Above the Noise: Tommy London and Britt Lightning Launch The Jetsetters

Above the Noise: Tommy London and Britt Lightning Launch The Jetsetters

Some musical collaborations feel manufactured. Others develop naturally through a shared passion, mutual respect, and a spark that simply can’t be ignored. The Jetsetters firmly fall into the latter category.

Featuring SiriusXM personality and former Dirty Pearls frontman Tommy London alongside Vixen guitarist Britt Lightning, The Jetsetters began as an organic songwriting partnership between two artists who already enjoyed successful careers in music. What started with songs written while traveling back and forth between New York and Los Angeles quickly evolved into something much bigger.

With their debut single “Above the Noise” making an immediate impression and their first-ever live performance set for October 15 at the legendary Viper Room on the Sunset Strip, The Jetsetters are ready to introduce audiences to their energetic blend of power-pop hooks, rock-and-roll spirit, and authentic chemistry.

Highwire Daze caught up with Tommy London and Britt Lightning to discuss the origins of The Jetsetters, their creative partnership, the making of “Above the Noise,” and why fun might just be rock and roll’s most rebellious act today.

Britt, you just played with William Shatner. What was that experience like, and how did you end up playing with William Shatner?
Britt Lightning: Man, it was one of the coolest experiences. It’s definitely a week I’ll never forget. The record label Cleopatra had a lot to do with putting the band together, and they asked if I’d like to be involved. I was like, “Gee, that’s a no-brainer. Yes!“

This past week, we rehearsed and then played two shows, and I really got to spend a lot of quality time with him. He was so cool. It’s not like working with a pop star who’s keeping themselves separated from everyone. He wanted to be in the band. He wanted to know what it was like to be part of a band and everything that entailed.

He’d say, “I’m traveling with you guys. I want to get to the show early with you guys. I want to sit in the van with you and hang out in the dressing room.” He didn’t want to be separated. He wanted to be part of the team, and he absolutely was. I think he did an incredible job.

At 95 years old, he’s still looking to explore new territory. The fact that he’s fronting a heavy metal band is about as cool as it gets.

Absolutely. Very cool. Tommy has now joined us, so let’s switch gears and talk about The Jetsetters. How did this project first come about?
Britt Lightning: We actually met at the M3 Rock Festival in 2023, and we really hit it off. When I flew home afterward, Tommy told me, “By the way, I have a solo album. Check it out on the flight home.” So I did, and I was honestly blown away. I loved it even more than I expected to.

Not long after, we started dating and spending more time together. Tommy was living in New York City, and I was based in Los Angeles, so we were constantly flying back and forth. If I had a gig on the East Coast, I’d go visit him, and one night I happened to have my guitar with me.

We looked at each other and said, “Want to try writing a song?“

Tommy London: Yeah. I thought, “Sure, let’s see where it goes.“

We wrote one song, and afterward we thought, “That was pretty cool. Let’s write another one.” Then it just started snowballing from there.

The entire band came together organically. The Jetsetters really are named after the fact that we were jet-setting back and forth to see each other, and we still travel everywhere together. What I love most about this project is that nothing was forced. It wasn’t a case of saying, “We should form a band” or “Let’s make this happen.” It was simply two people writing songs together and seeing where it led.

Then it became, “Let’s record these songs.”

And now, here we are.

Britt Lightning: Maybe we should play them live, too!

What was really cool is that we didn’t have to be anything specific. We didn’t need to sound like another band or fit into an established formula because this was something completely new and fresh. I’m used to working in bands where there are certain expectations and parameters. With this project, we had a blank slate.

Tommy London: Exactly. There were no rules. No parameters. It was simply, “Let’s write songs.”

We ended up writing a lot of great power-pop rock songs, and we’re actually still writing and recording. Even though we already have enough material to release an album tomorrow if we wanted to, we just keep creating. We’re enjoying seeing where it takes us.

The full-length record will be released next year, and we’ll be dropping singles along the way.

One of those singles is “Above the Noise.” Tell me about the song, the inspiration behind it, and that fantastic video which reminded me a bit of Max Headroom.
Tommy London: Yeah, that’s our debut single, and we’re really proud of it.

The song came together when we got in a room with our good friend Jacob Bunton. Jacob has worked with so many incredible artists. You can look up his résumé and it’s absolutely insane. We’re thrilled to have collaborated with him.

Britt and I already had some ideas, including a chord progression for the verse and part of the melody. I also had the title “Above the Noise” written down because it was a lyric from another song we’d been working on. The phrase kept sticking with me, and I remember thinking it would make a cool album title because of the whole Jetsetters concept.

When we got together with Jacob, the title just naturally became the foundation of the song.

Lyrically, it’s about finding that person who helps lift you above all the chaos in the world. All the noise, confusion, and madness fades away because they’re there. They’re almost like a savior in that sense.

As for the video, our character is actually named Rex Malone, though he might be a distant relative of Max Headroom. We definitely took inspiration from that era. We wanted the video to have that classic MTV feel where you’d sit down and actually watch the entire thing from start to finish.

Not necessarily because it was retro, but because it was entertaining.

Of course, there are some retro elements mixed in with the whole television-host concept. Rex controls the TVs and ultimately saves the damsel in distress from the villains of TV Land. More than anything, we wanted to create a fun video.

We wanted something people would want to watch, not just scroll past after thirty seconds. We wanted to bring back that feeling where a music video becomes part of the experience of the song.

Both of you were already deeply established in the rock world before starting this band. What was the moment when you realized this wasn’t just a side project anymore?
Britt Lightning: That’s a good question.

I think it was after we recorded the first batch of songs with John Fields, who also produced Tommy’s solo record. He’s worked with so many incredible artists, from Jimmy Eat World to Pink.

We sent him the songs just to see what he’d think, and he absolutely loved them. He was saying, “This is a hit. This is a hit.” Everybody we played the music for gave us that same kind of reaction. People were immediately excited about what we were doing and wanted to see us perform together onstage.

That really motivated us because we were getting that reaction before the whole project was even finished. It started feeling like, “Okay, maybe we really need to do this. Maybe we need to put our full energy into it and stop treating it like a side project.“

The reality is that Tommy and I both have other careers. I’m in Vixen, I work with Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, and Tommy has SiriusXM. Those are the things that pay the bills. When you’re working on something that’s truly your own, it doesn’t always pay the bills right away. It’s something you have to build.

I’ve found that personal projects often end up getting pushed to the back burner because you’re busy taking care of everything else. But this felt different. The chemistry was right, and it became clear that we needed to make time for it instead of simply getting around to it whenever we could.

Tommy London: I think the songs had a lot to do with that realization, too. We’ve only released one so far, but all of them are incredibly catchy. And I’m sure every band says that, but I genuinely believe anyone who likes “Above the Noise” is going to love the rest of the material we have ready to release.

The live show is going to be energetic and a lot of fun. You’re definitely going to leave singing something. You’ll be clapping your hands, stomping your feet, and throwing your fist in the air.

Guaranteed, or your money back.

It’s on the record now!
Tommy London: Exactly. If you leave one of our shows without singing, humming, whistling, clapping your hands, stomping your feet, or raising your fist, your money will be refunded.

What qualities do you see in each other that made you think, “This is someone I want to create with long-term?”
Britt Lightning: One of the hardest parts about being in an original band is finding someone with the same level of drive and commitment. A lot of times, there’s one person carrying the project, putting in the work, and trying to keep everyone moving in the same direction.

That was something I experienced with my old band, Jaded. We were always dealing with lineup changes, and it was difficult keeping everyone equally invested. If it’s not everybody’s priority, it becomes really challenging.

One of the things that attracted me to Tommy in the first place was his work ethic. I see him doing a million SiriusXM shows every day, and whatever he does, he does it all the way. He has drive and persistence.

He also had his own band in New York City, and as we started talking about our experiences, we realized we’d gone through many of the exact same situations. We understand what it takes and what we’re looking for.

Tommy London: Our previous bands really ran parallel.

Britt had Jaded in Boston, and I had The Dirty Pearls in New York City. It was funny because the more we got to know each other, the more we’d discover these similarities.

One of us would say, “Wait, you played that show?” and the other would reply, “Yeah, and we played the New York date of that same event.” We shared so many experiences even though our paths never actually crossed back then.

I’ve been in several bands, and I’ve usually been the glue holding everything together. It’s great to finally have a partner in crime who’s also willing to be one of the people helping keep things moving forward.

Britt Lightning: We also have very different strengths, which helps.

Tommy is incredibly visual. He sees music videos before the songs are even finished. We can have just a chorus and a verse, and he’ll already be mapping out the entire video in his head.

The “Above the Noise” video was really his vision.

Meanwhile, I enjoy doing graphic design, posters, and visual assets. We each bring different skills to the table, and that balance helps with all the things that go into building a band today.

Tommy, after spending years championing artists on the radio, what’s it been like being on the other side of the microphone?
Tommy London: First of all, you’ve got really good questions.

What’s interesting is that I’ve spent so much time as the interviewer, and now I’m the interviewee. Some people might think that’s easier, but honestly, it isn’t.

When you’re the interviewer, the challenge is coming up with thoughtful questions. Then, as the interviewee, the challenge becomes answering those questions clearly and thoroughly, making sure you’re actually addressing what was asked.

I was a musician long before I worked in radio. I was playing music with The Dirty Pearls long before SiriusXM came along.

I’ve been in radio for almost ten years now, and I absolutely love it. I’m grateful to be part of the SiriusXM family. The funny thing is, I’ve always talked about these bands anyway. Whether we’re hanging out backstage or having dinner, I’ll happily spend hours discussing everything from the politics of Van Halen to the history of Mötley Crüe.

Now I get paid to do it.

I get to sit on the radio, play great songs, and talk about the artists I love. I’m very fortunate.

You’re only the second radio personality I’ve ever interviewed. The first was Richard Blade.
Tommy London: That’s funny. There really aren’t that many radio personalities who also actively perform in bands.

The first one who comes to mind is Keith Roth, who’s also part of the SiriusXM family. He’s involved with bands like The Dictators and several other projects.

You’d think more musicians would naturally find their way into radio because the connection seems so obvious. To me, it’s just simple math.

Britt, you’ve worked with some legendary artists. Has there been a moment with The Jetsetters that felt just as special because you built it from the ground up?
Britt Lightning: Absolutely. I’m so excited about this project.

It’s been about fifteen years since I’ve really focused on my own original music, so just being back in the studio, working on these songs, and having the freedom to create whatever we want has been incredibly rewarding.

The ability to be creative without limitations has been amazing. And honestly, I’m super excited for our first show coming up in a couple of weeks.

It’s felt special from the very first notes we played together.

That’s great to hear. Every time I’ve interviewed you over the years, I’ve asked about your solo material and you’ve always said, “It’s coming, it’s coming.” Well, it’s finally here.
Britt Lightning: Finally! Yes, it is.

I just found the right teammate for it.

Britt, how has your experience with Vixen shaped what you bring into The Jetsetters?
Britt Lightning: Being in Vixen has reinforced what I love most about performing live. That’s really my happy place.

I’ve worked on pop projects and other situations where everything is very structured. You play to a click track, everything has to sound exactly like the record, and there’s very little room for spontaneity or personality.

With Vixen, of course, I want to honor Jan Kuehnemund’s original guitar parts, but I also get to bring some of my own style to them. The live show is electric. It’s high-energy. We leave room to change things up and make each performance unique.

That’s what I love about rock and roll. It’s raw. It’s alive. It’s never exactly the same from one night to the next.

I definitely want to bring that same spirit into The Jetsetters. No backing tracks. No safety net. Just live musicians connecting with an audience.

I love that.

The Jetsetters seem to be having genuine fun. In a music industry that’s increasingly focused on algorithms and analytics, has fun become a rebellious concept?
Tommy London: I think the answer is yes.

I was raised believing that rock and roll is supposed to be fun.

No matter what’s happening in the world, music should be an escape.

We’re always trying to create an atmosphere where people can leave their worries at the door. Forget the stress. Forget the noise. Just come in, rock out, and have a good time. Let us take you Above the Noise.

See what I did there? That’s why I’m in radio, dude.

But honestly, I do think fun is missing from a lot of rock bands today, and it’s something we definitely want to bring back.

Britt Lightning: I think part of the fun has been taken out of being in a band because so much energy has to go into social media.

You can’t just live in the moment anymore. As soon as something happens, you’re expected to document it and turn it into content.

For us, we’re just trying to be ourselves.

Fun is part of who we are because we’re genuinely positive people. We laugh all day long. That’s real.

And honestly, I think authenticity is what ultimately beats AI.

People still connect with real experiences, real stories, and genuine emotions.

Tommy London: AI can be a great tool, but there still needs to be a human element.

As for algorithms, I think they’re a double-edged sword. They’re great when they show you things you already like, but sometimes they don’t leave enough room for discovering something completely new.

That’s my biggest criticism. I wish they encouraged exploration instead of keeping people in a bubble.

Last question. What would you like a listener to remember after hearing “Above the Noise” for the very first time?
Tommy London: I’d like them to ask one simple question:

“Where can I get tickets to see this band live?“

And the answer is easy: The Viper Room on October 15.

But beyond that, I’d like people to feel like they’ve found a band that can take them away from everything for a while. A band that makes them roll down the windows, turn up the volume, and enjoy the ride.

A good old-fashioned rock-and-roll show. Great songs. Pure enjoyment.

That’s what I’d want them to take away from us.

And the final word from Britt.
Britt Lightning: One of the coolest things people have been telling us is, “I can’t stop replaying the song.”

They’re listening to it over and over again.

I don’t usually do that with new music myself. The songs I replay endlessly tend to be the classics I grew up with and have loved for years. So hearing people say they’re immediately hooked on “Above the Noise” is incredibly gratifying.

Honestly, that’s all I can hope for.

I just want people to keep pressing play.

In Conclusion

The Jetsetters may be a new name on the scene, but Tommy London and Britt Lightning bring decades of experience, passion, and perseverance to this exciting new venture. More importantly, they bring something that can’t be manufactured: genuine chemistry.

Whether discussing songwriting, rock and roll, radio, social media, or the challenges of today’s music industry, Tommy and Britt continually return to the same idea: authenticity matters. The Jetsetters aren’t chasing trends or algorithms. They’re writing the kinds of songs they believe in, creating the kind of videos they grew up loving, and delivering the kind of live show that leaves audiences smiling long after the final note.

If “Above the Noise” is any indication, they’re well on their way.

And if Tommy London’s guarantee holds true, everyone walking into The Viper Room on October 15 should expect to leave humming a melody, stomping a foot, and already looking forward to the next Jetsetters show. The countdown to takeoff has officially begun.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Jack Lue)

The Jetsetters on Instagram