New Jersey’s Lightheaded are, simply, a great pop group. Their songs are full of melody and harmony, are bittersweet and memorable, familiar yet original. Their sound is a perfect mix of jangling guitars — featuring Sara Abdelbarry’s exquisite, tasteful, but punchy Gretsch lead played over Stephen Stec’s Rickenbacker chime — anchored to singer Cynthia Rickenbach’s Hofner Violin bass. Cynthia and Stephen write pop songs in the classic sense, and though they are young they’re already familiar with the good stuff. Cynthia wears a Gene Clark tee shirt and is a fan of Dusty Springfield, The Aislers Set, and Joan Jett. Stephen worships at the altar of Big Star, The Clientele, and The Go-Betweens. As with bands like The Aislers Set and Belle & Sebastian, you hear an aural kaleidoscope, the history pop music and the best rock and roll, in the music of Lightheaded. Good Good Great! EP was their first record for Sulmberland record, out in 2023. The band’s debut album, Combustible Gems, will be out 17th May 2024, again on Slumberland Records.

What They Say: “I didn’t think of the title Dawn Hush Lullaby, I found it. Awhile back, I had fallen for someone with a really lovely voice who lived far away so we would be texting for hours, but I could read her messages in her voice and replay our conversations in my head. I was alone one night, scrolling on Tumblr, when I saw a post from 1934, where Wilfred J Funk listed the ten most beautiful words in the English language. The first three? Dawn. Hush. Lullaby. And that’s just how her voice sounded.” (Stephen Stec)

“Moments Notice is about social energy and spending your time. I think everyone needs a certain blend between home time and social time. Sometimes, it can be tough to get free time when you’re always on the go with music, school, work, and just life in general. But this song is specifically about Irish goodbyes and wanting to go home from shows with your partner and just lay face down in bed with them.” (Cynthia Rittenbach).

“Not to get too VH1 Behind The Music but… ‘Bright Happy Girls’ was written on the fly, in Cynthia’s basement at a practice four years ago. Sara was there, which was the first time we ever wrote with her. Stephen was just playing a really simple progression with that sorta stabbing stacatto rhythm, and Sara just started to play this wonderful swelling and bursting guitar line over it. I remember having these images floating around in my head during this period “sprinting then shapeshifting” and “bright happy girls”… I guess I worry that song doesn’t really make too much sense! To me, it’s sort of about the feeling of running around with Cynthia, Sara, and Jo while the world turns.” (Stephen Stec)

Their Mixtape:

The Field Mice – If You Need Someone (Stephen)

During the mixing of a certain song off Combustible Gems, this was a constant reference for the direction of the overall sound. This is probably in our top 5 favorite Field Mice songs, but the unwavering sentiment to dedication and putting all your eggs in one basket makes it a tune I never go too long without playing.

Heavenly – C is The Heavenly Option (Cynthia)

I go to school for computer programming, which is coding. There’s all these coding languages I have to learn and one is called C. I listen to this song on repeat and dream about acing my programming test in C, which I did 🙂

Sea Lions – A Cloud (Stephen)

Cola Boyy recently passed. I never met him, but a lot of people I really respect shared a lot of time and memories with him. My introduction to Cola Boyy was actually their guitar work on one of the great underrated second wave Slumberland Records albums, by his first band Sea Lions, aptly titled Everything You Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask. That album is littered with highlights, but this might be the high water mark amongst mountains.

Sonny and Cher – Baby Don’t Go (Cynthia)

I just realized Sonny and Cher were… a thing. I love Sonny’s production. Cher’s voice… the vocal harmonies between the two of them sound great. Sonny and Cher are like me and Stephen, except we’re just bffs and won’t ever divorce, but Stephen probably will die in a ski accident.

Soft Covers – Coming and Going (Stephen)

I don’t know anything about this, but it sounds like a real forgotten Flying Nun gem. I love the production, but the songwriting is the true standout. It’s the sort of song that the Kilgour brothers could have whipped up if they were in a room together one afternoon. Further shout out to perhaps the best album artwork I have ever seen. I have literally seethed with jealousy over its brilliance. These goddamn geniuses…!

The Poni-Tails – Seven Minutes In Heaven (Cynthia)

Born Too Late by the Poni Tails is an old favorite of mine for a while now. There might be a version of us covering it floating around on the internet somewhere. I never realized the sax in this song is sampled in a song called Birds Don’t Sing by that new group TV Girl. I just can’t get over the girl group harmonies in this song. Big influence to the future of Lightheaded with Sara and Jo.

Combustible Gems will be out May 17th on Slumberland Records. Look HERE for more information on Lightheaded.