Murray Lightburn

Murray A. Lightburn is a composer, musician, performer, music producer, writer and director who believes uncompromisingly in the power of art and music. Co-founder and lead singer for The Montreal based band The Dears he has performed hundreds of concerts globally, including radio (BBC, CBC, KCRW) and has made TV appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, & George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.

In addition to writing and producing 8 highly acclaimed albums of his own, Murray continues to hone his craft while helping other musicians and writers realize their own artistic visions. He has received well over a dozen nominations including the Polaris Music Prize, GAMIQ Awards, Canadian Indie Awards, Juno’s, and CASBY Awards. 

Murray and The Dears have seen their songs placed and have created original songs for notable feature films like 'Zack & Miri Make a Porno' and 'Save the Date' and for TV series 'Gossip Girl' and 'Grey’s Anatomy'. He has also written, directed and produced documentary concert performances such as his own 'Mass;Light', 'Never Destroy Us', and 'The Gospel According to The Dears'. The soundtrack album to Murray's 2022 TIFF hit "I Like Movies" can be found here, and he was recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for his score to 'Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story'.

Now operating out of his own studio, The Bridge; surrounded by the din of Parc Extension, located in her alleyways, Murray focuses on the next stage of his career writing and producing original songs and score for film, television and games.

"Murray Lightburn makes no small gestures. . . Lightburn is deft at tying maudlin lows to the highs of romantic tenacity" - A. V. Club