by lauren kovolenko
photo by bryce glenn
Lily Williams has the soundtrack to your next coming-of-age novel. With a soothing voice and introspective song process, she wows every time! Read on to learn more about the process of her music as well as where she wants to go from here.
Where did your songwriting influence come from?
Lily: “I've always loved to tell stories. When I was a kid, I loved writing poetry and reading! My mum started me in piano lessons when I was very young, and the first song that I ever wrote was about a close family friend passing away when I was ten. As cliché as it is, I think I always used songwriting as a way to process my feelings and express the things I didn't really know how to say.”
Your music gives major “main character energy.” How do you successfully tell a good story through your music?
Lily: “Thank you! It's funny you say that because I'm definitely not the main character in all of my songs! Some of the songs on the project are 100% autobiographical, whilst others are about my best friend's heartbreaks, or inspired by poems and books that I love. I think telling a good story starts with being passionate about what you have to say. I can't write a song unless I'm excited about a concept or lyrical idea.”
Congratulations on the release of How The Story Ends! How would you describe it?
Lily: “I'd say that this project is one love story told chronologically over the course of ten songs! It begins with a crush and falling in love with your best friend, which is outlined in ‘I Hope You Think of Me.’ The story then evolves into being madly in love and not wanting it to end, which is told through the songs like ‘Rich’ and ‘Let Me Be The One.’ The final songs then take a turn as we see this love story falling apart, in songs such as ‘When All The Love Is Gone’ and ‘Kinda Like The Heartbreak.’”
Who inspires you the most to songwrite?
Lily: “This is such a hard question because there are so many people! However if I had to just pick one person I'd have to say myself!!! At the end of the day, I started writing as a way of processing hard and beautiful things that happened in my life. And I think that even if no one else ever listened to one of my songs again, I would still be songwriting for myself (and for my mum, so maybe it's her!).”
Do you have a favorite song/lyric you’ve written so far? Why?
Lily: “I feel like this changes all the time! In ‘A Little Good Left’ the last line says, ‘If you're still feeling, there's some type of meaning, in these days that number life. And I'm convinced there's still a little good left to find.’ I wrote this song in the middle of a Covid lockdown, I was feeling so hopeless and stuck. This song reminds me that no matter what, there is always a reason to keep going and a little good left to find!”
Are you planning anything else for yourself this year? Touring?
Lily: “I'm so excited about working on my next project! I'm also looking forward to performing more and hopefully at some point doing an opening run for someone on tour!”
Life outside of music is surely different, what does yours look like?
Lily: “I live a little outside of LA, in Huntington Beach! My husband is a worship pastor so we spend a lot of time at church (first ones in, last ones out type of deal) which I honestly love! We have such amazing friends and love hosting people for dinner (where I do none of the cooking aha), going to the beach (all year round), grabbing coffee, and I am obsessed with reading! Being born and raised in London, I love the weather here, so when I'm not working you will probably find me somewhere laying in the sun!”
Is there any advice you would give to young artists up and coming?
Lily: “My main advice would be to keep going! Pursuing a creative career isn't always easy, and honestly there were so many times that I felt like giving up. But I truly believe that if you keep going and keep working hard the right door will open at the right time.”
What’s one milestone you’d like for yourself in the next year? Personal and musical.
Lily: “Musically, I am really trying to get more confident in performing! When I first moved out to LA two years ago, I was set on being a songwriter for others, and so performing has been something that both intimidates and excites me! Personally, I'm running a half marathon in May! So that's definitely a milestone!”