Known for remaking albums with an acoustic version, Lights wows fans again with Skin & Earth Acoustic. The record dropped Friday, featuring new renditions of seven of her tracks from her fourth studio album and it includes three brand new songs.
She’s here
first timer here producing and mixing a whole project but I’m hella proud and *might’ve* put a little too much of me into this one get it wherever you get your music #skinandearthacoustic pic.twitter.com/NozGEv5avn — Lights (@lights) July 12, 2019
The “Love Me” singer, 32, is typically known for her skills on the synth, but fans love it when she reproduces her music with nothing but a guitar and the occasional string section.
Skin & Earth Acoustic is Lights’ fourth album of this style, but she created it in a very different way. Lights produced and mix the album by herself, having recorded each song in unique locations corresponding to their chapters in the accompanying Skin and Earth comics.
Having moved across Canada from Ontario to B.C., the musician recently told Billboard of making the album solo: “Quite often, I found myself tracking in the straight up wilderness. The sheer logistics of bringing a full on recording team out there was out of the question, so I just did it all myself.”
On top of it all, Lights, born Valerie Poxleitner, collaborated with husband Beau Bokan of Blessthefall to create the music videos for the album.
In celebration of her latest creation, here are five acoustic songs by electro-pop star Lights that you won’t want to miss.
1. “Lost Girls”
One of three brand new songs on Skin & Earth Acoustic, “Lost Girls” is a powerful anthem dedicated to women. As Lights mentioned on Instagram, it is dedicated specifically “to every girl told she wasn’t enough. Or she was too much.” With this song, Lights urges women to be proud of who they are, no matter how lost or insecure they feel. The music video for the song – directed and shot by Bokan – features Lights looking fierce as ever in a tight black jumpsuit with two very large swords. Showing off her rough-around-the-edges side, the two-time Juno award winner proves that she is not a force to be reckoned with. To anyone who has ever needed a confidence boost, this is your song.
2. “Meteorites”
In 2016, Lights released her fifth album, Midnight Machines, which is an acoustic version of her 2014 release, Little Machines. Both albums feature “Meteorites,” an inspiring song about wanting something more and going after it. While the original showcases Lights’ songwriting skills, the acoustic re-make takes the song to a deeper level and showcases the singer’s raw vocal skills. The electro version is one you’ll want to dance to, but the slowed-down, guitar version is one you’ll want to put on while drinking a glass of wine when life is bringing you down.
3. “Peace Sign”
In 2013, Lights’ second studio album, Siberia, was followed-up by Siberia Acoustic. Although the song “Peace Sign” appears on both releases, the acoustic version is next-level. Not only is it stripped-down and more intimate, but it also features Montreal-based singer, Coeur de pirate. The two takes turns singing verses, one in English, one in French. Siberia is arguably Lights’ most synth-heavy recording and hearing one it’s best written songs done simply on a guitar shows how artistically diverse she is.
4. “Savage”
Hailing from 2017’s Skin & Earth, Savage is a heavy song about heartbreak and being left all alone. Since the main character of her “Skin & Earth” comic book series, En, is outside in the rain when her boyfriend, Priest, breaks up with her, Lights recorded the acoustic version of this song under an umbrella in the rain. The natural background noises mixed with Lights’ light and airy vocals make for a magical rendition of a dark song. What’s even more impressive is that she managed to maintain the song’s angry vibe while also adding a layer of sadness not in the original.
5. “Saviour”
Last but not least, is fan-favourite “Saviour,” originating from Lights’ 2009 release The Listening. The acoustic version, from her first acoustic album titled Lights Acoustic, is one of the first times fans see the star deviate from her electronic roots. Instead of the pulsating keyboard beats that can be heard in the original, the re-make simply features Lights singing alongside an acoustic guitar. While its no doubt the original is a hit, the lyrics about needing to be saved become much more meaningful when free of the synthesizers and vocal adjustments.
Lights will embark on an acoustic North American tour at the end of the month with dates in Toronto and Vancouver.
July 24 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
July 26 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
July 27 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
July 29 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
July 30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry @ Fillmore
July 31 – New York, NY (Early) @ Bowery Ballroom
July 31 – New York, NY (Late) @ Bowery Ballroom
August 1 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
August 3 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade – Heaven
August 4 – Nashville, TN @ Basement East
August 6 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
August 7 – Austin, TX @ 04 Centre
August 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
August 11- Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
August 13 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
August 15 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
August 16 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue