7.13.09 – On a day off of the 2009 Van’s Warped Tour, Canadian singer/songwriter LIGHTS talks about her experiences in the music world.

How’s your first half of Warped Tour been?

It’s been great; we’re about half-way through. It’s been incredible, it has totally exceeded my expectations. I didn’t really know what to expect, but people come out knowing the words and coming to the booth wanting to talk, it’s really cool.

What sets do you like to watch on the tour?

I found out about this really great band, Innerpartysystem. They are fantastic. I also love watching UnderOATH, and Less Than Jake. I’ve been a big fan of them for years.  There’s a couple bands, we kind of started our MySpaces at the same time and just really developed and had not met until Warped Tour. We’d encourage each other via comments and messages and everything and now we get to finally get to hang out! That’s Breathe Carolina, the Millionaires, and I Set My Friends On Fire. It’s a very small build, but we finally get to hang out. It’s cool seeing them everyday.

Being from Canada, what is your view on the United States?

It’s definitely different. In Canada, I put a lot a time into doing a lot of shows, and getting my music out there. It’s on the radio and everything, so when I come to the States, it’s like starting all over again, which is great because I’m a lot better at what I do, now.  People here are getting a better first impression of me than Canada did (laughs). Coming down to the States after last fall, it’s starting to get normal. The people aren’t really different, but there’s just a lot more of them.

What are your fall plans for after Warped Tour?

In August, I’m going do a bunch of festivals and I’m going to be finishing a comic I’m working on with Tom Coker from Marvel Comics. We’re making little episodes and I’ll be finishing that up. The record comes out in September and we’ll be starting up a tour after it comes out in September, October, November and December.

What would you be doing if you were not involved with music?

I would be an astronaut working for NASA or a comic artist or video game designer! Do something to get lost in an entirely different world and not have to stay on planet Earth. Not that I hate planet Earth, but other worlds are also cool.

What has been the biggest challenge for you as a musician?

It’s more of a series of challenges than a single challenge. One of the biggest things I’ve learned over the course of my career is how to make wise decisions based on what’s going to be best for the music and not what’s going to bring you to success.

Do you have anything to add or say to your fans?

Um, I don’t know. One cool thing is that I just legally changed my name to LIGHTS. People always ask, “Is that your real name? What’s your real name?” And it is! It’s my real first name!

Interview conducted by Ali Carcache, photo by Dirk Mai