Hit the Lights

By Jackie Cular

Ohio’s own Hit the Lights directly supported D.R.U.G.S. on the SIN Tour and will soon be returning to the Warped Tour stage.

TheCuttingEdgeCulture:: “You are in the middle of the Safety in Numbers Tour. What’s your favorite sin to commit?”

Hit The Lights: “Blasphemy is a good one; I think we all kind of push our luck with that, I’m also a big fan of adultery.”

TCEC: What’s the safest thing you like to do as a group?”

HTL: [laughs]

TCEC: “Over the course of four years how has your sound changed?”

HTL:  “I think all our new stuff is a little more rock, a little more atmosphere. I think that Nicks vocals really start to soar on this record, from the last record. A lot more fast stuff. I had my wings out i just needed to do a little soaring.”

TCEC:  “Was it hard to make this new album radio friendly?”

HTL: “We have always been a poppy band, we have always enjoyed hooks. I think that all the stuff we went through on this record didn’t really have to be about something specific, it was just songs that we wanted to write overall and what we felt was right and what were more catchy.”

TCEC: “Have there been any events that have served as inspiration for these songs?”

HTL: “That’s a really good question; the two producers that we went in with definitely help influence the outcome of the record. They had a lot of great input on the songs and filled in some gaps and holes.”

TCEC: “Is there one song that kind of encompasses your new sound the best?”

HTL: “I think one of the songs that kind of started the blue print was ‘Gravity’ I think we kind of went with that and built around it with different tones with how we wanted the album to sound.  Everything is a little bit more open it breathes less like lyric to lyric. It’s more of a big and groovy feel which is what we wanted on this album. And I think ‘Gravity’ started that and we took it from there.”

TCEC: “Why release an EP with the same songs as your full length albums in such a close proximity of time?”

HTL: “That was just because we were gone for so long between records and stuff that when we finally talked to the label guy and found out when the release day would be we just thought it would be a good idea so that we could get it out there for the people to know that we had a record coming out. To push to get on the road and say, ‘hey, we’re back.’ I think it was a better way of doing it then just waiting even longer and just dropping an album.”

TCEC: “Any plans to make a video?”

HTL: “We have made two so far; actually it came out today.” Watch “Earthquake.” Watch “Gravity.”

TCEC: “With all the reality shows and MTV out there, why make a video now?”

HTL: “When you’re growing up all those guys making videos were the things that I loved the most. I watched MTV because I loved the connection with the video and music and they had such cool concepts for the videos. So I miss why MTV ditched that in the first place. Cool ideas for videos will never go away it’s just another way to further I guess the art experience. Taking it and making it something that people will tie together. Speaking on we’re on that caged show on MTV.”

TCEC: “You guys are kind of known for filming your antics, do you think that will ever go away?”

HTL: “Hmmm, what do you think? We have fun; we wouldn't do it if we didn't. If we stopped having fun then it wouldn't be fun so yeah... If you don’t have fun it’s not gonna be fun stupid!! If you don’t make an effort to be outwardly honest with yourself especially on stage when you’re up there going through the emotion.”

TCEC: “Any causes you guys support?”

HTL: “We did stuff for suicide awareness, breast cancer stuff.”

TCEC: “Finish this line for me: Life without music...”

HTL: “…Doesn't exist?”

Hit the Lights is about to get back on tour with Cartel and Set Your Goals. Go to their website for more tour information.