Five years since the iconic producer’s last performance, Pretty Lights announces his highly anticipated return to music.
Renowned electronic artist Pretty Lights has made a comeback after an extended hiatus of almost five years, marked by a dearth of public appearances and musical releases. The DJ and producer, who gained significant traction in the festival circuit of the 2010s with chart-toppers such as “Finally Moving” and “Rainbows and Waterfalls,” has not performed live since 2018 and has not produced any new music since 2017.
On Tuesday, April 4, the artist resurfaced on social media to disclose the Soundship Spacesystem Tour and convey a fresh message to his admirers.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time and am immensely grateful to be healthy and happy and surrounded by amazing people,” said Pretty Lights (real name Derek Vincent Smith). “I feel recharged and more ready than ever to launch a new vision of PL music and live events. Can’t wait to share everything that’s coming. And fam, seriously, thank you so much for your endless love and support. Thank you for all the positive energy while I took time to focus mine. It’s a new dawn and I can’t wait to see you all again shining bright. lfggggggg.”
The Soundship Spacesystem Tour, headlined by Pretty Lights, is set to cover nine destinations across North America, including Denver, Lake Dillon, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Chicago, Pelham, San Francisco, and New Orleans. The itinerary for the tour is yet to be fully disclosed, with the exception of The Caverns in Pelham, Tenn.
The tour will consist of 27 shows, with multiple performances by Pretty Lights in each of the nine cities. Additionally, Pretty Lights has been announced as one of the headliners for the upcoming Suwannee Hulaween, a three-day music festival at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Florida scheduled for October 26-29. Although not listed as part of the tour, this event will feature the artist’s performance. In a separate announcement, it was revealed that Pretty Lights will also headline the inaugural Cascade Equinox festival taking place in Redmond, Ore. this September. Produced by the team behind the renowned Gem & Jam festival in Arizona, the new event promises to be another remarkable addition to the artist’s itinerary.
Incorporating fresh elements to his performances, Pretty Lights will present two new types of shows during his Soundship Spacesystem Tour: Pretty Lights in Dub and The Fantastic Pretty Lights. The latter is anticipated to be a collaborative effort with long-time friend Michal Menert and The Pretty Fantastics. A new, yet-to-be-titled track that appears to reflect his re-entry into the industry, was performed by Pretty Lights in the tour announcement video. The lyrics state: “I’ll fly a starship across the universe tonight/ And when I reach the other side/ I’ll find a place to rest my spirit if I can/ Perhaps I may become a pretty light again/ Or I may simply be a single drop of rain/ But I will remain/ And I’ll be back again.” The track is available to listen to below.
Following his last live appearance at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2018, where he headlined the venue with his live band over two sold-out nights, Pretty Lights, whose real name is Derek Vincent Smith, retreated from the industry without any formal explanation. He erased his social media presence and began an unannounced hiatus, leaving his dedicated fan base in suspense.