Lights (yep, that’s her real stage name) is a Canadian alt-pop powerhouse with a love for synths, storytelling, and all things neon. Born Valerie Anne Poxleitner in Ontario, she’s been crafting catchy, emotionally charged tracks since the late 2000s—think electro-pop with heart and a hint of comic book flair.

She started gaining buzz back in 2008 with her debut EP and the hit “Drive My Soul,” and since then, it’s been a steady glow-up. Her first full album, The Listening (2009), set the tone with dreamy synth layers and introspective lyrics. Then came Siberia (2011), which brought a heavier, edgier vibe (and a gold certification in Canada), followed by Little Machines (2014), which earned her a Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year.

But Lights doesn’t stop at just music—she’s also a visual artist and comic creator. Her 2017 project Skin & Earth was a full-blown concept album paired with a comic series she illustrated herself. Yep, she writes, sings, produces, and draws. Queen behavior.

In 2022, she dropped PEP, full of punchy bangers and bold visuals, and her next album A6 is dropping May 2, 2025. If you’re into artists who do it all—sound, story, visuals—she’s got you covered.

Outside of music, Lights is a proud mom, a self-proclaimed nerd, and a major voice for LGBTQ+ visibility (she came out as bi in 2017). Basically, she’s been building her own world and inviting fans to live in it—with a killer soundtrack.