Bright Light Bright Light

Bright Light Bright Light
Bright Light Bright Light performing in September 2016
Background information
Birth name	Rod Thomas
Born	1982/1983 (age 32 as of 2015) Neath, Wales
Genres	Electropop, dance, disco, house, alternative
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, dj, producer
Instruments	voice, piano, guitar, saxophone, bass, ukulele
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Self Raising Records
Associated acts	Elton John, Scissor Sisters, Slow Knights, Alan Cumming, Mykal Kilgore,
Website	brightlightx2.com

Rod Thomas (stage name Bright Light Bright Light) is a Welsh independent singer/songwriter, based in London. Bright Light Bright Light incorporates many elements of nu-disco into his music, also branching into synthpop, dance and house music. Two of his albums have reached the top 20 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.

Thomas grew up in a small village near Neath, Wales and learned several instruments as a child including the piano. His first forays into music were more folk-based, led by acoustic guitar and, due to a lack of equipment, with minimal beats around it. Thomas later stated that his dalliance with folk was due to his lack of knowledge with production techniques, and that he was always drawn to house and synthpop. He left Wales to take a place reading English literature and creative writing at Warwick University, and after that, made the move to London. In London he set up a studio at his home, and spent the rush hours busking the busy London tube stations. In 2009 he sent some demo tracks to American producer Boom Bip, which resulted in Thomas being invited to Los Angeles for two weeks to work on tracks together. Thomas stated that Boom Bip's production on the song "A New Word to Say" helped him find "his sound".

Thomas released, "Love Part II", his first single under the name Bright Light Bright Light, in 2010 on the Popjustice Hi-Fi label. Thomas chose the name 'Bright Light Bright Light' from a quote spoken by the character Gizmo in the 1984 movie Gremlins. 2010 also saw him tour as the support act for Ellie Goulding. The singles "Disco Moment" and "Feel It" followed through 2011 and 2012, and after appearances at Bestival in the UK and South by South West in the US he released his debut album Make Me Believe in Hope in 2012.

The album tracks to Make Me Believe in Hope were co-written and produced by Rod Thomas, The Invisible Men and Andy Chatterley. The album features several collaborations, including vocals from Scissor Sisters' guitarist Del Marquis on the track "Cry at Films". Make Me Believe in Hope was released in the UK on 4 June 2012 through independent label Aztec Records, and the album received generally positive reviews from music critics and bloggers, with The Fly magazine noting the album as one the releases that just missed its annual top 50. The album was voted at number 4 in The Guardian's Reader Choice: Best Albums of 2012 Bright Light Bright Light released the single "Disco Moment" from the album which was placed on the BBC Radio 1 play list. In June 2012 the album made the final shortlist for the annual Welsh Music Prize, but lost to Future of the Left. 2012 also saw Bright Light Bright Light support Scissor Sisters on four venues of their UK tour.