"Lighter" | ||||
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Single by Nathan Dawe featuring KSI | ||||
from the EP If Heaven Had a Phone Line | ||||
Released | 24 July 2020 | |||
Studio | Milton Keynes, United Kingdom | |||
Genre | House, UK Garage | |||
Length | 3:02 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Nathan Dawe singles chronology | ||||
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KSI singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Lighter" on YouTube | ||||
Acoustic music video | ||||
"Lighter (Acoustic)" on YouTube |
"Lighter" is a song by British DJ and record producer Nathan Dawe featuring British YouTuber and rapper KSI, with vocals from British singer-songwriter Ella Henderson. It was released for digital download and streaming by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group on 24 July 2020 as a standalone single. An upbeat, feel-good house track, its lyrics are about leaving a toxic relationship and feeling happy that the relationship has ended and not carrying a burden.
An accompanying music video was released on 24 July 2020. The light-hearted video stars Dawe and KSI among a cast, playing basketball and football. The group start out completely useless at both sports, though they improve as the video progresses. An acoustic version of "Lighter", which credits Henderson and features a new verse by KSI, was released on 28 August 2020 alongside an accompanying music video.
"Lighter" received positive reviews from music critics, who commonly praised the song's catchiness and KSI's energetic verse, and it was dubbed "one of the hits of the summer". The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and it further charted in eight other countries. "Lighter" was one of the UK's best-selling songs of 2020 and it has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for exceeding sales of 600,000 units in the country. "Lighter" was nominated for the BRIT Award for Song of the Year at the 2021 ceremony.