The purpose of Light Once Lost is to provide a depth to the sonic experience, creating a contrast of lively and melancholic indie rock. Started in 2020 by Alec Riley as a means to cope with loss of his father, the project built into a larger cathartic escape with the release of 2024’s Specific Fears EP. Today, Light Once Lost releases the What Doesn’t Steal You EP. The six track EP is a powerful display of strong-willed, emotionally charged music that grasps the brightness as much as the gloom.
Stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, and across streaming platforms.
Opening the EP, “Swimming In Fountains” offers swaying melodies that build as lyrics move from inner conflict to wishful thinking. “Pebble Beach” leads off acoustics before ending in loud, drawn out distortion, emphasizing the memory of Riley’s late father. “Exit Clause” is the punchiest track on the record, weaving dreamlike guitars with dynamic drums, hooky choruses and guest vocals from Touche Amore’s Jeremy Bolm. “Monoxide” ends the EP giving full view to the juxtaposition of light and dark across the EP as strong melodies and power pop-esque chords encircle lyrics documenting a tumultuous relationship.
On the messaging across the EP, Riley shares:
“The EP has a central theme of feeling lost in the life you live currently. This feeling can then be dissected in several different ways: grief over a lost loved one, insecurity in your relationships, the state of the socioeconomic world, struggles with the norms and expectations that are placed upon you, etc. This feeling is mostly conveyed in the lyrical content which is then juxtaposed with upbeat rhythms and catchy hooks. The goal behind the project overall is to find yourself tapping your foot while also feeling an emotional depth in the lyrical content.”
What Doesn’t Steal You was produced and mixed by Christopher Dwyer and co-produced by Clayton Stevens. All vocals and instruments performed by Alec Riley with drums performed by Christopher Dwyer.
