Lily Lane – Queen of Hearts

By starrymag | October 3, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I would describe my sound as Motown infused pop with a dark modern twist. Going to be honest, I stole part of that description from a piece that was just written about me. [laughs] I just think they captured it perfectly!

Q) Who are some of your musical influences? 

A) I’m huuuugely influenced by Motown era musicians like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, etc. I’ve always wanted to be in a Ronette’s-esque girl group, but I think I’m too tall – if anyone knows any 6’ foot tall girls who want to be in a supergroup with me let me know, I am available. More modern influences include Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Mariah Carey, Jhene Aiko and Dua Lipa.

Q) Your older brother is a musician in the duo Sofi Tukker. What advice did he offer you that you took to heart before you started your own musical journey? 

A) Even though Tucker is my older brother, I actually started in the industry before him as I went into music right after high school and he went to college and focused on basketball, so he never had any musical advice for me BEFORE I started my musical journey. My first EP Nothin’ But Trouble came out in 2014 and his first song came out in 2016; however, more recently as he has achieved a lot of success he has reached out and given me advice. When we talked recently, the advice he had was simply keep making music I love, that I’m proud of, that is authentic to me and don’t get tripped up by what the latest trends are. Your listeners and people will find you.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Bad.” 

A) The day I wrote this song was my first ever session with Taylor Sparks, one of my friends and favorite producers. I was feeling frustrated over the leaked SCOTUS draft overturning Roe v Wade, I was on my period, I was emotional, I walked into this first session with Taylor, eyes puffy from crying. I looked a mess and to introduce myself to this producer I admire I said, “Sorry I look like this. Usually, I’m a baddie but today I’m just bad,” and that became the tag for this song. It’s simply about someone catching you on a bad day and you giving into the badness and saying, “I’m a human. I have feelings right now. I’m bad. So, if you can’t handle it maybe you shouldn’t be here right now because I’m leaning in.” I love this song. It is the song out of my whole discography I listen to most – and I am not one of those people who doesn’t listen to her own music. I am my own audience. I make music I like.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to? 

A) I think the song is just a banger. It makes you feel powerful and sexy at your best or your worst. It is a screaming in your room on a bad day while crying and also a blasting in the car with all of your friends on a playlist with “Since U Been Gone” on a good day kind of song. I think the song makes everyone who hears it feel powerful (Thank you Taylor Sparks, my amazing producer on this one. I think his production is a huge part of that.) and that is what they connect to. Also, the video is probably the coolest visual I’ve ever made so that helps, too. (Thank you Marti Hoyos the unbelievably talented director of the “Bad” video!).

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it? 

A) The video was directed by one of my close friends Marti Hoyos. He and Drew, the project manager for my EP, were the first two people I played the song to, and we all just freaked out together on their living room couch. He had a vision for it, and I trusted him because I love his eye and I think he brought a new story and concept to the song that took it there. He pushed the envelope with it – that’s the kind of thing I’m looking for in creatives I work with. I had so much fun going there and getting dirty, ugly and bad. I think it shows my baddie side and my absolute mess side and that’s what the song is about. You can be both. It’s okay not to be okay. it’s okay to be bad.

Q) Your music has been featured on “Pretty Little Liars” and on the Netflix network. What does this accomplishment mean to you? 

A) These accomplishments mean a lot to me because having a career in music isn’t black and white, especially as an independent artist. There aren’t people giving you gold stars. There are no set steps in moving up the corporate ladder as an independent musician, no performance reviews with your manager every quarter – so victories like this, accomplishments where a big company I love or show I watch or admire uses my music it feels like a sign that I’m on the right path. As a lover of “Pretty Little Liars,” I read the book when I was younger and followed the show before my song even got synced. It was a surreal, pinch-me moment. I was honored that they felt my art helped them tell a story that is so much bigger than me.  Plus, TV or Film placements help me reach a whole new audience of people who watch that Network or that Program and oftentimes it pays much better than streaming services or concerts do.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

A) I don’t need music before I can create lyrics because I feel like there is constantly music playing in my head. I can be doing anything, and melodies and phrases will be dancing in my head, and I’ll have to pull over or stop my conversation and run to the side and record a voice memo on my phone of what is happening. A lot of those memos and little ideas or hooks or melodies have turned into the music I have out today.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

A) It depends on the song but some songs like “Look at Me Now.” I produced myself so I had as much of a hand as someone can possibly have in it. On other songs like “Bad,” the majority of the production vision was executed by Taylor Sparks after we talked about what we wanted for it, though I was there with him screaming “YESSSS!!!!! THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!” the whole time.

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future? 

A) My EP Queen of Hearts is available now! It is seven songs (five completely new to my audience) and I can’t wait to hear what they have to say. I think it’s my best body of work so far.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

A) NYC is probably my favorite place to perform. It is where I consider my home and where I grew into myself the most and where most of my fanbase is so those shows are always my loudest, most emotional and most electric. Some of my favorite venues there are Webster Hall, Irving Plaza and Rockwood Music Hall!

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future? 

A) Bruno Mars is one of my biggest inspirations would love to do a song with him, and my number one dream to work with is Mark Ronson. I would be happy to just be a fly on the wall while he creates magic. I’m a huge fan of Sam Smith. I would love to do a song with him or Demi Lovato or Miley Cyrus – someone I could really just wail with. I’m really inspired by big voices and think it would be so fun to just pop off with one of them on the ad libs.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans? 

A) I think it is the most amazing tool, a direct line straight from me to them. I get to know them in practical ways that help with my artistry, learning what songs connect with them most, what they want me to put on the set list at certain shows and I also get to know them in ways that help my soul, getting to cheer them on too, see pictures of their dogs and see the tiny part my music has played in their life.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work? 

A) Thank you for staying with me and waiting so long for this sophomore EP. I know I’ve put out a lot of singles, but as an independent artist it is really difficult to put together and promote and do justice to a full project – financially, timing, finding the right people, not just rushing to put things out so you don’t get forgotten. I really think this project is worth the wait and I can’t wait to get on social media and hear what you have to say about it, do shows and get to sing it with you – there is so much to look forward to! Thank you for sticking around, I love you!