Atlanta, Georgia, native country breakout star, Lily-Rose unveils her newest EP, “Runnin’ Outta Time”, a deeply personal six-track record that examines who she is. She first rose to prominence with her viral hit “Villain”.
We directly asked her two questions.
Q: What does music making mean to you and what messages do you hope to spread? What’s the power of storytelling in music?
A: We always joke and say “I picked up a guitar to make TikTok videos”. Most of us did music not to pay our mortgages and make music, but for the love of it, and that’s what Nashville is. It’s a blessing that it’s a job, and taking care of your family, and the pressure makes it fun.
Q: The visuals of “Black Pew” are very monochrome and focused. What was the creative process behind the music video and how does it reflect the themes of the song?
A: I think it’s a cliche thing, but Chance the Rapper says he sees songs in colours, and I can relate. With Black Pew, I always saw this yellow, tan, and empty church image. There was this feeling of solitude and being alone. I wanted the sun to come out, and I wanted it to look like it was lighting coming through. That’s how I envisioned the music video.
Rose first downloaded TikTok in 2021, and she thinks she was one of the later people to get on there. But still, TikTok was one of the first places she knew her career was taking off. “I watched my buddies with part-time jobs get record deals. I downloaded TikTok at the end of October, and all my friends had viral songs. Mine hit a million views in 12 hours, and we all knew it was really different and that something big was happening.” But to Lily Rose, the advice she would give to young artists starting in the industry is to immerse themselves in community and creativity with people, even if they don’t live in LA or Nashville while learning how to write songs.
Some people might think the conservative atmosphere of country music isn’t welcoming to openly queer artists, but surprisingly, to Rose, Nashville is very inclusive. “There are misconceptions that country music is closed off to minority groups. You enter a place where it is safe to be yourself, and there are very few people I’ve met who want me to be anything but that. Be you, and be kind to everybody.”
When it comes to Atlanta, her hometown, the place has influenced her musical upbringing quite a bit. She didn’t grow up listening to country music. “Not until I was in high school did I start listening to country music. I listened to hip-hop and the roots of rock and roll. I was grateful I was exposed to some elements growing up. In my music, there are some elements of hip-hop but some are so country. My goal is to write a song that’s the best story to tell.”
To Rose, “Runnin’ Outta Time” encapsulates running out of time in life. “I am 31 and my wife and I have been married for a year and a half, and it feels like I might run out of time. If you’ve seen a live show, we bring a lot of energy to the state, and the end goal is getting a sold-out song to sing these songs to you. It made sense for me as a performer and bringing the energy back to them.”
‘Two Flowers’, Rose cites her name, resembling her wild personality that goes with the flow. “I think I am the life of the party, and it’s not self-proclaimed. I think I’m just a happy person who enjoys life, and being there,” she said. “I do have a little wild side when it comes to that, and to try and get a record or publishing dream is some atypical and uncomfortable. My mom not only knew who I was going to be, but what journey I was going to have.”
Opening up for country music legend Shania Twain during her “Queen of Me” Tour, Lily Rose’s most memorable moment was in those quieter moments, where Twain reminded her that she could do anything, telling her she was genre-less and to walk in the room that felt most natural to her. Now, that is what she is doing.
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Moonbow Magazine 