Lights to Brighten Up The Fonda

Jenny Lester

Fall in, “Lights Army.” Lights is taking stage at The Fonda Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 11. She is touring to promote newest album “Little Machines,” which dropped Sept. 23. Part electronic, part synth, part alternative and all pop, the album isn’t quite like anything you’ve ever heard before. With a background in metal, she is sure to give a memorable performance.

Talk about committing to your art; at 18 years of age, Valerie Anne Poxleitner legally changed her name to “Lights,” a nickname that stemmed from her last name. Lights catapulted to fame at a speed worthy of her acquired nomenclature at 15. She was signed by Sony/ATV and quickly landed a gig writing music for Canadian hit television show “Instant Star.” By 2009, she had released debut album “The Listening,” followed by the experimental and critical sensation, “Siberia,” in 2011. And what followed was a few years of writer’s block.

Convinced she was finished and had nothing more to say, Lights stopped writing songs, stopped performing, and even stopped listening to music. It took a solo seclusionary trip to the New Mexico hinterlands for her to finally find the inspiration she was so desperately seeking. With the birth of her first child and an off-the-grid living situation, Lights slowly started listening to music for pleasure again and eventually produced the album she considers to be her best work yet.

“Little Machines” is nothing if not the product of overwhelming inspiration, and it’s no wonder Lights names Cyndi Lauper among her musical influences of this post-writer’s-block period. The electric ‘80’s vibe of youth-centric “Little Machines” is unmistakable, and has fans across the globe excited to explore their more kid-like selves.

The “Lights Army” started as an internet chat room community and is now a worldwide fan club. You can enlist (at least for one night) at The Fonda, a Los Angeles music venue staple that dates back to the 1920s. Lights, herself, invites you to join the army as she seeks to illuminate a bit of beauty into your life.

Lights will be performing at The Fonda Theatre Nov. 11 as part of her “Little Machines” tour. Tickets are available here.