Musical beginnings

2006–07: Musical beginnings[edit]

Lights started her career being a writer for Sony/ATV Music Publishing.[8] Lights was among the songwriters who composed music for the television series Instant Star.[9] She and Luke McMaster are credited with composing "Perfect", sung in the role of Jude Harrison on the show by Alexz Johnson.

In late 2006, she worked with Canadian photographer Marc Lostracco[10] to film her very first music video, "February Air", for a Sony promotion. However, Sony never confirmed with the deal, and it never happened.[11]

In 2007 she was discovered by Jian Ghomeshi who is still her manager.[5]

2008–09: Lights and The Listening[edit]

Starting in early 2008, Lights toured cities in the Great Lakes region, in both Canada and the United States. In late 2008, she toured the United States.[12]

In August 2008, Lights signed a record deal with Underground Operations as well as signing a partnership deal with Warner Bros. along with Doghouse Records.[13] Around the same time, her song "Drive My Soul" got to No.18 in the Canadian Hot 100.[14] After signing with them, her EP was released in stores on September 16. Her second single, "February Air", sold 12,000 copies. In early 2008, "February Air" was in a commercial for Old Navy.[4][15] It was later released in December 2008.

Lights sings in the song and is in the music video for the song "Every Day" by Ten Second Epic from their album Hometown. The song appears on the Big Shiny Tunes 14 compilation album and the music video was nominated for Best Independent Music Video at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards. She is also featured on the soundtrack (songs "Ben" and "Climbing") for the 2008 Canadian film One Week, starring Joshua Jackson. She was a guest vocalist on the album A Shipwreck in the Sand, released in 2009 by post-hardcore band Silverstein from Burlington, Ontario.

In 2009, Lights released her third single to Canadian radio stations called "Ice" with a homemade video released on her MySpace. She also released a second video for "Ice" in Canada on Nov 10, 2009, and in the United States on Nov 11, 2009. On Aug 10, 2009, her music video for "Saviour" was released. In an interview for the musical website Hall-Musique, Lights announced she was hoping to release her debut album in Europe by early 2010.[16]

In March, Lights was named on the American music website Shred News's '10 Artists to Watch in 2010'.[17]

While touring in the summer of 2009 on the Warped Tour, Lights' single "Saviour" premiered on Canadian radio stations on Jul 6, 2009,[18] which is from her first full-length album, The Listening, which was released on September 22 in Canada[19] and October 6 in the United States after leaving her record label Underground Operations, for her own record label, Lights Music Inc. The cover for the album was also released, and according to Lights, the entire artwork was inspired by Watchmen, 28 Days Later, and Sailor Moon.[20]

In September 2009, Lights toured with the British band Keane on their Canadian/Pacific Northwest tour.[16] In late 2009, Lights toured all around the United States and Canada with Stars of Track and Field.

2010–present: Acoustic EP, Siberia, and Siberia Acoustic[edit]

Lights performing at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, May 20, 2010.

She toured from January–May 2010 with contemporary synthpop artist Owl City in Canada, USA and Europe. Lights is featured on Owl City's song "The Yacht Club" on his album All Things Bright and Beautiful which was released on Jun 14, 2011, as well as appearing in the music video for another one of Owl City's songs, "Deer in the Headlights". Plans for future duets are in the works. She was also in the summer 2010 Lilith Fair official lineup.[21] She went on a two week solo UK tour in May 2010 being supported by fellow Canadian artist Rich Aucoin for most of her shows. Additionally, Lights was a special guest for pop-rock band Hedley's The Show Must Go... On The Road Tour, as well as These Kids Wear Crowns.

Lights released an acoustic EP titled Acoustic[22][23] in July 2010. Her first debut for the album was at the University of Waterloo, where she had received most of her inspiration for the

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