New York City’s Westend and British vocalist Darla Jade join forces on “Lighter,” a progressive house single set for release on October 3rd via Insomniac Records. The track blends Westend’s refined, club-tested house sound with Jade’s emotive electropop sensibilities, creating a release that bridges the past and present of dance music culture.
“Lighter” channels the euphoric spirit of early-2000s progressive house anthems while carrying the modern polish of today’s dancefloor. Darla Jade’s ethereal topline hovers between fragility and fire, serving as a siren call that embodies the paradox of passion—weightless yet consuming. Her vocals rest atop looping synth ostinatos and circling piano chords, expanding into sweeping pads and oscillating textures that resolve into a pulse recalling indie dance. The production balances nostalgia with forward-thinking sound design, merging the emotional weight of progressive house with rhythmic detail drawn from Westend’s tech-driven toolkit.
Reflecting on his inspiration, Westend says: “’Lighter’ was born out of chasing the feeling I had when I was 17 and first falling in love with electronic music. Artists like deadmau5, Kaskade, and Avicii shaped my earliest connection to the scene. After Electric Zoo in 2011, I came home and put ‘I Remember’ on repeat until sunrise. That chord progression became the seed for ‘Lighter.’ From there, I fused progressive house magic with a modern tech house and indie dance sound. Collaborating with Darla Jade brought the record to life. Her voice and lyrics elevated it. For me, this is the most meaningful record I have ever written. It represents both a return to my roots and a step forward creatively.”
For Darla Jade, the track holds deep emotional resonance: “’Lighter’ came together quite naturally. I co-wrote it with Melissa De Kleine and Adaptive Productions last year. The name ‘Lighter’ reflects a paradox of love and desire—how it can spark a fire within you while also making you feel weightless and free.”
Westend has steadily emerged as one of America’s leading house figures, blending modern tech house with New York City’s DIY rave ethos. Since 2020, his work on Insomniac Records has yielded five singles and an EP, supported globally by Capital Dance, Kiss FM UK, SiriusXM, Triple J, and Radio 538. His career has attracted support from genre heavyweights including John Summit, Fisher, Dom Dolla, Chris Lake, Gorgon City, Diplo, Tiësto, Adam Beyer, Claptone, Alesso, and Kevin de Vries. After a sold-out U.S. tour in 2025, featuring headline stops in Los Angeles, Denver, San Diego, Chicago, and New York, as well as festival appearances at Splash House, Westend will headline Austin’s Concourse Project.
Darla Jade arrives as a dynamic counterpart, her voice a natural fit for dance music’s melodic spectrum. The Stoke-on-Trent singer-songwriter has collaborated with Andrew Rayel, BLOND:ISH, Francis Mercier, and Ferry Corsten, with her solo work featured on Love Island and supported across BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop and BBC Introducing Track of the Week. She has also contributed songwriting for acts including Kaskade and Gorgon City, cementing her as one of the UK’s most versatile rising artists.
Together, Westend and Darla Jade deliver “Lighter”—a progressive house anthem that honors the golden era of the genre while pushing it forward, solidifying Insomniac Records’ role as a home for forward-thinking dance music.