Interview: Rush Midnight Talks Lights, Working With Jesse Keeler, and Brooklyn

By: Julia Grabowska –

Rush Midnight.

Brooklyn-based electropop-indie rock artist Rush Midnight (aka Russell Manning), who is the former bass player for fellow Brooklynite Twin Shadow, and who released his debut full length self-titled album on May 27th, 2014 on Last Gang Records, talks about his ongoing tour with Lights, what it was like working with Jesse F. Keeler (MSTRKRFT / Death From Above 1979), who executive produced his album, and more. 

What have the biggest highlights of your tour with LIGHTS been?

It’s been really fun, it’s our first tour at these kind of venues. A lot of crowds, a lot of sold out shows, young crowds…which isn’t a bad thing. It’s been great, the LIGHTS guys are super nice. Most people don’t really know who we are when we come on stage but I feel like we’ve won a lot of people over.

How was your Toronto show?

It was great! Toronto is a pretty interesting crowd. It’s not stiff but they’re not the most energetic. It reminds me of New York, and when we were in Boston it was similar as well. But some of these other towns like Halifax was crazy, with so much energy.

When many people think of musicians from Brooklyn, they think hip hop. In your opinion, is Brooklyn just as nurturing for electronic artists and DJ’s?

Yeah definitely. Hip-hop kind of started in New York and the Bronx, Harlem and parts of Queens and Brooklyn, but nowadays there’s every type of music in there.

How was working with Jesse F. Keeler, and how has he influenced you artistically?

He got behind it, and he listened to everything I sent him and he helped me with the mastering and order of songs, which is great. He’s a really awesome dude, and anytime we have time to chill it’s great. He’s such a legend with the stuff he puts out. He’s written songs that everyone seems to know so that was a little intimidating at first, but at the same time, if he says “this is a good one”, I can’t really argue with that because I want to impress him.

There’s so much history to Last Gang Records. How has that label impacted you as an artist?

Their roster is so strong. They’re all artists that I listened to in college. It’s pretty surreal to be on that label and I listen to any advice that they have musically. It’s a pretty cool relationship, and I’ve only known them for less than a year.

In the past, there wasn’t much of a bridge between dance music and heavier rock, but it seems to be much more common these days. Why do you think that is?

I’m not sure what that is, but I think a lot of people are just trying things out. I’m always trying to figure out what to do with a new song or record. Sometimes I just naturally write one surf song, one R&B song, and one disco song to try to have fun.

According to your bio, it says “Rush Midnight currently writes songs in the shadows of his bedroom with the hope of one day writing in the light of the outdoors.” Should we take that literally? Will you ever write in the light of the outdoors?

My space in Brooklyn right now doesn’t let in a huge amount of light, so that’s literally what I meant. I’m trying to make my way to L.A. and write over there where there’s more sun. I’ve done a lot of stuff on the road too which is tough like Lil Wayne, who writes out of his tour bus. He’s an idol of mine.

What’s one record you just couldn’t get enough of this year? What song have you simply had too much of?

I really like Connan Mockasin a lot, that song “I’m The Man, That Will Find You” [is great]. I also really like Mac DeMarco, The Drums, the new Little Dragon, Caribou, and the new SBTRKT record is amazing.

There’s the obvious radio stuff that I don’t listen to. Then there’s that one girl who sings the song “Brooklyn Girls”. The video itself was so cliché.