SPOTLIGHT: Lily Kincade’s Album ‘Cinematic (Deluxe)’ Expands Beautifully
SPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT
☆ BY MILA MATEJCEK ☆
Photo by Shervin Lainez
“I’VE LEARNED TO JUST LISTEN TO MYSELF—because everybody wants to tell you what to do.” Lily Kincade reflects on finding her voice as she releases the expanded version of her album Cinematic (Deluxe) through the addition of four new songs, “People, Places, Things;” “Reverse Psychology;” “Tell Me One Thing;” and “Nothing Left To Break.”
Kincade originally released Cinematic in 2025, pulling aesthetic inspiration from glamorous old Hollywood and black-and-white silent movies. The record is scored by upbeat and introspective songs which navigate a love story as heartfelt as any classic. Songs like “Lesson To Learn” underscore a romantic desire to connect deeply with someone, overshadowed by a fear of being betrayed. The feeling is explored later in the song “Nothing Like Me,” where Kincade’s character becomes defiant in the face of a love connection going sour. Listening to Cinematic (Deluxe) feels like watching a movie where you can’t help but hang on to every word, wondering where the story will take you next.
Kincade’s desire to play with storytelling shines true, creating a space for listeners to sit with the world she has built. She shares she was excited to expand upon her Cinematic universe, but didn’t want to rush things.
“It feels really good [now that it’s out]. This project took such a long time. I think the first single I released for Cinematic was in summer of 2024, which feels like it was just yesterday. But looking back, that was two years ago, which is crazy. The last four songs close off the era. I wasn't trying to rush it, despite everything feeling fast paced nowadays. You feel this pressure to be like, ‘Oh my god, should I do more, more, more?’ It's hard to balance as a creative person, but when it feels right, it feels right.” Still, the pressure is always there.
“It does feel weird when you're ending a project and you haven't started brainstorming what you want to do next. You’ve been investing so much time and energy and brain power, physically and mentally. And then all of a sudden, you're like, ‘Wait, now I don't have that anymore.’ It is weird, but you have to go through it. The pressure is usually one that I have for myself. I've already started. It starts by the time the album's out. It takes so long to make a song. You're making sure every instrument is right, and so is the production. During that process is when I start to be like, ‘Oh my god, what am I gonna do next?’ So by the time it's out, I’m usually working on something else, which is good.”
Pressure seems to come from all sides these days, from people around us to social media, enough so that it can even seep into our subconscious.
“Everybody's going to have a different opinion. I've realized there's no right way [to create]. Things are always changing. Especially with algorithms. So at a certain point, you just have to do what you want to do and what feels right. If I feel like I don't know what I need to do next, I think it's actually a good thing. We have to bring back getting bored again! Because that's how you get creative.”
Kincade’s musical journey began early in childhood, and as she got older, her songs grew with her. Her lyrics are puzzles to her life, helping her piece together her feelings and ideas like a diary. Kincade reflects on the peaceful stillness of youth—a time where it was easy to feel present. The singer confesses that if she has trouble songwriting, that’s when she knows she needs to take a break from her phone. Presence, peace and intention are at the heart of Cinematic.
“When I was growing up, I dreamed of being a musician. When I was a kid, I would think of songs and make up stories all the time because I was bored. I didn't have a phone to scroll on for 10 hours a day. I still try to do that now. I think it's uncomfortable, sure, but I have to let myself get bored in between projects in order to create the next one. That’s key.”
Kincade has been a fully independent artist since the beginning, and she loves the freedom working on her own terms brings. Even though this comes with vulnerability, she shares that spark of fear is good—it means she’s stepping outside of her comfort zone and growing. She shares the most challenging thing about being independent is playing to your strengths, and knowing to not bite off more than you can chew. “As an independent artist, you’ve got to be honest with yourself, know what you're good at. Focus on that, and find other people who are good at opposite things from you.” By building community through teamwork, she knows artists can build each other up.
Creating a soundtrack as beautiful and as expansive as Cinematic (Deluxe) is no easy feat. Lily Kincade’s dedication, inspiration and intention are as clear as her love for what she does.
