WELCOME TO THE A6 ERA: LIGHTS BLAZES A NEW TRAIL WITH HER MOST FEARLESS ALBUM YET

Lights has been a cornerstone of the Canadian music scene for allmost 15 years . Whether you were blasting "Drive My Soul" in your childhood bedroom, crying to "February Air" or dancing like nobody’s watching to "Up We Go", she has been right there, evolving with us, challenging pop’s boundaries and turning vulnerability into art.

As someone who grew up hearing her music on the radio here in Newfoundland (yes, that magical island on the edge of Canada and has finally got to see her live, I’m declaring it now with my whole chest: A6 IS MY FAVOURITE LIGHTS ALBUM EVER!

And that’s saying something, because this woman’s discography is stacked!!

A6: the breakdown (or rather, the glorious expansion of Lights’ soul). 

I gotta say this record is wild. It’s raw, it’s genre-fluid in the best way. A6 is what happens when an artist throws every version of themselves—every shadow, shimmer, scream, and synth—into one body of work and somehow makes it all cohesive. It’s pop. It’s alt. It’s grunge. It’s cyberpunk heartbreak therapy. And it’s unapologetically her.

Here’s a full, track-by-track breakdown of this masterpiece. 

TRACK-BY-TRACK BREAKDOWN

1. INTRO 

A6 doesn’t just start, it warps in. The intro is cinematic and surreal, like the theme song to a futuristic dystopia. It ends with a voice welcoming you into this new world: "Welcome to A6…" And BAM! It slams right into…

2. DAMAGE

Instantly gripping and unapologetically intense, "Damage" hits like a rush of blood to the face. With gritty vocals layered over an aggressive bassline, Lights rips into the theme of self-destruction with surgical precision. It’s high-voltage, high-stakes, an explosive reintroduction to an artist who’s got something to say.

3. ALIVE AGAIN

This is the kind of song that grabs you by the ribs and refuses to let go. It’s raw and euphoric, sonically shimmering but emotionally bruised. She channels that moment of rediscovering your spark after being completely burnt out. The chorus is addictive, soaring and screams for a crowd sing-along. If you’ve ever had a "holysh*t, I’m actually surviving" moment, this one’s for you.

4. SURFACE TENSION

Another absolute gem. Sexy, tense and magnetic, "Surface Tension" is a slow build that simmers and explodes in all the right places. The production is slick, almost slippery with pulsing synths and vocals that feel like they’re crawling under your skin. Lights flexes her lyrical prowess, balancing vulnerability with confidence like a tightrope walker in Doc Martens. 

5. YOU’RE KILLING ME

She said heartbreak, but make it haunting. This track hits different and it’s sarcastic, bitter and a little cheeky. You can hear the eye-roll in her delivery, but there’s pain underneath it all. It’s the emotional equivalent of texting "I’m fine" while crying on the kitchen floor. A total bop, but one that stings.

6. WHITE PAPER PALM TREES

A mid-tempo dream-pop moment that might just be the album’s emotional backbone. Lights weaves nostalgic imagery with gentle melodies and a stunning callback to her breakout song "February Air", a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment that’ll make longtime fans cry in the club. This one feels like watching old home videos while sitting in the wreckage of your last heartbreak. It’s cinematic, vulnerable and totally gorgeous.

7. GHOST GIRL ON FIRST

This song is eerie in the coolest way. It leans hard into alt-pop with a slightly psychedelic twist and the lyrics paint this hazy, ghost-like version of self that’s stuck waiting on the sidelines. There’s a loneliness baked into every note and yet, it’s hypnotic. Like walking through fog and not minding that you can’t see what’s ahead.

8. TAKE IT EASY

A lush, softer track that gives the album room to breathe. It’s warm and comforting and an open letter to your anxious brain saying "chill out, you’re doing your best". It feels like driving at golden hour with the windows down and zero plans. Pure serotonin.

9. DRINKS ON THE COAST

A vibe! It’s nostalgic, effortlessly cool and might just be the most cinematic track on the record. It sounds like making out with someone you’re not supposed to, while the ocean crashes behind you. Bittersweet, sexy and soaked in atmosphere.

10. CLINGY

Another major favourite.

This one is playfully toxic and I love every second of it. The beat is addictively bouncy what about and the lyrics? Iconic! Lights taps into the chaotic, obsessive side of love with a wink and a grin. It’s like sending twelve texts in a row and then pretending you’re totally chill. No notes, just vibes.

11. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR

Haunting and heavy, Lights slows things down for a beautifully vulnerable moment here. It’s all about standing on the edge of letting go, holding onto something that’s not quite dead, but not quite alive either. Her vocals are fragile and piercing in all the right ways.

12. PIRANHA

Sharp, aggressive and unapologetic, this song is giving "don’t mess with me" energy and I’m obsessed. Lights sinks her teeth in and doesn’t let go. A fierce anthem that’s probably already on a few breakup playlists.

13. DAY TWO

The perfect closer: emotional, reflective and quietly hopeful. It sounds like waking up after a storm, you’re not completely okay, but you are still here. It’s a gorgeous goodbye that feels like a soft exhale after all the chaos. A6 doesn’t ends with a bang, but with a bittersweet sense of survival.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I gotta say thay A6 is the sound of Lights stepping into her fullest power as an artist, a storyteller and a as woman who’s unafraid to burn the blueprint and start over. She plays with genres, embraces her contradictions and delivers something that’s not just musically bold, but emotionally essential.

It’s not just an album, it’s a journey. And for someone who has grown up with her music in my ears and finally got to experience her live, this feels like the most authentic version of Lights yet. A6 is a masterpiece and it might just be the album of the year. 

So yeah, with that being said, welcome to A6. I hope you packed your emotions, you’re gonna need ’em!