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Francis and the Lights:
The White Room

American culture has been defined by pop music. It’s who we are—and our pop stars must cultivate a persona, while maintaining an unquestionable sense of authenticity. Or are those things one and the same? It is a delicate balance of conscious mythmaking and absolute earnest humanity. Or could it be one pursuit alone?

Reclusive singer, songwriter, and pianist Francis Farewell Starlite will be in residence to create a new pop music spectacle—The White Room. White Room references the small, white, environmentally controlled chamber used by NASA astronauts to make final preparations before entering the spacecraft, such as donning parachute packs, putting on helmets, and detaching portable air conditioning units. First used in Project Gemini, its use continued through subsequent programs up to and including the Space Shuttle program.

You may not have expected a show like this to be produced at EMPAC, but here it is. Don’t miss it!

Curator: Micah Silver

Bio:

Francis and the Lights is the symbolic band name used by the reclusive and eccentric performer Francis Farewell Starlite. The term “and the Lights" does not refer to his backing band; the “Lights” are intended to represent stage lights and screen pixels.

Starlite’s single vision and explosive live performances have drawn comparisons to David Byrne and James Brown, among others. Last year, he toured the US with rap superstar Drake (at his personal invitation), as well as opened for MGMT, Ke$ha, La Roux, and Mark Ronson.