Francis and the Lights

Francis and the Lights
Francis and the Lights performing at the Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn, New York on November 15, 2007
Background information
Origin	Oakland, California, United States
Genres	Pop, R&B, Electronica
Years active	2007–present
Labels	GOOD Music Def Jam KTTF Music
Associated acts	Bon Iver Cashmere Cat Chance the Rapper Das Racist Drake Frank Ocean Inc. No World Kanye West Nico Segal Phil Collins Rostam Batmanglij The Weeknd
Website	francisandthelights.com
Members	Francis Farewell Starlite

Francis and the Lights is an American pop project led by Francis Farewell Starlite.^[1] The term "and the Lights" refers both to the lights on a stage and pixels on a computer screen.^[2]

Francis' music is in the pop / R&B category, characterized by a heavy use of electronically produced beats, melodies, and live vocals. During live performances, Francis' vocals are backed by his pre-produced tracks with the assistance of a DJ, while he uses a synthesizer at times. Francis released his debut studio album, Farewell, Starlite!, on September 24, 2016.

Contents

• 
  1 History
  


• 
  2 Discography
  
  
  
  • 
    2.1 Studio Albums
    
  
  
  • 
    2.2 EPs
    
  
  
  • 
    2.3 Singles
    
  
  
  • 
    2.4 Compilation appearances
    
  
  
  • 
    2.5 Featured appearances/additional credits
    
  
  
  • 
    2.6 Film scores
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  3 References
  


• 
  4 External links
  

History

In 2007, Francis and the Lights self-released their debut EP, Striking.

Their second EP, A Modern Promise, came out in August 2008.

On November 3, 2008, Starlite incorporated Francis and the Lights, LLC, as a limited liability company, as an alternative to signing a record deal.^[3] This was followed by an investment of $100,000 from the Normative Music Company, giving Francis and the Lights, LLC a valuation of $1 million.^[4] Normative's president, Jake Lodwick, a fan of Francis and the Lights, said, "Francis Starlite is an uncompromising musician and a strong leader. I believe he will bring Francis and the Lights to international stardom. The spectacular live shows, beautiful recordings, and his relentless character back me up."^[5] In late 2009, Normative Music Company shut down.^[6]

On July 20, 2010, Francis and the Lights released their third EP, It'll Be Better, through Cantora Records. It was produced by Francis Farewell Starlite and Jake Schreier.^[7]

In 2010, they toured with Drake, MGMT, Ke$ha, La Roux, and Mark Ronson.^[8][9]

A fourth EP, Like a Dream, came out in 2013.

Drake quoted the 2010 Francis and the Lights song "Get in the Car" on the track "Madonna" from his 2015 mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late. The phrase "Big as Madonna" was later used on a shirt that was worn by Madonna during her infamous appearance in Drake's 2015 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival headlining set.^[10]

In 2016, Francis and the Lights were featured on Chance the Rapper's "Summer Friends" from his third mixtape, Coloring Book. They served as the opening act on the North American tour dates of Chance the Rapper's Magnificent Coloring World Tour, which ran between September 2016 and October 2016.^[11]

On May 15, 2016, Starlite released a solo piano song entitled "Thank You", which was recorded on a phone in Justin Vernon's living room.^[12][13][14]

On July 7, 2016, Francis and the Lights released a music video for the new song "Friends" featuring Bon Iver and Kanye West.^[15]

On August 13, 2016, the band premiered their debut studio album Farewell, Starlite! during their performance at the Eaux Claires music festival.^[16] It was released on September 24, 2016 after a performance of the album at Chance the Rapper's Magnificent Coloring Day festival.

In 2016 Francis and the Lights performed a cover of Dear Theodosia as a duet with Chance the Rapper on The Hamilton Mixtape.^[17]

In May 2017, Pusha T signed Francis and the Lights to GOOD Music.^{[citation needed]}

Their sophomore album, Just for Us, came out that same year.

Starlite worked with West on his 2018 albums ye and Kids See Ghosts. Starlite is credited as a writer on ye's I Thought About Killing You, and as a producer on I Thought About Killing You, All Mine, and Ghost Town. On Kids See Ghosts, Starlite is credited as a producer on Feel the Love.

Discography

Studio Albums

• 
  Farewell, Starlite! (2016)


• 
  Just for Us (2017)

EPs

• 
  Striking (2007)


• 
  A Modern Promise (2008)


• 
  It'll Be Better (2010)


• 
  Like a Dream (2013)

Singles

• "LIME/WYN" (2008)


• "Eiffel Tower" / "The Things That I Would Do" (with inc.) (2011)


• "Friends" (featuring Bon Iver and Kanye West) (2016)


• "See Her Out (That's Just Life)" (2016)


• "May I Have This Dance" (remix featuring Chance the Rapper) (2017) US Billboard Alternative Songs Chart No. 36

Compilation appearances

• "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (cover of Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing"), Guilt by Association Vol. 2 (2008)

Featured appearances/additional credits

• "Karaoke" (Drake, Thank Me Later) (2010)


• "Something Better" (Lyrics Born, As U Were) (2010)


• "Celebration" (Das Racist, Relax) (2011)


• "I'll Never Forget You" (Birdy, Birdy) (2011)


• "Chameleon/Comedian" (Kathleen Edwards, Voyageur) (2012)


• "La crise" (Brice Guilbert, Feitsong) (2012)


• 
  Big Grrrl Small World (Lizzo) (2015)


• "Wonderful Everyday: Arthur" (Chance the Rapper with The Social Experiment) (2014)


• 
  Surf (Nico Segal & The Social Experiment) (2015)


• 
  Coloring Book (Chance the Rapper) (2016)


• "Close to You" (Frank Ocean, Blonde) (2016)


• "Wild Love" (Cashmere Cat featuring The Weeknd, 9) (2016)


• "Dear Theodosia" (with Chance the Rapper, featured on The Hamilton Mixtape) (2016)


• 
  Merry Christmas Lil' Mama (Jeremih and Chance the Rapper) (2016)


• "New Man" (Ed Sheeran, ÷) ^[18]
  


• 
  Ye (Kanye West) (2018)

Film scores

• 
  Robot & Frank (2012)

References

1. 
   ^ [1]
   


2. 
   ^
   "Francis and the Lights Interview". 12thDisciples Magazine. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 1 Jan 2011..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


3. 
   ^ Bychawski, Adam (2008-11-04). "Indie band turns itself into company instead of signing record deal". NME. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
   


4. 
   ^ Allen, Dustin (2008-11-04). "Indie Band Goes Venture Capitalist". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
   


5. 
   ^ "Francis and the Lights Incorporates With $1 Million Valuation". The Normatist. Normative Music Company. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2016-08-21.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
   


6. 
   ^ Lodwick, Jake. "Entrepreneur Bio". Jake Lodwick. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
   


7. 
   ^ "Francis And The Lights - It'll Be Better (CD, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
   


8. 
   ^
   "Francis & the Lights Gigography". Songkick. Retrieved 1 Jan 2011.
   


9. 
   ^ http://according2g.com/2010/10/francis-and-the-lights-live-at-music-hall-of-williamsburg/
   


10. 
    ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/madonna-drake-coachella-2015-kiss-788298
    


11. 
    ^ Kaye, Ben (2016-08-14). "Chance the Rapper recruits Francis and the Lights to open Magnificent Coloring Book Tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
    


12. 
    ^ [2]
    


13. 
    ^ [3]
    


14. 
    ^ [4]
    


15. 
    ^ Strauss, Matthew (2016-07-07). "Watch Kanye, Bon Iver, and Francis and the Lights Team Up for New Video "Friends"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
    


16. 
    ^ Tanzer, Myles (2016-08-14). "Francis And The Lights Debuts New Album Farewell, Starlite! At Eaux Claires Festival". The Fader. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
    


17. 
    ^ [5]
    


18. 
    ^ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=42283
    

External links

Francis and the Lights official website

v t e Francis and the Lights
Francis Farewell Starlite
Studio albums	Farewell, Starlite! Just for Us
EPs	Striking A Modern Promise It'll Be Better Like a Dream
Singles	"LIME/WYN" "Eiffel Tower" / "The Things That I Would Do" (with inc.) "Friends" "See Her Out (That's Just Life)" "May I Have This Dance"
Related Articles	Prismizer Jake Schreier Inc. No World Surf Coloring Book Chance the Rapper Nico Segal Justin Vernon Cashmere Cat

Authority control	LCCN: no2010171614 MusicBrainz: d1073d49-539c-46b9-9b79-597b232a9a3c WorldCat Identities (via LCCN): no2010-171614

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