A Chat with Lily Almond (06.06.26)
Interview with Jay Lowe (guest contributor)
Lily Almond is a Liverpool singer-songwriter who, in only a few years, has released an EP, appeared on Channel 4′s Your Song and supported Brooke Combe. Lily expects to release more music this year.
You’ve been doing lots of gigs lately playing Kazimier Stockroom, On The Dock and Liverpool ONE. Do you find yourself building up a following?
Almond: Yeah, definitely. I think I am trying to plug myself a little bit more when I do the gigs because I have a tendency to do the songs but I won’t introduce myself or say my name once! I’m trying to speak a bit more across the mic, tell people where they can find my socials and things like that. And I think that definitely helps with building up that bit of following as well.
It’s been nearly a year since the release of your last single ‘Get What You Get’. To me it’s very bluesy, Americana and something KT Tunstall would make. Have you been doing much recording since?
Almond: So I’m actually recording a new single in June. Hopefully I’m going to bring that out towards the end of the year. I’m really looking forward to that, and I’m working with the same producer, Dominic Samagaio. I’m really looking forward to getting back in the studio and getting more releases out. It’s my guilty pleasure that bluesy, Americana kind of female power anthem. I’m a sucker for it.
‘Solstice’, the title track from your EP has gorgeous summery vibes. It is very much like The Style Council. What was the thought behind that one?
Almond: I wrote ‘Solstice’ when it was summertime, and I was viewing things a bit more optimistically. The songs I released before the EP were more retrospective and about things that had happened from a heartbreak point of view. It’s summery vibes, feeling free and looking forward to the future. That’s what I wanted to encapsulate throughout my EP.
You performed ‘Nights In White Satin’ for Channel 4′s Your Song. What is it about that track that draws you in?
Almond: It’s a song I’ve always listened to. My Grandad used to play it a lot when I was younger; he’s a big inspiration to me. He’s not a musician but had such a wide, eclectic taste in music. I learned a lot of genres and different kinds of music through him. It’s always been a song that I’ve loved. Whenever I hear it, I feel nostalgia; it’s just a phenomenal song.
It must’ve been a thrill to support Brooke Combe on tour. I imagine this the highlight of your career thus far?
Almond: Absolutely, it was such a lovely experience. She was so down-to-earth, obviously an incredible talent and hearing her live was just next level; she was so good. When you speak to her, it feels like you’re just meeting up with a mate. It made me think people like us from working-class backgrounds can do it and she’s proof of that. It was a real pinch-me moment for sure. I felt honoured to be supporting her. Most of Brooke’s team were Scousers, which was great.
What is the next objective for your career?
Almond: I think I want to release a bit more and I’m focusing on outreach and gigging in a couple of more places. As much as I love gigging in Liverpool, I want to get out to different cities and get more of a following.
I LOVED your video with Kieran Thomas Smith, where you displayed a knowledge of legendary artists like Joni Mitchell and Carole King. How did you become exposed to that era of music?
Almond: Through my Grandad and my whole family, I suppose. Every member of my family had a slightly different music taste. I was soaking it all in and taking as much inspiration from that as possible. My family are all music lovers and to have that support from them is amazing.
Does songwriting come easy to you?
Almond: I’ve always written about things that I’ve been through, or I’m going through as much as I can. I’m not the best when it comes to narrative songwriting where I make a story up. That’s not really what I do. I have to draw my own experiences from it. It’s quite soul-baring at times telling everyone your business. My debut single ‘Paradise’ gave me the confidence when I was singing at gigs and open mics; the response of people made me think I can actually do this and I’m alright at it. I had writer’s block for two years. If things are turbulent in my life, I find it quite hard to write music.
I believe you’re an actress and also a drama teacher. Is the goal to make it into the music industry full-time?
Almond: I did my degree in acting. In school, the music department wasn’t the best. I was always into music, but I wasn’t shown that there was a career in it. I had a really passionate drama teacher though, which is why I went in to do that. So I did pursue acting for a little bit, but every time I would do something else in my life, I would always be drawn back into music. It was my first love almost. I did drama teaching because I had the degree and I loved working with kids. I’d love to get into music full-time, but I don’t want to put a time limit on it.
Who are some of your all-time favourite artists?
Almond: I’ve been a really big fan of Jade Bird for a couple of years now; I think she’s fantastic. I really love her songwriting, and she’s got that country edge to her music. I also love Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell and Queen. I listened a lot to The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) growing up. Lungs by Florence + The Machine is one of those no-skip albums, I love every single song on that. She’s got a rocky, grungey, powerhouse voice. I saw her at Glastonbury years and years ago and thought, oh my gosh, she is phenomenal. The way she holds herself on stage and dances, I just wanted to be doing what she’s doing.
Learn more about Lily Almond on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify and TikTok.
