a version of one of Son Lux’s most popular songs, “Easy,” that featured Lorde.
Also in 2014, Lott produced the soundtrack for “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” a three-part film series starring James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain. In 2015, Son Lux’s single Lost it to Trying was also featured on the soundtrack of Paper Towns, a movie adaptation of the popular John Green novel.
As of 2015, Son Lux is a trio. Ian Chang, who moonlights for Matthew Dear, and Rafiq Bhatia, who has been featured by the Washington Post for his accomplishments, officially joined Lott after touring together to produce Son Lux’s fourth album, Bones, released on June 23, 2015.
Son Lux may seem like your typical indie band with their simple three-piece setup and tight button-down shirts, but Lott is a natural performer that brings a unique energy to the stage, allowing Son Lux to transcend the genre that can be restricted by musicians who think emptiness is edgy and designer coffee can be a muse. Son Lux is genuinely interesting with varied influences and sounds, and their willingness to innovate leaves much of Indie far behind.
Son Lux’s live performances are best described as a rollercoaster. The trio deliver a riveting, emotional show with massive swells and gripping lows, transitioning between time signatures and keys with ease. Lott warbles into the mic behind his keyboards while Rafiq headbangs in front of the amplifiers and Chang provides the backup vocals while delivering massive fills at the drums. There is very little transition time in between songs, so the crowd is always engaged.
It is quite an honor for such a high-profile group to be playing at Bakertree. We can expect Son Lux to put on a show like no other.