MegaDestroyer are an Omaha trio formed in 2024, made up of Colin Moore on guitar and vocals, Ric Orta on bass and vocals, and Marlon “Marlo” Lowe on drums. Their earlier singles, “STEAM” and “Parachutes,” set their alternative rock and pop-punk roots, the first drawing on science, curiosity, and personal reinvention and the second taking a more melodic look at friendship and survival. Their new single, “Beneath the Lights,” widens the sound with electronic pop.
Beneath the Lights
The song’s story begins with a rough first draft. Moore graded the original recording a C+, believing in the writing but not the way it had been captured, and then producer Adam James heard “Parachutes” on Spotify and reached out. Working together, they pushed the song into electronic pop territory, with Ted Jensen mastering the finished track at Sterling Sound Nashville. Moore’s original vocals and guitar parts stayed in the recording while the possibilities around them changed, and he says working with James raised the band’s standards for both sound and songwriting.
The result is a sunny, polished rock single with a pop-punk tinge and a chorus built to stick. Moore’s strong, authoritative vocals lead the way, confident and accessible, and the rock power blends with pop elements in an energetic atmosphere that captures the freedom of being fully immersed in the moment.
Underneath the groove sits an adult perspective. Moore writes about the baffling speed at which a kid with plans becomes an adult with expenses, how quickly playing for the love of it turns into barely getting paid and making ends meet, and the title reaches for the moments that make the effort worthwhile, especially the thrill of an audience singing your words back to you. That mix of grown-up realism and carefree energy gives the track a relatable emotional core.
The expanded sound has practical consequences. Moore jokes that the band will need a fourth member on turntables and keys to bring it to the stage, and a video has already been filmed. He considers it the song that best defines his career so far, and he feels the band has leveled up.
Final Thoughts
“Beneath the Lights” is a bright, hook-driven single that shows MegaDestroyer pushing past their first answer to find something bigger, and it’s a strong sign of where the trio are headed. Stream it on Spotify.
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