Bright Light Bright Light has announced his highly anticipated third album Choreography which is due for release on July 15. Choreography is Rod Thomas’ (aka Bright Light Bright Light) first major pop opus, the culmination of every colour, shade and glistening hook he’s redefined over his two studio albums to date.
The Welsh musician moved from London to New York three years ago and on Choreography, he makes peace with this great personal shift. The title, Rod explains, came from dance and how good it makes you feel as well as choreographing his life in London and New York.
Following a worldwide tour with his long time friend and mentor Sir Elton John, Rod began work on Choreography in January 2015. Immersing himself in his favourite movies from Flashdance and Footloose to French new wave and independent shorts proved to be a creative catalyst. Hollywood musicals and Little Shop Of Horrors influenced ‘All In The Name’ featuring Sir Elton and the scorchingly sensual ‘Kiss For Kiss’ featuring Jake Shears was inspired by Alien: Resurrection.
The tracklisting for Choreography by Bright Light Bright Light is as follows:
1. All In The Name (feat. Elton John, Alan Cumming, Jake Shears, Ana Matronic, Del Marquis & Mykal Kilgore)
2. Symmetry Of Two Hearts (feat. Elton John)
3. How Does It Feel
4. Running Back To You (feat. Elton John)
5. Kiss For Kiss (feat. Jake Shears)
6. I Only Want To Please You (feat. Ana Matronic)
7. Into The Night
8. Home (feat. Alan Cumming)
9. Little Bit
10. Careful Whisper
11. Won’t Do (feat. Mykal Kilgore)
12. Where Is The Heartache
To coincide with the announcement of Choreography, Rod has released the music video for lead single ‘All In The Name’ which features the one and only Sir Elton John. He has been both a long-term friend and mentor to Rod throughout the whole creative process.
‘All In The Name’, Rod explains, is a comment on modern day behaviour about working relentlessly to make something of yourself, and about how people are obsessed with others following, liking and idolising them (social media / celebrity). “It’s a take on how people go absolutely out of their way to be absolutely adored by everyone,” Rod says. “The lyrics are piqued, delivered from somebody who is also a bit guilty of that!” The song is intended to be tongue-in-cheek not scathing….it’s something we can all fall into.
Multi TONY, Laurence Olivier and Drama Desk award-winner Steven Hoggett, the most in-demand theatrical choreographer and movement expert working on stage today, worked with Rod to choreograph the video concept. Talking about Rod, Steven said “He’s a smart guy, with killer tunes. He had a tonne of ideas and had a great time referencing a load of shapes from 80’s and 90’s videos. He inspired me no end. I love the guy and he worked his ass off in an environment he had no previous experience in.”
Rod, however, was terrified at the thought of dancing, in case he was useless at it. “I had to up my game and use my brain in a very different way. This is exactly what the whole album has been about. Each new album should be a new challenge. With this one, for the first time I got to make the album exactly as I wanted to, shoot the videos exactly as I wanted them, with exactly the people I wanted to work with. How brilliant is that?” said Rod of the experience.
Bright Light Bright Light and Sir Elton will showcase ‘All In The Name’ on tonight’s Graham Norton Show, marking their first national TV appearance together.
You can catch Bright Light Bright Light live at three shows ahead of the album’s release: Cardiff, London and an appearance at Bristol Pride. He also goes on tour in July, with tickets on sale from 10am on May 27th.
May 25 – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
May 28 – Borderline, London
July 9 – Bristol Pride
July 23 – The Gwyn Hall, Neath
July 25 – Hug & Pin, Glasgow
July 26 – Sound Control, Manchester
July 28 – Oslo, London
Watch the video for ‘All In The Name’ below.
For more information on Bright Light Bright Light, check out his website.
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