Bright Light Bright Light’s New Album Celebrates Queer Joy And The Wisdom Of Age

Bright Light Bright Light regards his fifth studio album, “Enjoy Youth,” as a creative rebound as well as a middle finger to the ageism that pervades much of the music industry and the LGBTQ+ community.

“The first years during and after COVID-19 were energy-depleted for me. I know I’m not alone in that,” the pop musician, who grew up in Wales and is now based in New York, told HuffPost. “So this album, for me, is a reminder to cling to moments of joy and to perpetuate them for other people. It reflects the fact that I always try to hold onto optimism and lust for life in spite of everything.”

“I remember being told to lie about my age in my 20s, which was absurd,” he continued. “Here I am, at age 41 — much older than Jake Wesley Rogers, Chappell Roan and everyone else who is making waves at the moment — and I still have a career making pop music. It’s important for people to remember that you’re never too old to do something you love. Youth and the drive of life will never leave you if you hold onto them.”

In the 12 years since his debut album, Bright Light Bright Light ― real name Rod Thomas, who takes his stage moniker from a memorable scene in 1984’s “Gremlins” ― has established himself as a purveyor of hard-bodied, ’80s-inspired beats aimed at keeping dance floors packed and sweaty.

Along the way, he’s collaborated with Elton John, Alan Cumming and former Scissor Sisters frontman turned future Broadway composer Jake Shears. In 2019, he opened for Cher on the European leg of her Here We Go Again Tour.

Released last week, “Enjoy Youth” is Bright Light Bright Light’s first album since 2020’s “Fun City,” which had the misfortune of dropping during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The forced downtime led him to branch