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by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

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

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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