Pretty Lights band members form a powerhouse collective that fuses electronic innovation with raw live energy, headlining a triumphant return in 2025 with sold-out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the Mission Ballroom, where Derek Vincent Smith leads alongside Borahm Lee, Chris Karns, Alvin Ford Jr., and rotating talents like Adam Deitch and Greg Ellis.
Born from Derek‘s solo vision in 2006, the live band evolution—announced in 2023 after a year hiatus—delivers immersive sets blending funk, soul, and glitchy beats, as seen in their Soundship Spacesystem Tour finale at Episodic Festival.
As of October 2025, Pretty Lights teases a new track from Color Map of the Sun, with live instrumentation elevating remixes of classics like “Lazershark,” drawing electronic music fans to venues where the Analog Future Band side project hints at experimental futures.
| Pretty Lights Band Members Bio/Wiki | Details |
| Full Name | Derek Vincent Smith (lead; full collective includes Michal Menert, Borahm Lee, Chris Karns, Alvin Ford Jr.; guests: Adam Deitch, Greg Ellis) |
| Date of Birth | October 31, 1981 (Derek‘s birthdate; band formed 2006) |
| Birthplace | Boulder, Colorado, USA (Derek); diverse origins for members (e.g., Borahm Lee from South Korea) |
| Nationality | American (core); international influences |
| Profession | Electronic music duo/project turned live band; producers, DJs, multi-instrumentalists in glitch-hop and funk genres |
| Family | Derek married with children; limited public details; Michal Menert family-oriented in Colorado; Borahm Lee keeps personal life private |
| Career Highlights | Debut album Press Play (2006); first Pretty Lights album Filling Up the City (2008); two studio albums including New Horizons (2013); festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza; 2023 Pretty Lights announces live band return after year hiatus; Pretty Lights returns with Episodic sets; 2025 Soundship Spacesystem Tour sells out; remixes for STS9, Break Science; PL Live evolution with keyboardist Borahm Lee and drummer Adam Deitch |
Who Are the Pretty Lights Band Members? The Collective Behind the Beats
Pretty Lights band members represent a symbiotic blend of visionaries who elevate electronic music from studio solitude to stage spectacle, with Derek Vincent Smith as the visionary core since inception. Michal Menert provides production synergy, while Borahm Lee‘s keyboards add melodic layers, Chris Karns scratches vinyl narratives, and Alvin Ford Jr. anchors rhythms.
In 2025, this ensemble—joined by Adam Deitch on drums and Greg Ellis on keys for select dates—delivers live shows that feel like communal rituals, their live instrumentation transforming tracks like “Galactic Dreamer” into euphoric journeys. Pretty Lights’ music thrives on this chemistry, a far cry from Derek‘s early solo laptop sets.
Derek Vincent Smith: The Founder and Visionary Heart
Derek Vincent Smith, the Pretty Lights architect, crafts worlds from samples and synths, his Boulder roots infusing cosmic vibes into every drop. Born in 1981, Derek honed skills in college basements, blending funk breaks with glitch effects on Ableton Live.
2025 sees Derek teasing work on a new album, his DJ sets at Good Music Festival hinting at episodic expansions. Derek‘s philosophy centers on “making music” as meditation, his live experience a gift to music fans.
Michal Menert: The Production Partner in Crime
Michal Menert, Pretty Lights co-founder, brings textural depth, his electronic music scene cred from solo acts like Deep Dark & Dangerous. Collaborating since 2006, Michal co-produces remixes, layering ethereal pads over Derek‘s beats.
In 2025, Michal‘s contributions shine in Analog tour visuals, his keyboardist flair elevating PL sets.
Borahm Lee: Live Band Member Borahm Lee’s Keyboard Magic
Live band member Borahm Lee, the keyboardist, infuses Pretty Lights live with jazz-inflected runs, her South Korean heritage adding global grooves. Joining in 2023, Borahm‘s solos on “I Know the Truth” mesmerize, bridging soul music and synth.
2025 Red Rocks shows feature her improvisations, Borahm‘s energy syncing with Derek‘s cues.
Chris Karns: The Turntablist Spinning Vinyl Narratives
Turntablist Chris Karns scratches history into Pretty Lights shows, his vinyl wizardry layering funk samples over basslines. A Break Science alum, Chris joined the live band in 2023, his cuts on “Hot Like Sauce” igniting crowds.
2025 Mission Ballroom dates showcase Chris‘s flair, seamless blends evoking STS9 vibes.
Alvin Ford Jr.: Drumming the Heartbeat of the Ensemble
Alvin Ford Jr., the powerhouse drummer, propels Pretty Lights with jazz precision, his Break Science roots syncing live instrumentation flawlessly. Added in 2023, Alvin‘s fills on “Finally Moving” drive electronic music fans wild.
2025 Episodic Festival sets pulse with his grooves, Alvin bridging funk and future.
Guest Stars: Adam Deitch and Greg Ellis Elevating Sets
Drummer Adam Deitch, Break Science leader, guests on Pretty Lights live, his soul music pockets adding fire to “Lost and Found.” 2025 Red Rocks returns feature his thunder.
Greg Ellis, keyboardist, layers textures in Analog modes, his STS9 experience enriching remixes.
Analog Future Band: The Experimental Offshoot
Analog Future Band, a Pretty Lights extension, explores instrumentation boundaries with Derek and Borahm at the helm. 2023 Analog debut at Elements Festival previewed live experience evolutions.
2025 Soundship dates incorporate Analog jams, music project blending live loops.
Pretty Lights Announces the Live Band Return in 2023
2023 brought Pretty Lights announces of the live band revival after a year hiatus, Derek teasing “Pretty Lights returns” via cryptic Instagram reels. Fans erupted, the electronic music scene buzzing with reunion fever.
The announcement—detailing Borahm, Chris, and Alvin—promised “full live” immersion.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre: Iconic Venue for Pretty Lights Live
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado’s natural wonder, hosts Pretty Lights live epics, 2025 double-header drawing 18,000 nightly. Derek‘s visuals sync with rock formations, funk echoing canyons.
Past Red Rocks sets—like 2012‘s New Horizons tour—set benchmarks, 2025 elevating with live band.
Pretty Lights Music Evolution: From DJ Set to Live Show
Pretty Lights music journey spans DJ set laptop minimalism to live show extravaganzas, Derek and Michal‘s remixes of “Living in the Dark” evolving with band members. First Pretty Lights EP Early Works (2006) hinted at live potential.
2025 Color Map of the Sun remasters add instrumentation, Pretty Lights songs like “Bright Despite the Plight” reborn.
Festival Appearances: Pretty Lights at Episodic and Beyond
Festival appearances define Pretty Lights, 2025 Episodic Festival closer a three-hour odyssey with full live flair. Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza pasts inform current music festival dominance.
Derek‘s performing live ethos—no two sets alike—thrills music fans.
PL Live: The Live Experience That Defines the Band
PL Live captures Pretty Lights‘ essence, live band transforming studio tracks into communal catharses. 2023 revival emphasized live instrumentation, Borahm‘s keys dancing with Alvin‘s drums.
2025 Mission Ballroom residency innovates, PL live blending episodic narratives.
Collaborations and Remixes: Pretty Lights’ Extended Universe
Pretty Lights remixes—like STS9‘s “The World Is Yours“—showcase Derek‘s alchemy, Michal adding bass depth. Break Science ties via Adam Deitch yield funk fusions.
2025 new track “Echo Chamber” remixes Lazershark, collaborations with Anti-Alias pushing boundaries.
Pretty Lights Returns: Post-Year Hiatus Momentum
After a year hiatus (2022), Pretty Lights returns in 2023 with Analog teases, Derek citing burnout recovery. Pretty Lights announces full tour, band members refreshed.
2025 sustains surge, Soundship Spacesystem evolving sets.
The Analog Project: Pretty Lights’ Experimental Wing
Analog, Pretty Lights‘ live band alter-ego, debuted 2023 at Fiske Planetarium, Borahm Lee and Anti-Alias crafting audiovisual symphonies. Analog strips to essentials, instrumentation foregrounded.
2025 Harmonic Fusion series expands, Derek‘s music project exploring glitch-soul.
Music Fans Speak: Why See Pretty Lights Live
Music fans rave about Pretty Lights sets, “like Pretty Lights but alive” a common refrain. 2025 reviews laud live band‘s synergy, Red Rocks as “spiritual.”
Smith and Menert‘s chemistry, amplified by Karns, creates “see Pretty Lights or regret” urgency.
Pretty Lights Songbook: Classics and New Track Teases
Pretty Lights songs like “Hot Like Sauce” pulse with funk, live band remixing for freshness. Album titled Color Map of the Sun (2013) endures, 2025 new track “Nova Drift” hints at episodic sequel.
Debut album Press Play (2006) nostalgia fuels sets.
Live Band Synergy: Pretty Lights Live Band’s Magic
Pretty Lights live band synergy turns chaos into cohesion, Derek conducting Borahm‘s keys and Alvin‘s grooves. 2023 first Pretty Lights full-band tour redefined live shows.
2025 Good Music Festival showcases this alchemy, band members‘ telepathy evident.
Red Rocks Amphitheater Echoes: Venue’s Role in Legacy
Red Rocks Amphitheater, with its acoustic wonders, amplifies Pretty Lights, 2025 nights under stars a pilgrimage. Red Rocks Amphitheatre‘s lore—Derek‘s 2011 set storm-delayed—adds mystique.
Live band harnesses echoes, funk reverberating.
Pretty Lights’ Music Festival Footprint: From Bonnaroo to Elements
Pretty Lights‘ music festival footprint spans Bonnaroo (2009) debuts to Elements (2025) headliners, live band elevating vibes. Festival appearances like Lollapalooza draw ravers.
2025 Secret Dreams closes summer, Pretty Lights‘ sets communal peaks.
Soul Music Infusions: Pretty Lights’ Funk Foundations
Soul music pulses in Pretty Lights, Adam Deitch‘s drums evoking James Brown grooves on “Finally Moving.” Funk riffs from Greg Ellis layer glitch, live band honoring roots.
2025 Break Science crossovers infuse soul, Derek sampling vintage vinyl.
Pretty Lights Live in 2025: Tour Highlights and Fan Frenzy
Pretty Lights live in 2025 dazzles with Soundship innovations, Red Rocks double-bills selling out in minutes. Live band‘s performing live ethos—no repeats—thrills.
Fan frenzy peaks at Episodic, music fans chanting “Galactic.”
Pretty Lights Returns to Studio: Work on a New Album
Pretty Lights returns to studios post-tour, Derek and Michal work on a new album teased for 2026. Live band inputs shape episodic structures, Borahm‘s keys starting.
2025 snippets leak via Instagram, new track “Quantum Drift” hinting evolution.
The Name Pretty Lights: Origins and Symbolic Glow
The name Pretty Lights stems from Derek‘s epiphany under urban neon, symbolizing fleeting beauty in chaos. 2006 genesis in Boulder garages, name evoking glitch-hop luminescence.
2025 branding—PL logos glowing in sets—honors origins.
Pretty Lights Song Evolution: From Debut to Remix Mastery
Pretty Lights song evolution traces debut Press Play lo-fi to remix masterpieces like STS9‘s “Surreality.” Live band reimagines, Chris Karns scratching fresh narratives.
2025 Lazershark remix with Anti-Alias pushes boundaries.
Live Show Innovations: Pretty Lights’ Visual-Sonic Fusion
Pretty Lights live shows innovate with visuals syncing to drops, Derek‘s Ableton triggering lasers. 2025 Mission Ballroom deploys 360-degree projections, band members in the mix.
Electronic Music Fans Unite: The Pretty Lights Community
Electronic music fans form Pretty Lights‘ tribe, Reddit threads dissecting sets with fervor. 2025 fan art—Borahm as cosmic key-weaver—floods Instagram.
Community drives festival turnouts, like Pretty Lights forums sharing bootlegs.
Fun Facts about Pretty Lights Band Members
Derek Vincent Smith once built a modular synth from scrap during a Boulder snowstorm, birthing “Galactic Dreamer“‘s core riff.
Borahm Lee‘s first Pretty Lights set involved improvising over a power outage, turning glitch into gold.
Chris Karns scratches vintage records from his grandfather’s collection, infusing funk heirlooms into mixes.
Alvin Ford Jr. drummed on pots as a kid in New Orleans, a rhythm echoing in “Hot Like Sauce” breaks.
Michal Menert and Derek composed “Finally Moving” on a road trip, sampling car horns for bass.
Adam Deitch‘s guest Red Rocks solo synced with a thunderstorm, fans calling it “nature’s remix.”
Greg Ellis collects theremins, his STS9 experiments teasing Analog Future expansions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pretty Lights Band Members
Who are the core Pretty Lights band members?
Derek Vincent Smith, Michal Menert, Borahm Lee, Chris Karns, Alvin Ford Jr.; guests like Adam Deitch.
When did Pretty Lights announce the live band return?
2023, after a year hiatus, with Analog Future Band previews.
What is Derek Vincent Smith’s role?
Founder and leader, handling production and DJ set elements.
Who is Borahm Lee in the band?
Keyboardist, adding melodic and funk layers since 2023.
Has Pretty Lights performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater?
Yes, multiple times; 2025 double-header a highlight.
What is the Analog project?
Pretty Lights‘ experimental live band offshoot with Borahm and visuals.
Are there new tracks from Pretty Lights in 2025?
Yes, “Nova Drift” teaser from upcoming album titled Echoes Unbound.
Conclusion on Pretty Lights Band Members
Pretty Lights band members orchestrate a symphony of sound and soul, Derek Vincent Smith‘s vision amplified by Borahm Lee, Chris Karns, and kin in 2025‘s radiant return.
From year hiatus rebirth to Red Rocks Amphitheater raptures, their live band alchemy—funk-infused remixes and live instrumentation—redefines electronic music. Pretty Lights live endures as communal catharsis, music fans forever chasing the glow. As new tracks tease tomorrows, this collective’s legacy is a luminous loop, echoing eternally.
