Can you see the wave of colors dance
Or the way light moves through electric trance
Laura Pleasants, the once-fiery creative force behind Kylesa, now leads the Los Angeles-based post-punk outfit The Discussion, continuing its run of hypnotic, noir-tinged singles with “Blue Light” out now. Casting off the weight of a fifteen‐year tenure in heavy psych-rock, she has embarked on a solitary journey into the labyrinths of post-punk and alt-rock—a journey that has so far yielded a debut EP, a European tour, and now, a singular audiovisual statement.
“Blue Light” marks a deliberate departure from the brooding, shimmering post-punk textures of the previous single, “In the Mirror.” Here, Pleasants summons an eerie, synth-driven atmosphere that feels both like a love letter to the gothic dualities of early post-punk and the forward-thinking exploration into synth-driven soundscapes of Siouxsie and The Banshees on Kaleidoscope.
Conjured under the deft production hand of Jason Corbett (ACTORS), “Blue Light” extends the eerie terrain charted by “In the Mirror” and “Fade Away,” solidifying Laura Pleasants’ shift into a realm of nocturnal New Wave and gothic disquiet. Sinuous electronics throb through a haze of fluorescent detachment, as Pleasants’ vocals hover with spectral cool over metallic textures and looping rhythms. The ghosts of Siouxsie, The Cure, and Asylum Party flicker on its fringes, imparting the sense of a dimly lit broadcast from elsewhere—eerie, elusive, unsettlingly intimate. Like the last neon sign burning at the end of a deserted road, its refrain blinks in and out of sight, beckoning in the half-light.
Lyrically, the song is equal parts manifesto and meditation, sketching a world where sensory overload meets raw, introspective vulnerability.
In a video reminiscent of a channel tuned into by cyberpunk godfather William Gibson, “Blue Light” unfolds as a synthwave reverie. The visuals depict a nocturnal metropolis drenched in a cool blue hue, where magenta vector graphics outline the neon pulse of a city in constant motion. The piece, shot by House of Vivian, is self-produced, written, and directed by Pleasants. It asserts artistic autonomy and highlights the intimate connection between her sonic and visual visions.
Watch the video for “Blue Light” below:
After years of creative incubation, Pleasants’ full commitment to The Discussion coalesced in a spark of collaboration with Jason Corbett of ACTORS. “I wanted to work with Jason Corbett because not only am I a big ACTORS fan, but his production resonated with my own vision,” she reveals. This alliance, forged in both friendship and mutual artistic respect, propelled her sound into uncharted realms—a fusion that pays homage to first-wave post-punk, dark romantic new wave, and goth, while simultaneously nodding to the broader canons of shoegaze and death rock.
With creative momentum at its zenith, The Discussion is poised for an expansive future. A series of local and regional shows, a cascade of new singles, and a vigorous touring schedule in 2025 promise to amplify Pleasants’ vision. With more singles on the way and a relentless touring schedule planned for 2025, The Discussion is building something bigger than just a series of releases—it’s a growing, immersive sonic world. The forthcoming LP, All The Pretty Flowers, is set to release via Artoffact Records on May 23rd.
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