Murray Lightburn

Murray A. Lightburn is a Canadian musician and composer, best known as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for The Dears.[1]

Murray A. Lightburn
Lightburn performing with The Dears in London, July 13, 2007.
Background information
BornMontréal, QC
Genresindie rock
Occupation(s)singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)vocals, guitar
Years active1995–present

Lightburn has been called "the black Morrissey" due to his vocal similarity (and shared penchant for somewhat dark lyrics) to the former The Smiths lead singer.[2] Incidentally, The Dears toured as Morrissey's opening act during Morrissey's solo tour in 2006.[3]

In 2013 he released the solo album Mass: Light.[4] His second solo album, Hear Me Out, was released in 2019.[5]

His album Once Upon a Time in Montreal was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.[6]

As a composer, Murray has produced original music for films including Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story,[7] I Like Movies, and Too Much Sleep. Other credits include scores for TV series Near or Far (to be released in 2024 on CBC Gem), Black Life: Untold Stories, and original soundtrack for We Happy Few including the theme for the Lightbearer DLC.

Discography

Studio albums
  • 2013 - Murray A. Lightburn's MASS:LIGHT
  • 2019 - Hear Me Out
  • 2023 - Once Upon a Time in Montreal

Singles
  • 2018 Belleville Blues

Personal life

In 2005, Lightburn married fellow band member, keyboardist/singer Natalia Yanchak.[8] They have two children named Neptune and Apollo Lightburn. Murray is also a film photography enthusiast.[9]

References
  1. "Murray Lightburn embraces the loneliness". Montreal Gazette, August 16, 2013.
  2. "Beyond Black Morrissey: The Dears hark back to warm and sunny days". National Post, October 2, 2015.
  3. "The Dears Diva-nize Morrissey". Stereogum, October 25, 2006.
  4. "Murray A. Lightburn – MASS: LIGHT". Exclaim!, August 19, 2013.
  5. "Exclaim! | Canada's Authority on Music, Film and Entertainment". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  6. "2023 Polaris Music Prize long list: Feist, Jessie Reyez and more". CBC Music, June 13, 2023.
  7. "Two Canadian documentaries heading to Austin's prestigious film showcase. World premieres of Yuqi Kang's 7 Beats Per Minute and Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee's Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story at SXSW". www.canada.ca. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  8. "Never Destroy Us: An Interview with Natalia Yanchak of the Dears". PopMatters, March 22, 2011.
  9. https://www.flickr.com/photos/masstolight/


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