About Lights

There are at least six artists operating under the name Lights: [1] Canadian singer-songwriter Lights Poxleitner [2] An audio/visual project and avant-folk four-piece from Brooklyn, NY [3] Early 2000's British Rock band [4] North London Indie Band Lights [5] Lights from Massachusetts [6] Solo artist from York, UK [1] Lights (born Valerie Anne Poxleitner on 11 April 1987 who later changed her name legally to Lights Valerie Poxleitner), is a Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is best known for her heavily synthesized dream pop music. Her song "Drive My Soul" peaked at #18 in the Canadian Hot 100 in 2008. Her next single, "February Air", was released on 9 December 2008 and the video for that song was put on the web on 12 December 2008. In 2009, Lights released her third single to radio called "Ice" with a self-made video released via her MySpace. Lights won Indie awards in the Favourite Solo Artist and Favourite Single categories during Canadian Music Week in March 2009 at Toronto, Ontario. She won the Best New Artist awards in the Hot AC and CHR categories. All awards were for her debut single Drive My Soul, except the award for Favourite Solo Artist. She won best new artist at the 2009 Juno Awards. Three singles from Lights' 2009 album "The Listening", have since been released: "Saviour", "Ice", "The Listening" and "Second Go". [2] LIGHTS is an avant-folk four-piece from Brooklyn that draws heavily on the 70ies psych-rock, funk and disco-pop traditions blending it with ethereal vocal arrangements/harmonies and a more contemporary drone input. The band is compromised of Sophia Knapp (words, gtr, vox), Linnea Vedder (drums, vox), Andy MacLead (bass, formerly of WHITE MAGIC) and Wizard Smoke (light show, visuals). Their self-titled debut was recorded by Greg Weeks (ESPERS) at the Hexham Head Studio and released through Language Of Stone (World) and Twisted Nerve (UK) to some critical acclaim. The band is known for their highly visually enhanced live shows. Their second album "Rites" is scheduled for July 21st 2009 on Drag City. [3] Not much is known about Lights. They released and got radio play with the single "Doom" in 2000 followed by some other releases including EPs and at least one album. Sound possibly described as Post-Grunge/ Stoner rock [4] The band formed at the start of 2007 when the songwriting partnership of Courtenay Purcell (piano) and Andrew James (vocals) met two students, Dan Lea (bass) and Ben Walker (guitar), roping in the prodigious talents of Dom Clare on drums. With a blend of influences ranging from modern alternative music through to jazz and classical, and aided by a wealth of ideas for all sides of the band, Lights quickly engaged upon an intensive rehearsal regime which has seen the band write some 30 songs in six months. They can be found online at lights.mu [5] Lights was also a great indie rock band from Massachusetts. They released a self titled ep and an album called get lit. It could be argued that they were a major influence in the small indie scene in the sub-urbs of Massachusetts.They had a very unique style blending elements of surf rock sporadic riffs and blasts of distortion. They are currently recording every song they have ever played. Keep an eye out for matty J. (one of the guitarist for lights) as he will continue to release more material under his name. Find them at lightslightslights.net [6] Young acoustic artist Ben Leftwich, formerly of York based indie band The Nicoles has now been gigging around York and the surrounding area since early 2007, attracting major label interest with "the sort of voice, delivery and material that tiptoes in to your soul, makes a big old comfy featherbed and refuses to leave" (York Fibbers). Find him at myspace.com/lightsyork