Lights

Early life and career beginnings

Valerie Anne Poxleitner was born on April 11, 1987, to missionary parents Virginia and Eric Poxleitner and has one older sister named Jess. Her family moved frequently, leading her to spend parts of her childhood in the Philippines, Jamaica, and finally Chesley, Ontario. She was home-schooled by her mother and learned to play guitar from her father, which formed the foundation of her early musical education. In 2001, at age 14, she used inheritance money from her grandmother to purchase an eight-track recorder and produced her first original song, titled 'Saturn's Rings'. During her high school years, she expanded her musical experience by playing guitar and singing in a local metal band called Shovel Face. She concurrently built an online following by sharing her music on the social networking site Myspace, which helped establish her initial fanbase. At the age of 18, she relocated to Toronto to pursue music professionally and legally changed her name to Lights, a nickname based on her surname, to secure the moniker despite a pre-existing signed band with the same name. Her professional career began with a writing position at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, where she composed songs for other artists. She contributed music to the CTV television series Instant Star, and she and co-writer Luke McMaster are credited with composing the song 'Perfect', performed by actress Alexz Johnson in her role as Jude Harrison. In 2007, broadcaster and musician Jian Ghomeshi became her manager, a professional relationship that continued until late 2014.

Breakthrough with The Listening and Siberia

Lights's touring career began in early 2008 with a series of shows in cities around the Great Lakes region in both Canada and the United States. That same period saw her single 'Drive My Soul' climb to number 18 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart, marking her first significant radio hit. In August 2008, she signed a record deal with the Toronto-based independent label Underground Operations, alongside an American partnership deal with the major labels Warner Bros. Records and Doghouse Records. Her self-titled debut EP was released digitally on iTunes in July 2008 and on vinyl in September 2008. The EP's second single, 'February Air', had already gained widespread exposure after being featured in a national television commercial for Old Navy in early 2008. It was officially released in December 2008 and sold approximately 12,000 copies. A third single, 'Ice', was released in March 2009 with a homemade music video. The commercial success of these early releases paved the way for her first full-length album, The Listening, which arrived in September 2009. Promotion for the album included the August release of a music video for the lead single 'Saviour', with the single itself arriving in Canadian stores on September 22 and in the United States on October 6. During this period, Lights left Underground Operations to form her own record label, Lights Music Inc. She re-recorded 'Ice' for the album and released a new professional video for it on November 10, 2009. The album's cover artwork was inspired by the graphic novel Watchmen, the film 28 Days Later, and the anime series Sailor Moon. The Listening was a major commercial success in Canada, selling over 80,000 copies and earning a platinum certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association. This achievement was recognized with the 2009 Juno Award for New Artist of the Year. In September 2009, she joined the British band Keane as a supporting act on their Canadian and Pacific Northwest tour. She also contributed guest vocals to Ten Second Epic's song 'Every Day', whose video was nominated for a MuchMusic Video Award in 2010, and she is featured on two songs on the soundtrack for the 2008 Canadian film One Week. She provided guest vocals on the 2009 album A Shipwreck in the Sand by the Ontario post-hardcore band Silverstein.

From January to May 2010, Lights performed as the opening act for contemporary synthpop artist Owl City on an international tour covering dates in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In July 2010, she released an acoustic EP titled Acoustic, which she promoted with a special performance at the University of Waterloo, a location she cited as a key inspiration for the material. Later that month, she began a six-date tour of the United States. In September 2010, she joined the Canadian band Hedley for the eight-show Ontario leg of their national tour. Her collaborative work continued as she appeared as a guest vocalist on two tracks from Bring Me the Horizon's 2010 album and on a song by The Secret Handshake. In October 2010, she released the digital single 'My Boots' and began a concert tour with singer-songwriter Jeremy Fisher. At a November 2010 show in Toronto, the Canadian Recording Industry Association presented her with a gold certification trophy for The Listening, which had at that point achieved 40,000 units in sales.

Her second studio album cycle began with a performance of new songs at the Utopia Music Festival in June 2011. The first single, 'Toes', was released in August 2011 to promote the album Siberia, which was released on October 4, 2011, in Canada and the United States. The release was delayed due to label concerns about her shift to a grittier, more dubstep-influenced sound after she had signed with Last Gang Records. Siberia received generally positive reviews from critics and was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Pop Album of the Year. It debuted at number three on the Canadian Albums Chart and sold more than 10,000 units in its first week of release. The album was certified gold in Canada on April 27, 2012, after sales surpassed 40,000 copies. During this period, she was also featured on the song 'The Yacht Club' from Owl City's 2011 album and appeared in his music video for 'Deer in the Headlights'. In March 2013, she released an acoustic version of 'Cactus in the Valley' featuring Owl City as a single in the United Kingdom. The full acoustic reworking of the album, Siberia Acoustic, was released in April 2013 and reached number seven on the Canadian Albums Chart. She toured North America in support of the acoustic album, with opening acts including Dear Rouge and Lianne La Havas.

Artistic evolution with Little Machines and Skin & Earth

Lights's third studio album, Little Machines, became available for pre-order on iTunes in July 2014 alongside the instant-grat download of its lead single, 'Up We Go'. The album was officially released on September 23, 2014, in the United States and Canada, where it debuted at number five on the albums chart. The second official single, 'Running with the Boys', received significant radio play in early 2015, while the tracks 'Portal' and 'Same Sea' were released as promotional singles. In October 2014, Lights ended her long-time management relationship with Jian Ghomeshi. She continued to tour extensively throughout 2015 in support of Little Machines. On April 8, 2016, she released the acoustic EP Midnight Machines, which contained acoustic versions of six songs from Little Machines and two entirely new songs: 'Follow You Down' and 'Head Cold'. Her music entered the world of video games in 2016 when she and her band were featured as playable character avatars in the game LOUD on Planet X, which included their songs 'Same Sea' and 'Up We Go'.

In April 2017, Lights announced her fourth studio album, Skin & Earth, which was released alongside a six-issue comic book series that she both wrote and illustrated. The innovative release strategy saw one song from the album paired with each comic issue, with new music arriving monthly starting in July 2017 until the full album was released on September 22, 2017. The album included collaborations with Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun on the tracks 'Savage' and 'Almost Had Me'. The first single, 'Giants', was released on June 23, 2017, along with a music video. The song peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart in the United States. Lights later released versions of 'Giants' in French, Japanese, Tagalog, and Spanish. The promotional single 'Skydiving' was released on July 14, 2017, and the album track 'Savage' was released on August 11, followed by 'New Fears' on September 15. The song 'Fight Club' from the album was featured in the video game Just Dance 2018. In January 2018, she launched the 'We Were Here Tour', a 46-show concert tour across North America with supporting acts Chase Atlantic and DCF. On February 2, 2018, she released the music video for her song 'We Were Here'. In October 2018, she joined the band Young the Giant as the supporting act on their fall tour. Her collaborative work in this era included the track 'Drama Free' with Deadmau5, released in November 2018, and the 2019 collaborations 'Love Me' with Felix Cartal and 'Amateurs' with Sleepy Tom. On May 12, 2019, it was announced she had signed to the label Fueled by Ramen, which released Skin&Earth Acoustic on July 12, 2019. The acoustic album included three new songs and was supported by a North American concert tour.

Recent work: Pep, dEd, and A6

On June 11, 2020, Lights released a seven-track instrumental synthwave album titled How to Sleep When You're on Fire exclusively on Bandcamp, with all proceeds donated to the Black Lives Matter Vancouver branch. On July 9, 2020, she released the song 'Dead End' with an accompanying music video. The song was part of a remix EP of the same name released in collaboration with producer MYTH on August 7, 2020. In 2021, she began releasing music under the pseudonym Lūn, a character from her Skin & Earth comic universe, explaining that Lūn is a musician within that fictional world. The Lūn EP titled haha i like it was released in April 2021. That same month, under her own name, she released the song 'Beside Myself'. In October 2021, she released 'Prodigal Daughter' as the lead single from her upcoming fifth album. Her album Pep was released on April 1, 2022. In support of the album, she announced the 'Baby I'm Back Tour' on November 16, 2021, with United States dates throughout April and May 2022 and a Canadian leg from late January to February 2023. In November 2022, her collaborative album with the late producer i_o, titled Warehouse Summer, was released posthumously. In April 2023, she released dEd, a chillwave reinterpretation of the entire Pep album.

On February 9, 2024, Felix Cartal and Lights released another collaborative track titled 'Feel Less'. She also appeared on the PVRIS track 'The Blob', released on June 20, 2024. She was announced as a performer at the inaugural All Your Friends festival in Burls Creek, Ontario, on August 24, 2024, alongside artists like Billy Talent and Silverstein. She also appeared at several shows on Deadmau5's retro5pective tour in 2024. A new single, 'Damage', was released on September 27, 2024, accompanied by a video featuring her cutting her signature long hair to a shoulder-length style. On September 28, 2024, she performed at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Massey Hall, covering Sarah McLachlan's 'Building A Mystery' to honour the inductee. Lights announced her sixth record, A6, for release on May 2, 2025. A second single from the album, 'Alive Again', was released on February 7, 2025, becoming her first track to chart on Canada's Modern Rock charts. Interactive music videos for the songs 'Surface Tension' and 'White Paper Palm Trees' were released on April 4, 2025. The North American tour in support of A6 began on May 8, 2025, in Victoria, British Columbia, with all dates selling out in advance of a summer festival schedule that included appearances at the Calgary Stampede and Halifax Music Festival. On January 30, 2026, she released A6EXTENDED, an extended version of the album featuring eight new songs. The 'Come Get Your Girl Tour' began on February 13, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta. Also in 2026, she opened several shows for Bryan Adams on the Canadian leg of his Roll With The Punches world tour.

Musical style and influences

Lights's music is primarily classified as electropop and contemporary synth-pop, with elements of electronic rock. Critics have described the evolution of her sound, noting that her debut album, The Listening, was characterized as gentle indie-electronic alt-rock. Her second album, Siberia, introduced a heavier, more gritty production style influenced by dubstep. A review of her third album, Little Machines, described it as a mature electro-punk affair that demonstrated her growth beyond her initial twee, synth-and-folk beginnings. Lights has described her own music as an electronic setting for moody sunset times. She has cited the artists Björk, Genesis, and Supertramp as key artistic influences on her work. Her collaborative nature is evident across her discography, with guest vocal appearances on tracks by metalcore and post-hardcore bands as well as frequent work with electronic music producers like Deadmau5, Felix Cartal, and i_o.

Other artistic ventures

Lights's work as a graphic novelist is a major component of her artistic output. In 2017, she wrote and illustrated the six-volume Skin&Earth comic book series, released monthly in tandem with her album of the same name. This was followed in 2022 by a related graphic novel side story titled The Clinic. Her music has been incorporated into video games on multiple occasions. In 2016, she and her band were featured as character avatars in the game LOUD on Planet X, which included their songs 'Same Sea' and 'Up We Go'. The track 'Fight Club' from Skin & Earth was featured in the video game Just Dance 2018. She has performed at notable industry events, including the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Massey Hall in September 2024, where she covered Sarah McLachlan's 'Building A Mystery'. Her festival appearances include the inaugural All Your Friends festival in 2024 and sold-out dates on her 2025 tour leading into major Canadian summer festivals like the Calgary Stampede and the Halifax Music Festival.

Personal life

Lights was introduced to Beau Bokan, the lead vocalist of the metalcore band Blessthefall, at a Taking Back Sunday concert in Los Angeles in 2010, and they began dating shortly thereafter. The couple became engaged in September 2011 and were married on May 12, 2012, after which Lights added 'Bokan' to her last name, stylizing it as Poxleitner-Bokan. They commemorated their wedding date with matching tattoos. Their first child, a daughter, was born on February 15, 2014. In December 2017, during an interview with People magazine, Lights publicly came out as bisexual. Early in her career, the liner notes for her debut album The Listening included thanks to 'Jesus for giving me everything I have', but in a 2022 Twitter post, she clarified that she no longer identifies as religious.

Discography and major awards

Lights has released six studio albums that chart her artistic progression from synth-pop to more complex electronic and rock-infused sounds. Her debut, The Listening (2009), was certified platinum in Canada for sales exceeding 80,000 copies. Siberia (2011) and Little Machines (2014) were both certified gold, each surpassing 40,000 in sales. Skin & Earth (2017) and Pep (2022) continued her commercial and critical success, leading to her most recent album, A6 (2025). She has also released numerous EPs, including acoustic versions of her albums and instrumental works. Her accolades include multiple Juno Awards and Canadian Independent Music Awards.

Lights has released six studio albums. Her debut album, The Listening, was released in 2009 and was certified platinum in Canada. Her second album, Siberia, was released in 2011 and was also certified gold in Canada. Her third and fourth albums, Little Machines and Skin & Earth, were released in 2014 and 2017 respectively. Her fifth studio album, Pep, was released in 2022, and her newest record, A6, was released on May 2, 2025.

• The Listening (2009)
• Siberia (2011)
• Little Machines (2014)
• Skin & Earth (2017)
• Pep (2022)
• A6 (2025)

Lights has earned multiple Juno Awards and Canadian Independent Music Awards. She won the Juno Award for New Artist of the Year in 2009. Her third album, Little Machines, won the Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year. Her fourth album, Skin & Earth, also won the Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year in 2018. Her album Siberia was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Pop Album of the Year.

• Juno Award for New Artist of the Year (2009)
• Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year for Little Machines (2015)
• Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year for Skin & Earth (2018)
• Multiple Canadian Independent Music Award wins
• Platinum certification for The Listening (CRIA)
• Gold certifications for Siberia and Little Machines (CRIA)

Questions about Lights

What is Lights's real name?

Lights was born Valerie Anne Poxleitner. After marrying musician Beau Bokan in 2012, she added his surname, and her full name is now Valerie Anne Poxleitner-Bokan. She adopted the stage name 'Lights', a nickname derived from her original surname, when she began her professional music career in Toronto. She legally changed her name to secure the use of the moniker despite a pre-existing band also named Lights.

How many Juno Awards has Lights won?

Lights has won three Juno Awards. Her first was the Juno Award for New Artist of the Year in 2009 following the success of her debut album, The Listening. She later won the Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year in 2015 for her third album, Little Machines, and again in 2018 for her fourth album, Skin & Earth. These awards highlight her sustained success and critical acclaim within the Canadian music industry.

Has Lights collaborated with other well-known artists?

Lights has collaborated with numerous artists across genres. She has been a guest vocalist for bands like Bring Me the Horizon, Silverstein, and Owl City. She has also worked extensively with electronic producers including Deadmau5 on 'Drama Free', Felix Cartal on 'Love Me' and 'Feel Less', and Sleepy Tom on 'Amateurs'. In 2024, she appeared on a track by PVRIS and performed at festivals alongside artists like Billy Talent and Silverstein.

Did Lights write a comic book?

Yes, Lights wrote and illustrated a six volume graphic novel series titled Skin&Earth. This comic book series was released monthly in 2017 alongside her fourth studio album of the same name, with each issue corresponding to a specific song on the album. The project was an integrated multimedia release where new music accompanied each comic edition. She later expanded this narrative universe by publishing a related graphic novel side story called The Clinic in 2022. This creative endeavour showed her talents beyond music as both a writer and visual artist.

What was Lights's first major hit song?

Lights's first major hit song was 'Drive My Soul', which rose to number 18 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart in early 2008. This track was a key single from her self titled EP and helped establish her early career momentum. Another significant early single was 'February Air', which gained widespread exposure after being featured in a series of television commercials for Old Navy in 2008. The commercial placement of 'February Air' was instrumental in building her initial national audience and driving sales of her debut EP, which ultimately led to the release of her full length album The Listening.

When did Lights release her album A6?

Lights released her sixth studio album, A6, on May 2, 2025. The album was preceded by the single 'Damage' in September 2024 and the single 'Alive Again' in February 2025, with the latter becoming her first track to chart on Canada's Modern Rock charts. In advance of the album's release, interactive music videos for the singles 'Surface Tension' and 'White Paper Palm Trees' were put out on April 4, 2025. Following the original release, she issued an extended version of the album titled A6EXTENDED, which included eight new songs, on January 30, 2026.

Sources and further reading

• Lights (Wikipedia)
• LIGHTS on Mushrooms and Music and Living Life to the ... (cshf.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-01.