Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyons (lily Lyons)
Hi LYONS , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
So I grew up in Appalachia, surrounded by a rich storytelling culture, which had a big influence on me becoming a lyricist later. I learned powerful ways to describe what was happening around me and to how *playfully* embellish a narrative for the sake of a good story. Music was also deeply woven into my childhood, starting with singing with my family and later playing violin and piano. In my teens I discovered that I could put together my love of words with my love of music by being a songwriter, and knew that was what I wanted to do. I spent time honing my craft at Berklee College of Music in Boston, then moved to LA and began getting hands-on experience in writing rooms, making pop songs for and with artists. During this early phase of my career, I got signs that encouraged me to keep going, like receiving an honorable mention in the International Songwriting Competition for a cut I did with the band Twisted Pine, and having my writing land on a Spotify editorial playlist for the first time.
In the early 202os one of the artists I was writing with named Shuba went viral on Tiktok and some of the songs I’d done for other artists were picked up by UMG and other labels. With this new traction, I saw it was possible for my ideas and lyrics to be listened to by millions of people and have an impact on a bigger scale. Since then I have written for a #1 charting artist and crossed off other bucket-list things, but ultimately I stay grounded in my love for the process of making music and helping artists express themselves in a way that resonates with their listeners.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nobody chooses songwriting because it’s a smooth road. I actually think I chose it partly because it is endlessly challenging in a way that humbles and fascinates me. Some of those challenges are fun and craft-based but others are more systematic. It’s been important for me to gain strength and confidence in my perspective as a queer woman as I’ve navigated the industry. I’ve found creative ways to be compensated and worked many different music freelance jobs, especially as I was starting out, since it often takes years for royalties to arrive. I’m passionate about advocating for songwriters because the work we do behind the scenes is the pulse of the music industry, but the system that compensates us is outdated and needs to be revolutionized to match our contributions.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a songwriter I’m most known for my lyrics. That’s often the strength that causes people to want to bring me into a room. I really love how writing sessions are a bit like a first date: you sit down and you try to create an honest, warm conversation in a short period of time, so that the artist can walk away with music that feels genuine and intimate. I’m always looking for moments when I can help artists tell stories that I feel haven’t been told as much. Like recently I co-wrote a song called “Snail Mail” with the artist Nikitaa which is about their and my first sapphic teenage crushes. I feel like that song shares a story of queer love and longing in a tender, new way, which makes me proud of it. So I’m always into writing something that goes beyond the common song narratives you see, or finding ways to flip those narratives and make them fresh. I think that’s where I often do my best work and make things that have the chance to impact listeners on a personal level.
What’s next?
So many things! Recently I’ve been getting into writing songs for film & TV and have had my music placed on shows such as The Young and the Restless. I’m looking forward to exploring that space more with my sync collaborators Guido Consoli and Bette Miller. We’re starting an acoustic/singer-songwriter band called the Rhinestone Rattlers, where we’ll be creating more music with visual media specifically in mind.
In terms of working with artists, I’m wrapping up a project with pop princess Lisa Danaë where she is making an EP about the different stages of grief that I think has a beautiful message. I’m so excited to see that release! Other upcoming projects include songs written with collaborators such as Marcus Bell, VARSHAVINN, KV5 Dubai, Zxena, Levi Greenberg, Anthony Quaid + others I’ll have to leave mysterious and build a little suspense around because of NDAs….
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sheislyons.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheislyons/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-lyons
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZXbMAbkwPHqWPY8169e0z?si=1ab78eebddca4b41
Image Credits
Brandon Watts
