by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of lila holler
“Up&Out,” the debut single from Lila Holler, is a fresh entry into the growing field of melancholic music by young artists. Tapping into raw emotions like heartache and the value of friendship, Holler’s lyrics are guaranteed to resonate with listeners no matter what you’re feeling. We were lucky enough to talk to Holler about the feeling of releasing their first song, the process of creating the music video, and their biggest career dreams.
Congratulations on your debut single “Up&Out” and the music video! Can you try to put into words how it feels to officially release your first song?
Lila: “Thank you so much, and gosh I feel like everything I have ever done has been leading up to this release. As a perfectionist I've feared releasing my music for so long, but ‘Up&Out’ felt like a very special song since the moment I wrote it, which is how I knew it had to be my first release. The support I have gotten from the people who have listened has been so lovely, and far beyond what I was expecting. Overall my heart feels full of gratitude.”
How long have you been working on this song?
Lila: “I actually just wrote this song at the start of this summer. It took a few weeks after I wrote it to polish, record, and then send to my lovely producer Jessica Taylor to build the tracks, mix, and master.”
What was the writing/production process like?
Lila: “I wrote ‘Up&Out’ alone in my bedroom, as I do with most of my songs. When I wrote it I had already started working on the EP, and really had no intentions of adding a fourth song. But this one flew right out of me in just a matter of minutes. The structure changed a lot as I was writing, but the words fell into play pretty quickly. I knew it had to go on the EP because when I finished and was looking down at the lyrics I knew every last word was exactly how I felt.”
Are you a fan of any specific artists’ music videos? Did you take inspiration from them or find that in other forms of media (film, TV, literature, etc.)?
Lila: “Yes! The inspiration for the ‘Up&Out’ music video aesthetics was the 2006 Marie Antoinette film directed by Sofia Coppola. My close friend and creative partner Emma Miszewski and I had already had the idea to do a wreck room for the music video, but we knew we had to have some sort of twist. I am really inspired by the Rococo era’s colors, textures, fashion, and architecture. The ‘Up&Out’ music video really was the basis for building a color palette for the EP.”
What was it like to film a music video like this with such an intimate team?
Lila: “It was honestly super efficient. Emma Miszewski who directed the music video is a super close friend of mine, and that definitely aided the process. Emma had a clear understanding of my vision, and is an absolute visionary when it comes to film and music. They are able to organize and plan with amazing attention to detail after studying the references carefully. I really could not have done any of this without them and I will never stop singing their praise! The shoot only took one day to do, as a lot of the preparation was just building the set (which was actually all done in my garage).”
You also announced that your debut EP will be released on August 31st! What can listeners expect from the additional three songs?
Lila: “The additional songs are some of the most personal songs I have ever written. Exploring themes of growing up, codependency, religion, and much more — all three songs are very dear to my heart. There are some really nice consistencies in the production of all four songs that makes it feel like a unified body of work. The final and title track of the EP ‘Worth it Soon’ is what I am most excited for people to hear. It is the most deeply personal thing I have ever written, as the song takes you through lessons from my entire life verse by verse.”
Will there be music videos for these songs?
Lila: “Yes! The first track ‘Intimacy’ has a beautiful music video that was animated by a good friend of mine, Marley Wingfield. She has a very distinct art style that I just adore, and she was able to capture the essence of the song perfectly in her animations. The final track ‘Worth it Soon”’ also has a music video/visualizer coming with it. Lots of home videos and nostalgia that I’m very excited for everyone to relive with me!”
How have opportunities like attending Grammy Camp and winning the National Young Arts Competition prepared you for a career in this industry?
Lila: “I have learned so much from the opportunities I have had so far. With songwriting there is really no better experience than just going out and doing it, but even so what has been most valuable to me is the people I have met. Through Grammy Camp and Young Arts, I have made long term writing partners and friends. There are so many people I have come across that have inspired and changed my music forever. I am so grateful for those opportunities for teaching me how to network with other artists because it has been invaluable.”
Let’s end by thinking big. Where do you see yourself and your music in a few years?
Lila: “My biggest dream is to be a touring musician. The most magical part of all of this for me is the live performances. Connecting to a room full of people through my songs has always been so rewarding, and I truly believe performing is my purpose. In a few years I hope I am able to be recording even more music, and touring for future projects!”