Brooklyn-based rock outfit Earthquake Lights barely fits within its self-described alt-rock genre. Orchestral strings litter the dense arrangements, elevating the songs to something more refined and nearly classical feeling. But there’s a distinctive jazz influence to the grooves and harmonic richness that the band is hesitant to compare to jazz, though the comparison is something they contend with regularly. Still, the rock influences are clear, and Earthquake Lights sounds something like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Beck.
Their new album, Signs of Life, is a reflection of experimentation and exploration under pressure. Centering on themes of self-reflection, the record evaluates self-fulfilling prophecies and coming to terms with past mistakes, and assesses where you’ve been and where you’re headed. Rodenhouse explains, “Where you end up can reflect your own choices, and this record is focused on that level of self-assessment.”
The nine-track Signs of Life is an introspective record. Harmonically dense overall, some tracks are deeply experimental, while others such as “Pictures” are designed to be more accessible and immediate. “Pictures” tells the story of someone who romanticizes a past relationship or friendship through pictures, abstractly commenting on the ever-present role social media plays in our lives. The album also includes “Silhouette” which narrates an extraterrestrial search for life, penning the question, “What’s the connection between music and space?” Another track of note is the beautiful “Heartbeat,” a reminder to cherish our loved ones in the face of looming troubles.
Signs of Life celebrates craftsmanship and working with analog/ acoustic instruments and players to create sounds that are truly unique in today’s content-obsessed industry. Rodenhouse shares, “We’re trying to make a timeless record that leans into traditions of music and playership, not the future of music. Samples and AI and drum loops are all amazing, but we’re trying to make records that celebrate humans. It took over 100 people to make this record, and I believe you can hear that in the sounds of this record.”
Earthquake Lights have garnered millions of streams to date. Their previous album Desert Bloom charted nearly 30 times on the iTunes and Apple music charts, and somewhere along the way they managed to snag a feature on Vulfpeck’s The Joy of Music, the Job of Real Estate. They have also received praise from the likes of Wonderland Magazine, NOTION, The Line of Best Fit, Ones to Watch and Earmilk to name a few.
You can connect with Earthquake Lights on Instagram @earthquakelights and Facebook @Earthquake Lights
