Kites With Lights: Synth Pop In Flight

Fans of indie synth electro-pop will surely wish to fly into the stratosphere with the musical reveries presented by Kites With Lights.  Mastermind Jonah Cordy has created tunes that are wondrously infectious, recalling the finest hours of acts such as New Order and OMD.  Cosmonauts was recently sent into musical orbit courtesy of the fine folks at the 24 Hour Service Station label.  In addition to his own work, the inventive Cordy participated on a New Order tribute album entitled Ceremony performing his own unique rendition of Dream Attack.  Here is a recent interview with the pilot and creator of Kites With Lights.  The flight will now commence…

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Kites With Lights, and how long the project has been in existence?
Started around 2005, I do everything except some of the mastering.

Where are you based out of and what is your local music scene like there?
Since I haven’t played out as Kites With Lights I don’t really feel based out of anywhere at the moment.

Is there any story or concept behind the Cosmonauts title?
It only slightly relates to the end of the Space shuttle program… but honestly I like vague, universal lyrics, so a couple things went through my mind about love, or just getting high on whatever gets you there, makes you feel happy or alive.

When you write your lyrics, what are your inspirations? Please cite two songs in particular and what inspired the lyrics?
Usually recalling a feeling or situation, being in love or infatuation with someone, “It’s True“… or even something that didn’t work out but was an amazing memory or experience like “The Lonely Night“.

How did you wind up on the 24 Hour Service Station label?
I think it was back around 2006 when Myspace was booming for bands and Marshall and I started talking about the songs I had up and when I was going to release them.

What was it like working with Pocket on the remix of the song A Force Of Nature and how did Mark Burgess of the Chameleons UK become involved?
That was their collaboration and a brilliant one, I was just asked by 24 Hour Service Station to do a remix for the single and I’m really glad I did.

What made you decide to cover Dream Attack by New Order and has Peter Hook or any of the other band members commented on it?
That’s probably my favorite New Order song, I haven’t heard any feedback from anyone in the band… I’d like too, if you read this Barney, maybe let me know I didn’t mess it up.

Does Kites With Lights ever play live and if so, how does you live show compare to what’s on recorded?
I’d like to play live… it’s just been a studio thing so far…but I can see it evolving into a good live show.

Are you involved with any other bands or projects outside of Kites With Lights?
No, maybe a remix for a French band I talked to, but that’s about it.

Did you catch the recent OMD shows and what did you think?
Nope, didn’t see them.

If you were to cover a song for an OMD tribute, what song would you select and why?
That would take some digging, I honestly don’t know a lot of their songs like some other bands… maybe something recent, I’ve been listening to the song “History of Modern Part I” on a mix tape, it has some nice melodies.

What’s up next for Kites With Lights?
I may be considering gigs for the fall/winter, or maybe slowly start working on a new batch of songs, difficult to say really.:)

Any final words of wisdom?
Hmm, I wasn’t expecting this… but I’ll take it.

(Interview by Kenneth Morton)

Kites With Lights Official Home Page
24 Hour Service Station Official Home Page