For Northern Lights, the corps’ 2026 production all started with Billie Eilish.
More specifically, the Michigan corps found its inspiration in the Grammy Award-winning artist’s 2023 song, “What Was I Made For?”
Originally intended to serve simply as a powerful ballad, the song about the discovery of personal identity ultimately ballooned into an entire show theme. Northern Lights’ 2026 program, “Someday I Might,” utilizes the idea of machines to present a story of individuality and expression.
According to program coordinator Doug Olmstead, the show’s foundational message centers on the engineering acronym, “POSIWID” — that is, “the purpose of a system is what it does.”
“What started as a concept specifically for the ballad redefined its purpose throughout our programming discussions to really be the central focus for the whole show,” he said. “By the end of the show, we strip away the idea that we are made to make profit only. In the end, we can embrace our individuality and creativity.”
“The lyrics really spoke to the theme of the show,” he added, in reference to Eilish’s hit song, which was popularized in the 2023 film, “Barbie.” “It evolved from there to become one of the central focuses of the whole program.”
Eilish isn’t the only artist fans may recognize in Northern Lights’ repertoire; the Michigan corps plans to feature the music of Muse and Audiomachine, while also offering a more traditional nod in Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 3.”
“It may be music that you’re familiar with,” Olmstead said, “but it’s going to be done in a completely different fashion that allows the whole show to be cohesive, top to bottom, even though those selections really shouldn’t go together.”
According to Olmstead, Northern Lights plans to offer heavy contrast in tone from start to finish of this year’s program. A show predicated on breaking free from norms and limitations, “Someday I Might” will open with a very dark tone, before ultimately giving way to shades of light, freedom, and expression.
“We really want this oppressive feel at the start of the show,” Olmstead said. “Think of words like industry and production — what your value is, what you can produce. Then throughout the show, you start to question that.”
“It’ll start robotic — think gears and factory lines,” he continued. “We’ve got a uniform idea that’s starting to come together with that thought of organic growth coming out of machinery.”
Beyond a compelling program, 2026 is set up to be an exciting summer for Northern Lights.
For one, it’ll serve as the corps’ first official year as a full member of DCI’s All-Age Class; originally formed as a SoundSport team for the summer of 2023, Northern Lights competed as an All-Age Affiliate in 2025, and was approved for full membership this winter.
The Michigan corps is set to appear at four DCI Tour events in 2026. And this season, all eyes are focused on the future.
“We just had our historically best-attended offseason ever,” Olmstead said. “A lot of that is culture, and a lot of that is praise to DCI for platforming organizations like ours that start as grassroots.”
“The membership is ready for this next challenge,” he added, “as we turn the page out of our SoundSport history and into our All-Age corps history.”
