Q&A: Lily Forte’s ‘Don’t Gild the Lily’ is a Timeless Ode to Rock N’ Roll
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KIMBERLY KAPELA ☆
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BRIDGING ERAS — Singer-songwriter Lily Forte is ushering in a new era of rock n’ roll, blending the raw grit of 70s rock with the sultry energy of vintage jazz and infectious pop hooks. Her debut album, Don’t Gild the Lily, Forte channels the energy and spirit that first inspired her, creating a sound that’s both timeless and her own.
“The philosophy that [rock n’ roll] doesn’t always have to make sense or work, you can still put it in a song and maybe do something a little dissonant that might sound a little weird, but if it feels right for the music, just go for it,” Forte explains.
Forte’s songwriting is deeply rooted in the sounds of the 60s and 70s, yet she keeps her modern flair front and center.
“I really wanted to lean into the 60s and 70s with this project, while still keeping my modern flair, of course, but my heart is in that era of music,” she says. The result is a collection of 11 tracks that feel timeless, bridging decades with soulful vocals, jazzy flourishes, and rock-driven arrangements that nod to the legends who came before her.
Inspiration comes from the universal experiences of love, loss, and the unfiltered energy of rock n’ roll. A multi-instrumentalist and powerhouse vocalist, Forte inherits her eclectic taste from her parents, channeling it into songs that echo the timeless songwriting of Carole King and the soulful depth of Amy Winehouse, with a modern indie-folk twist.
Her artistry extends beyond music. With a love for old Hollywood glamour and bold makeup, Forte brings a cinematic quality to her visuals, enhancing the storytelling already present in her deeply personal lyrics.
With Don’t Gild the Lily, Lily Forte proves that rock n’ roll is continuing to evolve.
LUNA: Welcome back and thank you for talking to Luna again. It's super exciting to have you back since the last time we talked in for your “Miles To Go” single. I would love to catch up and see how life has been treating you and what have you been up to since the last time we talked.
LILY: It's funny that it feels like forever ago, but it really wasn't that long ago. I've been rolling out singles and getting people excited for the album. When I had first started with “Miles To Go,” I don't think I was sure exactly what the other two singles would be. It's cool now looking back to having put out “Out of the Blue” and “The Luckiest,” and now I know what the whole album is as well. I'm really excited.
LUNA: What inspires you to push boundaries within your sound? Are there any specific experiences,
artists, or moments that have encouraged you to explore new musical territories?
LILY: I think just rock n’ roll as a whole, that's what I grew up on. I think the push-and-pull and rock n’ roll music is something that really inspires me. The philosophy that it doesn't always have to make sense or work, you can still put it in a song and maybe do something a little dissonant that might sound a little weird, but if it feels right for the music, just go for it.
LUNA: You just released your debut album Don’t Gild the Lily and huge congratulations! What sparked the initial idea for Don’t Gild the Lily? What themes or feelings felt most urgent for you to explore, and how did those priorities evolve as the songs began to take shape?
LILY: I had started writing this album last January, so it's been a year in the making. I've talked a little bit about this, but when I started writing, I was really happy in my life. I felt that daily life was great. I felt content with the stage of my career, I just felt like I was awaiting my stage and my moment. I started writing songs like “Stardust” and “Loners on the West.” I started talking about just waiting for my time, for people to hear me. I'm super thankful for the support I've had thus far, but I felt like I wanted more people to hear my music. I'm a huge product of what I'm listening to at the time, so I started doing a deep dive on Patsy Cline, and then The Doors and Pink Floyd and all of that. I just was so inspired musically. The songs kept flowing. I really couldn't stop, which was nice because I've experienced long writer's blocks before, but I just kept writing.
LUNA: What did the creative process for Don’t Gild the Lily look like? How did the songs evolve from its initial idea to the final version?
LILY: A lot of my songs start with me sitting at the piano just by myself. Sometimes, I write a lot of songs with my good friend Jamie Gelman. We'll sit at the piano and chat and see what happens. A lot of songs on this album were written in session. I have a great friend named James Kane, and he was the main producer on the album, and I would show up weekly to his garage studio and we would just see what would come from the songs. I think he was super instrumental in making these songs what they are and bringing them to life, rather than just being a song at the piano.
LUNA: Did you take any creative risks or experiment with new approaches on Don’t Gild the Lily compared to Can’t Handle Hollywood? What felt different this time around in how you expressed yourself?
LILY: I definitely would say writing in session was a big deal for me. I hadn't really done that before. I normally, like I said, would write the song before and then bring it into the studio so that allowed for a lot of improvisation. I felt like things would unfold naturally. I think instrumentation-wise, I experimented more. We had two different trumpet players play on this album, which was cool, just to bring the live sound into it. I got more experimental with sounds. I really wanted to lean into the 60s and 70s with this project, while still keeping my modern flair, of course, but my heart is in that era of music.
LUNA: What is your favorite song off Don’t Gild the Lily and why do you love this song? Is there a certain element, lyric or message that you gravitate towards the most?
LILY: It's one of the simpler ones, but I would probably say “Beauty in Everything,” which is the closing track of the album. The message there is finding the beauty in everything. I think it's a daily thing we could all remember to do more. I wrote that song for myself as a reminder because life is tough, it's not easy, but finding the beauty and the small things can help us all get through.
LUNA: How do you hope listeners — especially your femme audience — can connect with or find power in this new era of music from you? What emotions or messages do you want to leave with them?
LILY: I've opened up a lot more in this album, especially lyrically. Especially with songs like “Miles To Go” and finally just speaking your truth. If I just had to choose one thing, speak your truth. Speak up for what's right and don't let anyone else write your story. You can speak up for your truth. I think we all could remember to do that more, including myself.
LUNA: How are you planning on celebrating the album release?
LILY: I definitely have something in the works, so keep an eye out for a performance release party if you're in the Los Angeles area, and then probably some other shows around. I want to figure that out. I have some ideas of where I'd like to go and sing around the U.S.
LUNA: What is fueling your fire right now that’s pushing you into this next chapter in your career?
LILY: I love that. I think the new year has been great. Most of us always set new year's resolutions, and sometimes it's hard to continue on with them, but I'm trying and I've already succeeded with January. I'm trying to read a book each month. We're all so tied up on our phones, especially as an artist, we have to be on social media. I'm trying to promote all my music, but not be so obsessed with the reception of things. I think just stay learning, keep reading, that's really fueling me.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the upcoming year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
LILY: I'm feeling really good. It was a tough year for me the past year, and just writing the album brought up a lot of emotions that I didn't really know were there until I started writing. It's cool to know that those songs are done and they exist for that time of my life. I'm really excited to perform them live, because that also just shows a whole new side to the music that even I don't know what it's like, because when you sing it live, it can totally change. I'm really excited for that.
