Francis and the Lights

Francis and the Lights is an American pop project led by Francis Farewell Starlite.[1] The term "and the Lights" refers both to the lights on a stage and pixels on a computer screen.[2]

Francis and the Lights
Francis and the Lights performing at the Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn, New York on November 15, 2007
Background information
OriginOakland, California, United States
Genres
Years active2007–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitefrancisandthelights.com
Members

Starlite often uses the Francis and the Lights name when crediting his solo work and contributions. He has said, "There are no ‘members’ of Francis and the Lights. It is me and whomever else is involved. Including you."

Their music is characterized by a heavy use of electronically produced beats. During live performances, the vocals are backed by his pre-produced tracks with the assistance of a DJ, while Francis uses a synthesizer at times. Past performances have included a live band, as depicted in several of their earlier music videos. Francis and the Lights released their debut studio album, Farewell, Starlite!, on September 24, 2016.

History

In 2007, Francis and the Lights self-released their debut EP, Striking.

Their second EP, A Modern Promise, came out in August 2008.

Francis and the Lights was credited as producing the song "Karaoke" for Canadian rapper Drake from his 2010 debut album Thank Me Later.

In 2010, they toured with Drake, MGMT, Ke$ha, La Roux, and Mark Ronson.[3][4]

On July 20, 2010, Francis and the Lights released their third EP, It'll Be Better, through Cantora Records. It was produced by Francis Farewell Starlite and Jake Schreier.[5]

Schreier, once a supporting musician for Francis and the Lights, has directed most of their music videos, and they provided the score for his feature film debut, Robot & Frank (2012).[6]

A fourth EP, Like a Dream, came out in 2013.

Drake quoted the 2010 Francis and the Lights song "Get in the Car" on the track "Madonna" from his 2015 mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late. The phrase "Big as Madonna" was later used on a shirt that was worn by Madonna during her infamous appearance in Drake's 2015 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival headlining set.[7]

In 2016, Francis and the Lights were featured on Chance the Rapper's "Summer Friends" from his third mixtape, Coloring Book. They served as the opening act on the North American tour dates of Chance the Rapper's Magnificent Coloring World Tour, which ran between September 2016 and October 2016.[8]

On May 15, 2016, Starlite released a solo piano song entitled "Thank You", which was recorded on a phone in Justin Vernon's living room.[9][10][11]

On July 7, 2016, Francis and the Lights released a music video for the new song "Friends" featuring Bon Iver and Kanye West.[12]

On August 13, 2016, the band premiered their debut studio album Farewell, Starlite! during their performance at the Eaux Claires music festival.[13] It was released on September 24, 2016 after a performance of the album at Chance the Rapper's Magnificent Coloring Day festival.

In 2016 Francis and the Lights performed a cover of "Dear Theodosia" as a duet with Chance the Rapper on The Hamilton Mixtape.[14]

A remix of "May I Have This Dance" featuring Chance the Rapper was released alongside a music video on May 18, 2017.

Just for Us, their sophomore album, was released in December 2017.

Francis and the Lights are credited as a producer on the 2018 Kanye West album ye for the tracks "I Thought About Killing You," "All Mine," and "Ghost Town." They appear uncredited on the song "I Thought About Killing You," co-written by Starlite, on a loop heard throughout the track. On Kids See Ghosts, a collaboration by West and Kid Cudi under the name Kids See Ghosts, they are also credited as a producer on "Feel the Love," which features rapper Pusha T.

Their third album, Same Night Different Dream, was originally announced for release as Take Me to the Light via a Tumblr post in August 2019.[15] It was subsequently renamed and scheduled for a November 1 release that was eventually delayed.[16] "Take Me to the Light" featuring Bon Iver and Kanye West, was released as its first single on August 30, 2019.[17]

Discography
See also: Francis Farewell Starlite § Discography

Studio albums

EPs
  • Striking (2007)
  • A Modern Promise (2008)
  • It'll Be Better (2010)
  • Like a Dream (2013)

Soundtracks

Singles
  • "LIME/WYN" (2008)
  • "Eiffel Tower" / "The Things That I Would Do" (with inc.) (2011)
  • "Friends" (featuring Bon Iver and Kanye West) (2016)
  • "See Her Out (That's Just Life)" (2016)
  • "May I Have This Dance" (remix featuring Chance the Rapper) (2017) [US Billboard Alternative Songs Chart No. 36]
  • "Scream so Loud (Lammer Dance Mix)" (2018)
  • "Try Tho We Might To" (2018)
  • "The Video in the Pool" (2018)
  • "Do u Need Love?" (2019)
  • "Take Me to the Light" (featuring Bon Iver and Kanye West) (2019)[18]

Compilation appearances

References
  1. Stuart, Tessa (12 May 2010). "Turning on Francis and the Lights". East Bay Express. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  2. Bellefleur, Rose (9 July 2010). "Francis and the Lights Interview". 12thDisciples Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 1 Jan 2011.
  3. "Francis & the Lights Gigography". Songkick. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 1 Jan 2011.
  4. "Francis and the Lights live at Music Hall of Williamsburg". According2G. 12 Oct 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016.
  5. "Francis And The Lights - It'll Be Better (CD, Album)". Discogs. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  6. https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/jake-schreier-robot-frank
  7. "This Is the Deal With Madonna's Drake Coachella Performance Tank Top". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  8. Kaye, Ben (2016-08-14). "Chance the Rapper recruits Francis and the Lights to open Magnificent Coloring Book Tour". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  9. Price, Joe (16 May 2016). "Francis and the Lights Resurfaces with "Thank You"". Pigeons and Airplanes. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  10. "Listen: Francis and the Lights - Thank You". Hum Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  11. Kim, Michelle (15 May 2016). "Francis And The Lights Returns With New Track, "Thank You"". The Fader. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  12. Strauss, Matthew (2016-07-07). "Watch Kanye, Bon Iver, and Francis and the Lights Team Up for New Video "Friends"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  13. Tanzer, Myles (2016-08-14). "Francis And The Lights Debuts New Album Farewell, Starlite! At Eaux Claires Festival". The Fader. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  14. "Stream 'The Hamilton' Mixtape Featuring Nas, Usher, Miguel, Wiz Khalifa & More". Vibe. 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  15. https://francisandthelights.com/post/187013801424/my-next-album-is-called-take-me-to-the-light
  16. https://twitter.com/andthelights/status/1190188817489121281
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4981F5nd3So
  18. Rettig, James (September 3, 2019). "Francis And The Lights – "Take Me To The Light" (Feat. Bon Iver & Kanye West)". Stereogum. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
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