The music industry, like life, has a learning curve. Though sometimes it’s too steep for most to get a secure footing, Canadian-born singer songwriter Lights seems to be coming at the challenge with a pickaxe.

“It’s a long process of discovery,” she tells me by phone.

“I want to create new sound and find out what grabs your ear and gets you excited.”

Discovered and currently managed by CBC-celebrity Jian Ghomeshi, the 24-year-old made her presence known with her first album, The Listening, in 2009.

The video for her debut single, Drive My Soul, took fans on a musical journey through outer space. Inspired by science fiction and retro intergalactic movies, Lights focused on bringing it back to earth for her sophomore album.

“The music on my first album was perfect and in its place,” she says.

“The new record turns that on its end and shows the underbelly and the grittiness.”

With Siberia, which dropped back in October, Lights loosened the reigns opening up the studio to collaborations with Toronto-based electronica band Holy F-ck and rapper Shad.

“Once I got the chance to get my ‘perfect’ album out of my system, I wanted to make things sound a little bit raw,” Lights says, recalling her years of making recordings in her basement.

“You get tired of hearing everything so perfect and you want to hear a little life in it again.”

With elements of dubstep and hip-hop mixed with the innocent nature of Lights’ voice, Siberia proves Lights continues to carve her own path.

“After spending time on the road and building confidence with my first album, I’m able to bring out something new and exciting in my craft,” she says.

“Maybe that’ll be something else in the next album.”