An Interview with Lily Frost

BuzzSlayers
50 minutes ago
5 min read

A new single release from Lily Frost has a particular way of bringing out a vintage soundscape with acoustic guitars, tremolo-affected electric guitars, live percussion, and gorgeous, lush vocal approaches that all contribute to this sort of 70s, almost Celtic-driven classic rock feel.

The single comes through with such a beautifully cinematic tonality that it's impossible to turn away from. Layers of texturally enticing tones mesh into each other and formulate this atmosphere that again, feels classic, vintage, and has a roots undertone to it that brings out a slightly rustic aesthetic.

You also get this kind of old western vibe from it. It sounds almost like something that could have been in the soundtrack to a classic Western film, and I did that too because there's so much vastness in the underbelly of the track that it pulls you in.

Part of this comes from ringing bells that hit during certain parts of the chorus, giving that classic Spaghetti Western showdown vibe.

This is a track that has a way of engulfing you, and part of that has to do with the depth of it all. There's a lot to soak in, and Lily certainly doesn't hold back vocally. She gives the right aesthetic to her vocal performance that lines up perfectly with the feel of the track itself, and I found that astounding simply because she can adapt her characteristics vocally to match the soundscape of the song and what it's going for.

She's got some outstanding vocal harmonies here and there, but they're peppered throughout the track. None of this is really overdone. None of it is overwhelming. It is all done with a tasteful approach, and there's a certain elegance to the performance as well.

One of the most driving aspects of this track, aside from those guitars and vocals, is the percussion. The percussion is not heavy-handed, but there are all kinds of great acoustic, almost bongo-sounding, hand-performed percussion elements throughout the song, and this also adds to the semi-psychedelic and classic feel that the track portrays.

This was wild. It had such a great way of bringing out a particular soundscape and doing it perfectly.

There are certain moments of higher intensity throughout the song, and by the time you get halfway through, everything is in full swing and you are surrounded by these beautiful layers.

The track is titled "Nightbird (Lilith)". The premise of the track is amazing. It feels and sounds like a track that is based around a historical person and how she overcame struggles to free herself.

The picture painted is quite vivid. I'm not giving everything away because you have to listen to the song to really soak it all in, but it's really a deepening storyline if you listen closely.

What stands out most is this almost vivacious energy throughout the song that again brings waves of intensity with it, and memorable chunks of melody and storyline that sort of stick around in your brain for hours after the song has ended.

This was beautifully put together and incredibly well woven, produced with a lot of attention to detail to the tones of those instruments, especially the guitars.

It's been a while since I've heard a song that sort of swallows you up the way this one does. It brings together a lot of those classic and vintage tones, but also feels current at the same time.

You can feel some emotional pull here and there throughout it, which was also impressive, and the sort of psychedelic folk undertones are strong.

This was a beautiful track from start to finish, and I suggest you listen to it with headphones on so you can really soak in all the layers that it gives off.

If you do it this way, you'll end up swimming through the song, and it's quite a great experience.

Lily has been at it for quite some time, dropping albums since early 2001, a lot of which you can hear on her website or Bandcamp.

There is an album released before this single, called Decompression, from 2022, and this is also a unique approach to blending gorgeous instrumentation with an almost garage rock underbelly, bringing things to a sort of retro-psych place.

It's all very cool, and if you dig this track, you'll absolutely love that record, among others.

With the release of this single, we absolutely had to talk with Lily about where it came from, how it came to be, and what may be coming up next for the artist.

Here's what happened.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about "Nightbird (Lilith) "! This song had a vintage and psychedelic tonality to it with tremolo guitars and smooth alluring vocals! Where did this track come from?

Thanks! I did it with an old friend Jason at his home studio. We went for "scrappy pagan" vibes. J and I share tastes for retro and want to bring Celtic rock and mythology together in a raw way. We played it all ourselves (J played lots of stuff on it) with Mitch Willer who also cowrote with me on this one.

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Overall is different from what I'm envision h for this album. If I gave away my secrets, you wouldn't be mystified.

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

It could be either and some variables would determine that outcome. We will continue this way and I have a dream which would require funding which I will apply for but if that doesn't come, we won't stop.

Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as an artist?

I'm a nutshell- I left home and fell into a band of French mod musicians in Montreal. They took me under their wing and got me out of my shell and up on stage. Putting my poems to music and the heightened experience of performance had me turn away from University to hit the road and I never turned back.

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now?

I took a long break but am starting to crawl out of my hole

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you?

Are we talking about reality or dreams?

Create a full body of work that represents the ancient wisdom and folklore of pre Roman (Constantine) times.

Buzz Slayers: You began as a poet correct? When did that turn into music? Was there a sort of transformation that happened?

Yes, I added melody

Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?

Snatam Kaur-I love Indian chanting. It's beautiful, peaceful and grounding.

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

I don't think that way. But I promise to stay true to my vision

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?