Alec Riley has a knack for turning heavy, personal weight into something that feels remarkably… buoyant. While you might know him from the high-octane intensity of hardcore band Initiate, his project Light Once Lost operates in that sweet spot between melancholic indie rock and raw, cathartic energy.
Today, the project announced a new six-track EP, What Doesn’t Steal You, arriving June 12. To kick things off, Riley has dropped two singles that showcase the project’s impressive range.
“Swimming In Fountains” is a slow-burn beauty: tender and personal, channeling a gold-standard early 2000s indie sound but with a modern, vulnerable edge. It swells into big drums and soaring melodies that feel both familiar and totally refreshing.
Then there’s “Exit Clause.” If you’re a fan of the bouncy, infectious energy of bands like High Vis, this could be your new favorite track. It’s punchy punk rock that hits right in the chest, featuring a guest spot from Touché Amoré‘s Jeremy Bolm. Bolm’s raspy delivery adds the perfect grit to Riley’s hooky choruses, creating a track that makes you want to move while also tugging at your heartstrings. It’s no wonder, as Riley comments:
“This song is written around the idea of having to leave a difficult situation that you once thought would be permanent. The song begins with the lines ‘Say your thanks on the way out, a crown of crows and a stiff demeanor, once we could afford to let it out I was defeated, deflated I mean it.’ This beginning stanza basically introduces the listener to the situation: being forced out of something you may have otherwise called your own which leaves you defeated. This is supported with Jeremy’s lyric ‘That collection plate is far from the brim, here I am with pockets turned out.’”
What Doesn’t Steal You is shaping up to be an essential summer release. You can stream both “Exit Clause” and “Swimming In Fountains” now.
What Doesn’t Steal You Tracklist:
1. “Swimming In Fountains”
2. “Everybody Knows”
3. “Pebble Beach”
4. “Exit Clause” (feat. Jeremy Bolm)
5. “Six Day’s Notice”
6. “Monoxide”
Produced and mixed by Christopher Dwyer and co-produced by Clayton Stevens
All vocals and instruments performed by Alec Riley
Drums performed by Christopher Dwyer
