Dublin pop-rock outfit State Lights tuned down their stadium-ready sound into an intimate set radiating with positivity, creating a sunny mood as they performed on on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions Y&E series, supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

They opened with 'Freedom', kicking off the set with an impressive falsetto and warm tone. Without the aid of a full electric set up, the essence of the track really shone through with the minimal set up, proving State Lights don't need to hide behind layers of production to write impactful music. The band cooly transitioned to 'Love Is In Your Eyes', reminiscing on the fact that it's the first single they ever released together. Tracks 'Open Your Arms' and 'Peace Will Come' offered comforting messages of hope, accompanied by an impressive U2-esque stadium-ready sound. Singer Shobsy showed off his striking vocal range, easily transitioning between higher and lower registers. A cover of The Smiths' 'This Charming Man' offered a fun sense of familiarity, overall staying true to the original sound with a taste of their own style. Though State Lights didn't perform any new tracks, the group have spend much of quarantine writing together and are preparing to release new music soon that's sure to impress.

Though their April gig at the Button Factory was postponed, the band are incredibly excited to bring their energy back to the live stage for the rescheduled date in October. Amplified by the energy of a live crowd, it's clear that their upcoming set will be something to look forward to.

Revisit the live-streamed gig below.

 

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Thank you for tuning in! That felt awesome ❤️ Tune in tomorrow for @denaanuksa and thanks again to @culture.heritage.gaeltacht for making this possible 😊 Love x

A post shared by Hot Press (@hotpressmagazine) on Jul 6, 2020 at 12:02pm PDT