Photos by Sharon Steele – Lights is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and visual artist celebrated for her genre-blending sound that fuses electropop, alternative, and synth-driven pop rock. Born Valerie Anne Poxleitner in Timmins, Ontario, she spent much of her early life traveling the world with her missionary family before settling in Ontario. She began writing and recording music as a teen, eventually moving to Toronto to pursue music full-time, adopting the moniker “Lights,” and writing for both TV and major music publishers.
Her debut album The Listening (2009) launched her into Canada’s music spotlight, earning her a Juno Award and a devoted fanbase. Since then, Lights has released several acclaimed albums including the darker, more experimental Siberia (2011), the bright, anthemic Little Machines (2014), and the ambitious concept album Skin & Earth (2017), which she also adapted into a graphic novel series. Most recently, she released Pep (2022) and A6 (2025), with the single “Alive Again” marking her first appearance on Canadian modern rock charts.
In addition to her music, Lights is a published comic book author and illustrator, seamlessly blending visual storytelling with her musical projects. She is also an outspoken voice on identity, creativity, and mental health, having come out as bisexual in 2017 and openly sharing her personal evolution, including her shift away from organized religion. Lights continues to shape modern pop and alternative music, constantly reinventing her sound and her story.
KING MALA
