FRANCIS AND THE LIGHTS

Biography

Francis Farewell Starlite (born Abe Morre Katz-Milder on June 14, 1981, in Oakland, California) grew up in Berkeley, attended Berkeley High School, and briefly studied at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he formed his first band and performed an entire Otis Redding album. After dropping out, he traveled across the United States by train and in a decommissioned postal truck, ultimately committing to music during this period of self-discovery. Returning to Oakland, he secluded himself at Soundwave Studios for nearly a year to write songs, resulting in his debut EP Striking in 2007, characterized by soulful, synth-laden pop with electronically produced beats, falsetto vocals, piano, and synthesizer elements[1][2][4].

In 2008, Starlite moved to New York City, worked at Blue Ribbon Brasserie, and incorporated Francis and the Lights, LLC, as a company rather than signing a traditional record deal, securing a $100,000 investment from Normative Music Company (valued at $1 million), backed by Vimeo co-founder Jake Lodwick. The project gained traction with EPs like A Modern Promise (2008) and It'll Be Better (2010), production credits on Drake's 'Karaoke' from Thank Me Later (2010), and tours opening for Drake, MGMT, Ke$ha, La Roux, and Mark Ronson. His debut album Farewell, Starlite! arrived in 2016 after years of anticipation, followed by Just for Us in 2017, blending indie pop with hip-hop and electronic influences[1][2][3].

Starlite's musical style emphasizes minimalism, performing vocals over pre-produced tracks with DJ support and occasional synthesizer, while 'the Lights' symbolizes stage lighting and computer pixels rather than band members—though he is the sole constant. His legacy includes high-profile collaborations and production for major artists, transitioning from indie obscurity to a sought-after creative force in modern music[1][2].

Fun Facts

• Francis and the Lights is not a traditional band; Starlite is the only member, with 'the Lights' referring to stage lighting and computer screen pixels[1][2].
• He received a $100,000 investment from Normative Music Company in 2008, valuing his LLC at $1 million, from Vimeo co-founder Jake Lodwick, before the company shut down[1][2].
• His first band at Wesleyan performed an entire Otis Redding album, The Immortal Otis Redding[3].
• Starlite aimed to start 'The Beatles II' and has been compared to Michael Jackson and Prince for his dancing[1][3].

Members

• Jeremy Most
• Jake Schreier
• Francis Starlite
• Max Tucker

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Otis Redding - stylistic influence from early performance covering his album (The Immortal Otis Redding (performed entire album at Wesleyan)) [early 2000s]
• Michael Jackson and Prince - dance style influences invoked in descriptions of his performances (live shows) [2000s-2010s]

Key Collaborators

• Drake - production and touring ('Karaoke' on Thank Me Later; Away from Home Tour opener) [2010]
• Kanye West - featured artist and production ('Take Me to the Light'; Can't Tell Me Nothing cover) [2016-2019]
• Chance the Rapper - featured vocals and production ('Dear Theodosia' on The Hamilton Mixtape) [2016]
• Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) - featured artist ('Take Me to the Light') [2019]
• Jake Lodwick - early investor and app collaborator (Normative Music Company investment; Keezy app) [2008-2009]
• Cashmere Cat, Ariel Rechtshaid, Rostam Batmanglij, Benny Blanco, Nate Fox - production credits (Farewell, Starlite!) [2016]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz