Written by: Jen Dan
Globetrotting Welsh/Irish folk-pop singer-songwriter Lily Lambert is set to release Moving On, the last of a trilogy of albums, July 1st. Her engaging music has ranged from piano-pop, to rock, country, and alt-folk and is always graced by her sweetly clarion vocals and thoughtful lyrics. While Moving On signifies the ending of one chapter of her life, Lambert is already at work on the next page. Find out more about Lambert’s musical background, details about Moving On, and her future plans below:
Stereo Embers Magazine: Hello Lily! It’s so good to touch base with you about your upcoming 3rd album, Moving On, which will appear on July1st. What are preparations surrounding its release like? Are you filled with nervous, but excited anticipation?
Lily Lambert: Hi, thanks for having me! Yes, I’m definitely very excited about the Moving On release. I finished the album a couple of months ago now and I really can’t wait to share it with people. Preparations involve a lot of mailing out of copies to press and radio stations, etc… and making sure everything’s ready to go on the big day. Of course, there’s always that fear that people won’t like it and it won’t be well received, but I’m an optimistic person so I’m hopeful everyone will love it!
SEM: Moving On is meant to be the end of your ‘trilogy’ of albums. How do the themes and sounds of this album fit into the triptych structure?
LL: It was more a stylistic trilogy than thematic. The second album, So Far, had a more rock, full-band sound than Life of Lily, the first album, and this one, as they have a lighter, largely piano-pop feel. So Moving On bookends nicely to make a complete sounding, and feeling, work across all three albums.
SEM: Please tell me that you’re not finished with music after this album! I’m assuming that you will begin again, but in a new lyrical and sonic direction.
LL: No, I’m definitely not finished making music. In fact I’m already working on new music. I think artists are always working on new things, and learning new things to bring into their music. That’s what makes the music progress in style and sound. I plan to try to bring some new influences into my next works to keep them fresh and make sure my fans don’t get bored!
SEM: Is piano the first instrument you learned to play? What drew you to the piano?
LL: Yes I started on piano, although I’ve played pretty much everything over the years. But piano is the instrument I’m naturally drawn to and when I’m working on music, it’s the piano keyboard that I envision in my head to work out chord progressions, melodies, and harmonies. I don’t know why I’m most comfortable with the piano; perhaps just because I’ve been playing it since I was very young, so it’s always been a part of my life.
SEM: You have such a light and lovely – and vibrant – voice. When did you realize you wanted to become a singer-songwriter? Why did you choose to create music in the folk-pop mold as opposed to another genre?
LL: Thank you. I’ve always loved music, and wanted to be involved in it in whatever way possible. I worked in Musical Theatre in New York for many years, but then just naturally started writing my own material and wanted to record and perform it. I don’t know why I fell into folk-pop; it just seems to be how the songs I write form. It was never a conscious choice; it’s just what comes out of me.
SEM: You were born in England, are part-Irish and part-Welsh, and you lived in New York City for a time, performing in musicals and off-Broadway productions. What view do you have of the musical world after traveling and living internationally?
LL: I just think that there’s a type of music for everyone. I don’t think there would be a person anywhere in the world who didn’t like music as a whole. Maybe they don’t like what’s played on the radio, or certain types of music, but there will be a type somewhere, however obscure, that they like. And that’s great for artists too because, even if your music isn’t mainstream, there will be some fans out there for you somewhere; you just have to find them. And it’s great to be able to mesh all kinds of different musical styles together; it’s amazing how many different genres and styles are out there to draw from and learn from.
SEM: What did you take away from your stint in NYC? Where are you located now?
LL: I have an immense love for musical theatre, but it’s a tough world. New York definitely taught me how to take rejection! But it also taught me persistence and hard work, which are invaluable traits to have, especially in the entertainment industry. I’m now based in Arizona, but travel a lot to New York and LA, amongst other places. I just prefer the slightly more relaxed pace of life these days!
SEM: You have received critical accolades and won various awards for your music, including an IMEA award for Folk Artist of the Year in 2015, the Akademia Award for Best Singer-Songwriter Album, and a Bronze Medal for Best Album at the Global Music Awards. How does this recognition and reward affect your outlook and songwriting?
LL: It’s definitely a confidence boost to have your work recognized. For every person who likes your work, there’s always going to be people who don’t, and it’s easy to get bogged down by the negatives. So it’s great to be recognized and have a reminder once in a while that you’re on the right track. And there are so many talented artists out there; it’s such a honour to be put on the same field and level as them.
SEM: The official music video for “Miss You” was screened at the NYC Independent Film Festival last year. Did you attend the event and screening? If so, what was the experience like?
LL: I actually couldn’t attend the NYCIFF last year. The same weekend that “Miss You” was screening there, it was also screening at a festival in LA and I had to attend that one. It’s a shame; I always like to attend every festival or awards event that have been gracious enough to recognize and show my work. Unfortunately, I can only be in one place at a time.
SEM: Based on the Blog on your official site, it looks like you have a lot of insider knowledge about the business side of being an artist. Is this a ‘live and learn’ process for you as you chart the course of your career or did you read a ton of books about the subject (and/or research all the info online)?
LL: I actually graduated from Law School in the UK with Honours and a specialty in Entertainment Law, so I have a pretty solid background. Although the industry and laws are constantly changing as they try to catch up with the new internet-based world, so I am constantly reading and studying to be able to keep up with it. Things change so quickly and it’s easy to get left behind!
SEM: Oh my goodness, I just looked at your Facebook page and saw that your super-cute dog, Bisto, is the center of attention when you’re not promoting your music! What kind of dog is Bisto and has (s)he been with you through thick and thin?
LL: Yes, some days I think Bisto has more fans than I do! She’s an 8-year-old West Highland White Terrier. She’s my service dog and helps me with some things I can’t do myself due to an injury, and she’s basically my right hand. She puts up with being dragged all around the world with me and is so good about it.
SEM: What do you have planned for the next few months in support of Moving On? Will you be playing any shows or shooting any videos?
LL: At the moment I’m working on getting a music video together for the lead track on the album, “I Forgive You”, and hopefully one other at the same time. It’s early days on that project, but I’m hoping to move fast with it and be able to share it with everyone soon!
Read more about Lily Lambert here:
