diff --git a/push_to_record_and_play.py b/push_to_record_and_play.py
index 12c9c34..56ec9f0 100644
--- a/push_to_record_and_play.py
+++ b/push_to_record_and_play.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # this program will record audio while the button is pressed
 # it will then play the audio back to the user from memory
 
+import apa102
+import audio
 import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
 
 # importing sys
@@ -8,7 +10,6 @@ import sys
 # adding Folder_2/subfolder to the system path
 sys.path.insert(0, '/home/talksik/rpi-random-projects/audio')
 
-import audio
 
 BUTTON = 17
 
@@ -17,12 +18,30 @@ GPIO.setup(BUTTON, GPIO.IN)
 
 audioInstance = audio.Audio()
 
+# number of pixels on the LED strip on the hat
+PIXELS_N = 3
+led = apa102.APA102(num_led=PIXELS_N)
+
+
+def turnOffLED():
+    led.clear_strip()
+    led.show()
+
+
+def turnOnLED():
+    for i in range(PIXELS_N):
+        led.set_pixel_rgb(i, 0, 0, 255)
+    led.show()
+
+
 while True:
     state = GPIO.input(BUTTON)
 
     if state:
         if audioInstance.isRecording():
             audioInstance.stopRecord()
+            turnOffLED()
     else:
         if not audioInstance.isRecording():
             audioInstance.startRecord()
+            turnOnLED()