In naming “Bad Light,” Great Northern says it refers to how “bad light” is when “the light is shown on something you don’t want to see. You’re exposed & there’s no going back. It’s all the ways we turn ourselves inside out to avoid change.” The song itself is a bit like a breakup song with our old selves and our old ways of being and a farewell to our habits that no longer serve our lives. The pulsing synths and soaring drones over the soulful yet introspective vocals sound like an easing of this journey. The progression from a more tranquil mood into one more impassioned as the song progresses is like the struggle with shaking off who we’ve been holding onto so much like it really is us and not a collection of behaviors we thought defined us. But in the end we hear a peaceful acceptance of the necessary change. Fans of Chromatics and Tamaryn will appreciate the emotional tenor and tonal inflections of this song and the new chapter of Great Northern who stepped away from the project in 2015 and returned with an even more creatively realized set of new material. Listen to “Bad Light” on YouTube and follow Great Northern at the links below.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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