Where It Started: KC Lights

Scottish house act KC Lights cannot stop producing hit after hit, his groovy house music has connected with many, as he celebrates success after success. He has released some stellar original productions but the highlights of KC Light’s discography has to be his remixes. Utilising a familiar vocal, he brings a bubbly and catchy production to them, always being the stand out of the remix pack.

Celebrating the praise received on recent original ‘Cold Light’, KC Lights joins us for our Where It Started feature. Below details music that inspired him as well as music that was impactful in the beginnings of KC Light.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop

All of my brothers and me were obsessed with Red Hot Chili Peppers as kids (we still are!), they were basically all I listened to for a number of years. This song in particular still sticks out for me. I remember memorising the somewhat nonsensical lyrics from the CD booklet and thinking I have no idea what these words mean but it still means something to me all the same. There’s an energy in this track that is just so infectious.

The Chemical Brothers – Hey Boy Hey Girl

This is one of those tracks that I really wish I could listen to for the first time again. I remember hearing it and being instantly drawn in. The Chemical Brothers continue to be a huge inspiration for me.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the Bridge

There was never going to be just one RHCP track in here. I used to watch their Live at Slane Castle gig religiously and when they played ‘Under the Bridge’ I could always imagine myself there. I’ve seen them a few times live and every time have been mesmerised with their performance and general stage presence, a real inspiration on how to control a crowd and have concert goers in the palm of your hand!

The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up

The energy The Prodigy exuded in every single record is unbelievable. This one raises your heart rate and makes you sweat just by listening. If I’m trying to go for a really big moment in a track that would make the crowd go crazy I always think “what would The Prodigy do?”.

deadmau5 – Strobe

I come back to this track so often because it’s one of the few electronic tracks I don’t listen to it objectively as a producer, its just so perfect and easy to listen to. I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t like it.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)

I remember this coming on in a DJ mix I was listening to, I can’t remember who’s mix it was but I do remember the goosebumps when those iconic stabs came in. Being a DJ was something that had never really crossed my mind growing up but this was definitely one of the first tracks that made me think of how awesome it would be to be able to play it out and be the one.

Muse – Knights of Cydonia

For me this track is one big crescendo, building the whole way through. Listening as a teenager this one made me want to join a band, thinking about how amazing it would be to perform such an epic piece of music on stage.

Basement Jaxx – Good Luck

‘Good Luck’ has so much attitude but at the same time is such a feel good tune. Every section in this track makes you feel something different and keeps reeling you in the whole way through.

Daft Punk – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Probably the first Daft Punk tune that I properly fell in love with. I just remember thinking that it was so cool and that I hadn’t ever heard anything like it before. I was hooked.

Iron Maiden – Aces High

I used to do a paper run every morning before school and this track, on repeat, would basically soundtrack the whole journey. It’s just so enthralling from start to finish, something that I still try and consider with the music I write now – if there’s ever a moment in my track where I find myself bored listening then something has to change.

Bloc Party – Flux

If this doesn’t make you get up and jump around like a maniac then I don’t know what will. Another one that I come back to whenever I need something to lift my spirits.

Boys Noize – Oh!

This whole album (‘Oi Oi Oi’) has played such a big part in my involvement in dance music. I would literally listen to ‘Oh!’ on repeat all day and was just so blown away by the sounds and energy and how on earth someone would even go about creating a piece of music like this. It was definitely one of the reasons I started producing music.