Bright Light Bright Light is comfortable considering his self-isolating state in Manhattan during the early stages of COVID-19. Think Mad Max with a deserted Time Square and Escape From New York but with tea.
Videos by American Songwriter
In this episode of SMI, Rod Thomas of BLBL shares the foundations of his aesthetics in his art. Thomas and podcast host Brandon Harrington talk about the songs “This Was My House” and “Sensation” featuring Scissor Sisters’ own Jake Shears. They also cover how the sound of BLBL has evolved from folk singer to mid-apocalyptic disco LGBTQ+ community leader.
Bright Light Bright Light is Welsh-born, NYC living artist Rod Thomas. Thomas makes pop music that is influenced heavily by cinema. There are also nods to the ’80s and ’90s, his formative decades, in its colorful, effervescent presentation. BLBL not only made history by performing on the Graham Norton Show in 2016 with Sir Elton John but also showed the world how much he has achieved as an independent musician.
On the hem of “Sensation,” he is also gearing up for his newest album out on September 18th, 2020, Fun City. He calls the album, a “mid-apocalyptic disco record that is a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community, steeped in its history but also very much focused on its present and future.”
And in conversation, Thomas shares the frustrations of presumptions in business and even in art. This comes along with the challenges of the LGBTQ+ community in music and out. Thomas concludes that it’s a firefight of smiling through the abuse of pursuing music as a career.
SMI host Brandon Harrington has a knack for it all. This personality has proven his creative talents in scriptwriting, audio production and interview prowess. He’s the perfect voice behind a podcast on the ups and downs of the music industry.
