5 Songs I Love w/ Light Once Lost

We sat down with the phenomenal Light Once Lost on the release of his new EP 'What Doesn't Steal You' to discuss what influences went into creating his unique sound. Be sure to check out 'Exit Clause' at the bottom of the page, and follow him along his journey!

“Don’t Swallow The Cap”-The National

I discovered The National in late 2018 but never gave them the proper time or dedication to really understand them and their sound. It wasn’t until more recently in 2022 that I had revisited them and understood exactly what they were about. “Don’t Swallow The Cap” was the first song that struck me and immediately enthralled me in what they do. The juxtaposition of the driving rhythmic patterns and melancholic melodies and chord progressions mixed with Berninger’s insightful and introspective lyrics really opened my eyes to what was possible in songwriting. These are all key elements I try to use in my own writing.

“Let Down”-Radiohead

Radiohead was another band for me that took some time to grow. They were a household name when I was in high school: all of my friends who were leaning more into the experimental phase of their music tastes while I was stuck listening to aggressive hardcore bands. I just never gave them the time of day. When I finally decided to delve into their discography in recent years I became ravenous for their work. “Let Down” especially blew me away for a number of reasons: Thom’s vocals obviously are astounding, the guitar work by Greenwood that encapsulates the melodies add a wonderful canonical effect, and the mixing choices of panning Thom’s vocals in the bridge allowing the viewer to feel surrounded by voices really struck me. That same panning choice was something I used on my own record on “Six Day’s Notice”. 

“NYC”-Interpol

“Turn On The Bright Lights” was a record that immediately hooked me the second I heard it. To this day I don’t believe there has been a record that has felt so effortlessly cool, mysterious, and intentional as that one. Though it is hard for me to choose just one song from this record, “NYC” was the one that influenced me the most when writing songs for “What Doesn’t Steal You”. Though they are known for their upbeat songs, I do believe that Interpol truly shines when they slow things down. “NYC” really showed me that a song doesn’t need to be complicated to work perfectly: a few chords, impactful lyrics, honest delivery, and purposeful execution. All of these things they provide in spades on this song, and that helped guide me a lot through writing for this recent record.

“Your Son”-From Indian Lakes

Growing up in Northern California, there were a handful of bands that became regular viewing whenever they traveled through our little town. From Indian Lakes was one of those bands. I’ve lost count of how many times I had seen them play to nearly empty rooms, and yet each time they played as if their lives depended on it. I remember hearing Joey’s voice for the first time and being beyond impressed with his range and emotional delivery. You believed every single thing he said. I remember hearing an old version of him playing “Your Son” and being awe-inspired. The lyrics are so poignant: whether he’s genuinely discussing a relationship with his father or if he’s speaking about God, it really didn’t matter. His delivery is so emotional and powerful that it drives the listener to be in the moment with him as he’s playing. Every time I sing one of my songs I try to emulate a fraction of what I first heard on that track.

“Operator”-Jim Croce

Growing up, on Sunday mornings my parents would play some of their favorite records in the background of the usual tasks that they set out to do. It was often a mix of Motown, southern rock, folk, or even some 80’s pop. One of the artists that still sticks out to me to this day was Jim Croce. Despite the obvious nostalgia, his songs still impact me in a way that’s pretty profound. I’ve always enjoyed when songs tell a story, and I truly don’t know of a songwriter who does it better than he did. With this song specifically, he tells a story of heartbreak that is so poignant and beautiful. It’s a perfect lesson in perfect lyricism: tell the story without telling the story. His lyrics paired with his beautiful guitar playing is still something I aim to be half as good as in my own work.

"Exit Clause" - Light Once Lost