As Dedlights drops their latest video for their new single, “Storm,” the band sat down with us to discuss their formation, musical evolution, and the deeply personal inspiration behind their latest track. Here’s what they had to say:

Q: Can you tell us about how Dedlights formed and what brought you together as a band?

Dedlights: Dedlights is a Brighton, Michigan-based act founded in 2014 by vocalist/guitarist Lee Farquhar, drummer Tim Farquhar, and bassist/vocalist Mike McCormack. Tim and Lee were in a band called Crutch to Crown that broke up around 2012. After that, Tim and Lee connected with Mike through a Craigslist listing. Mike was a great match—the three of us had a lot in common musically and personally.

Q: How has your sound evolved since your debut release, and what influences have shaped that journey?

Dedlights: We are a much closer group of friends and bandmates now than we were at the time of our debut release. This tight relationship makes it easier for us to communicate during the creative process, and we have a better understanding of each other’s potential.

We also recently revamped our entire recording process and bought a lot of new gear, such as microphones, interfaces, software, and instruments. Our approach to recording has evolved, and that has changed how we think about making music.

Q: Your new single “Storm” delves into heavy themes like childhood abuse and neglect—what inspired you to write about this, and how did you approach it musically?

Dedlights: Countless school shootings, suicides, and overdoses inspired the lyrics for this song. One can’t help but wonder if the outcomes could have been different if parents, teachers, and students had handled things differently.

We use a metaphor: If you plant two flowers of the same seed and give one all the love it needs—nutrient-rich soil, the correct amount of sun and water, and trim the damaged leaves—and the other gets just barely enough to survive, which blooms into the more beautiful flower? Sometimes the damage is too great, and it’s only intensified by our schools and social circles—a perfect storm. We came up with the music at practice one day, and the mellow verse jam flowing into the heavy chorus breakdown inspired the emotional dynamics of the lyrics.

watch the video here: https://youtu.be/QcfNAMU2e1g?si=XUnoPt8EnvCUcbkK

Q: What message do you hope listeners take away from “Storm”?

Dedlights: There will always be broken homes and broken children. We can do a better job in our communities of identifying these people and trying to help them. Our schools typically fail them—fail to take them seriously and fail to punish bullies. A little love may be all that is needed to save a broken person, and this is extremely important if they are on the verge of hurting themselves or others. These people aren’t hard to find—they stick out like sore thumbs. Don’t laugh at them, and don’t turn your back on them. The loved flowers can heal the damaged flowers. As the Priest from Boondock Saints says, “There is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men.”

Q: Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Dedlights in terms of new music, tours, or other exciting projects?

Dedlights: We’ve been putting all of our efforts into recording this past summer and plan to wrap up the album in 2024. We’re going to start booking shows soon and would like to put together a tour. Fans can also expect more lyric videos along with the new music.

Dedlights’ emotionally charged single “Storm” and the accompanying music video are now available on all major platforms. The band is just getting started, with plenty more new music and live performances on the horizon!

Follow Dedlights here: https://dedlights.com/home