KathleenLights partners with Essence Makeup
3 years ago
Canada Lights, also known as Valerie Anne Poxleitner-Bokan, is a Juno Award-winning Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter known for her electropop and synth-pop sound, collaborating with various artists and touring internationally.
Interested in booking Lights?
Request A ShowCollaborated on projects.
Collaborated on projects, including the track "Drama Free" (2018) and appearances during his retro5pective tour (2024).
Collaborated on projects.
Presented Lights with the Visionary Award at Billboard Canada Women in Music.
Lights received the Visionary Award Presented by SiriusXM at Billboard Canada Women in Music.
Featured Lights in an article discussing her merging music and comic books with 'Skin & Earth'.
Began her music career writing for this publishing company.
Composed music for the television series 'Instant Star'.
Signed a record deal with this Toronto-based label in August 2008.
Signed an American partnership deal with Warner Bros. and Doghouse Records in August 2008.
Signed an American partnership deal with Doghouse Records and Warner Bros. in August 2008.
Her second single, "February Air," was used in a commercial for Old Navy in early 2008.
Toured with the British band Keane on their Canadian/Pacific Northwest tour in September 2009.
Contributed vocals to their song "Every Day" (2009).
Toured with Owl City in Canada, the United States, and Europe from January to May 2010. Also featured on "The Yacht Club" from Owl City's 2011 album and appeared in his music video for "Deer in the Headlights."
Joined Hedley for the eight-show Ontario leg of their Canadian tour in September 2010.
Began a concert tour with Jeremy Fisher in October 2010.
Appeared as a guest vocalist on the songs "Crucify Me" and "Don't Go" of their 2010 album.
Guest vocalist on their song "Used to be Sweet" (2010).
Signed with Last Gang Records for the release of her second album "Siberia."
Opened some dates for Lights' North American "Siberia Acoustic" tour (2013).
Opened some dates for Lights' North American "Siberia Acoustic" tour (2013).
Josh Dun collaborated on the album tracks "Savage" and "Almost Had Me" from "Skin & Earth" (2017).
Launched the "We Were Here Tour" with Chase Atlantic and DCF in January 2018.
Launched the "We Were Here Tour" with Chase Atlantic and DCF in January 2018.
Joined their fall tour in October 2018 as the supporting act.
Collaborated on the track "Love Me" (2019) and "Feel Less" (2024).
Collaborated on the track "Amateurs" (2019).
Signed to Fueled by Ramen on May 12, 2019, to release "Skin&Earth Acoustic."
Released a remix EP, "Dead End," in collaboration with MYTH (2020).
Released the album "Warehouse Summer" with i_o after his passing (2022).
Appeared on the PVRIS track "The Blob" (2024).
Performed at the Induction Ceremony (2024), honoring Sarah McLachlan.
Honored her at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony by covering her song "Building A Mystery" (2024).
Valerie Anne Poxleitner-Bokan, known professionally as Lights, was born on April 11, 1987, to missionary parents. Her early life involved living in various global locations, including the Philippines, Jamaica, and Chesley, Ontario. She was homeschooled and began writing music early, producing her first song, “Saturn’s Rings,” in 2001 using an eight-track recorder purchased with inheritance money from her grandmother. During high school, Lights played guitar and sang in a metal band called Shovel Face, and she gained an online following through her MySpace page. At 18, she moved to Toronto and officially changed her name to Lights, a nickname derived from her surname, which she felt accurately represented her music’s aim to uplift moods. She started her professional music career writing for Sony/ATV Music Publishing and contributed to the CTV series ‘Instant Star’. Jian Ghomeshi managed her career from 2007 until late 2014.
Lights released her self-titled EP in 2008, featuring the successful single “Drive My Soul,” which reached No. 18 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. Her debut full-length album, “The Listening,” released in 2009, was certified gold in Canada and led to her winning the 2009 Juno Award for New Artist of the Year. She continued to achieve critical and commercial success with subsequent albums such as “Siberia” (2011), which received a Juno Award nomination for Pop Album of the Year and was also certified gold in Canada. Her third album, “Little Machines” (2014), won the Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year, and she followed this with “Skin & Earth” (2017), a concept album that included a companion comic book series she wrote and illustrated, also earning her a Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year. Her career progression includes numerous collaborations, extensive touring across continents, and continued evolution in her musical style.
In recent years, Lights has explored new creative avenues, including releasing an instrumental synthwave album, “How to Sleep When You’re on Fire” (2020), with proceeds benefiting Black Lives Matter Vancouver. She also released music under the pseudonym Lūn, a character from her “Skin & Earth” comic. Her fifth studio album, “Pep,” was released in 2022, followed by a chillwave re-imagining titled “dEd” in 2023. Her sixth record, “A6,” is scheduled for release in May 2025, with singles like “Damage” and “Alive Again” preceding it. “Alive Again” marked her first entry on the Modern Rock charts in Canada. Lights continues to perform and innovate, with interactive music videos and festival appearances maintaining her presence in the music scene. In December 2017, Lights came out as bisexual during an interview with People magazine.
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