Lights - A6
- Samuel Stevens
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
On A6, her sixth studio album, out May 2, 2025, via Virgin Music, Canadian electro-pop visionary Lights delivers a stunning, deeply personal collection of songs that traverse grief, joy, self-discovery, and transformation. Entirely self-written and self-produced from her home in British Columbia—with Berlin’s brooding textures and vibrant nightlife as a key muse—A6 is a bold sonic diary, immersive and intricate, wrapped in synth-laden emotion and tinged with nostalgic warmth.
Opening with a brief yet atmospheric “INTRO,” the album eases listeners into a soundscape that blends Midwest emo sentimentality with lush new wave and shimmering synth-wave. That genre-bending formula bursts wide open with “DAMAGE,” a pulsating track that embodies the album’s emotional gravity and Lights’ knack for crafting hooks that linger long after the song ends.
Anchored by previously released singles like “ALIVE AGAIN” and “WHITE PAPER PALM TREES,” A6 finds Lights experimenting while staying true to her core artistry. “ALIVE AGAIN” is a standout—a frenetic, cathartic anthem that pairs a catchy new wave melody with soul-searching lyrics about hitting rock bottom and finding clarity in the chaos. Lights' voice soars above the synths, at once vulnerable and defiant, while the accompanying horror-themed music video adds layers of symbolic weight and creative flair.
On “WHITE PAPER PALM TREES,” Lights leans into her earlier sounds, evoking the airy intimacy of her Siberia and Little Machines eras, but with matured songwriting and richer production. There's also a nod to her fan favourite song, "February Air," on the track. It’s paired with the shadowy “SURFACE TENSION,” one of the most compelling risks on the record. Here, Lights embraces darkwave aesthetics, delivering a hypnotic track complete with German lyrics and icy synth textures—a sonic nod to Berlin’s influence on her.
There’s no shortage of emotional nuance throughout the entire thirteen-track album. “YOU’RE KILLING ME” grapples with emotional exhaustion in relationships over delicate guitar plucks and spacey pads, while “CLINGY” flips that vulnerability into a cheeky, self-aware bop with infectious pop-rock energy driven by a gritty electric guitar, before a pulsing bass line comes into the mix.
Tracks like “TAKE IT EASY” and “DRINKS ON THE COAST” provide more breathing room, shimmering with a dream-pop sheen that feels like golden-hour introspection. Meanwhile, “THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR” and “PIRANHA” bite harder, laced with tension, grit, and Lights' ever-sharp lyricism—demonstrating her ability to shift moods and tones while maintaining a coherent sonic identity.
The album’s closing track, “DAY TWO,” is a masterstroke—gentle yet emotionally dense. It’s a piercingly poetic end to an album that feels like a long walk through the internal wilderness: painful, beautiful, and transformative.
What truly sets A6 apart is how alive it feels—every track pulsing with emotion, curiosity, and creative daring. Lights doesn’t just write songs; she builds worlds. Her visual and sonic storytelling, exemplified through dual music video releases and self-directed visuals, continues to push the envelope of what pop music can be when in the hands of a fearless artist.
A6 is a luminous, genre-fluid triumph—equal parts nostalgic and forward-thinking, vulnerable and empowered. It showcases Lights at her most introspective and most inventive, proving once again why she remains one of Canada’s most compelling and consistent alt-pop auteurs. Whether you’ve been there since The Listening or you’re discovering her now, A6 is a must-listen—an emotional, neon-lit ride through the heart and mind of a true artist.
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