Pretty Lights undeniably charted new territory in the electronic music world when he created the album 'A Color Map of The Sun,' and this behind-the-scenes look at the video shoot for 'Around The Block' shows you just how intricate and complex his process was. Every last little detail was decided with purpose; Derek Vincent Smith can tell you exactly what he was feeling and what he was trying to represent with each decision. He explains that choosing the name 'Pretty Lights' was his way of paying homage to finding the subtle beauties in life, to always keeping your eyes open to the wonders of your surroundings, and to find magic in the mundane. He's not just a musician, he's an artist with a vivid and impassioned vision.

When Pretty Lights created 'A Color Map of the Sun,' he wanted to go back to the very basics of electronic sound production and manipulation and used a somewhat archaic technique that many modern DJ's and producers would be left scratching their heads over. What I'm referring to here is the use of an analogue modular synthesizer, a device in which a series of specialized modules can be connected together manually with the use of patch cords. In a highly digital age, Pretty Lights was unafraid to return to analogue, and the payout was huge. Regarded as one of the most versatile artists in the industry Pretty Lights shows us the kind of hard work and creative risk that it takes to be at the head of the game. Watch the video below to learn more about his inspiration and his incredible process!
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