Singer-songwriter Lily Rose has been incorrectly labelled as an ‘overnight success’ after her song ‘Villain’ exploded on TikTok. Having been working on music and building a fan base for a number of years, Rose didn’t even have TikTok on her phone this time last year yet posting ‘Villain’ last December caught the attention of millions. That song has had tremendous success and it landed her a record deal with Big Loud / Back Blocks Music and Republic Records. With a support slot on Chris Lane’s upcoming autumn tour in the diary, Rose is about to take her success to a whole new level with 7-track collection ‘Stronger Than I Am’.
Country music traditionalists may have a tough time with ‘Stronger Than I Am’ thanks to its blend of a number of genres. Rose herself admits that she didn’t grow up on Country and as a youngster she was heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen, pop music and rap music. Like Sam Hunt, who has had a huge impact on the genre with his genre-mashing tendencies, Rose isn’t interested in chasing trends; instead she wants to make music that feels authentic to her while pushing the boundaries of the genre. The Hunt comparison is an apt one given that he co-wrote ‘Reminds Me Of You’ on this release, and it fits Rose like a glove.
Something else that could prove challenging, not that it should, to Country music fans is that Rose is openly gay and she hasn’t disguised that in her songs. She frequently refers to ‘she’ and ‘girl’, and in the process she’s going one step further than the mainstream gay Country stars before her and actually showing a new generation that you can make Country music and be gay – the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
What you can’t deny is what a huge talent Lily Rose is. The affecting ‘Villain’, written as a response to an ex painting her as the villain in their break-up, exploded for a reason and that reason is that it’s a damn good song that people can relate to. That relatability flows throughout this release, regardless of whether Rose is leaning into her Country, pop or rap influences. The title track sits firmly in Country, with Rose delivering a more straightforward but no-less memorable vocal allowing her distinctive tone to drawl around the heartfelt lyrics.
‘I Don’t Smoke’ incorporates R&B and pop influences for a track that has definite crossover appeal. It also shows just how versatile an artist Rose is and regardless of the production on her tracks, she’s always compelling to listen to. ‘Know My Way Around’ documents the first meeting with a potential love interest that sees Rose being fearless in her approach, while “Breakin’ In” aims for the Country radio market with pop/Country production and one hell of a catchy chorus. Closing track ‘Whole Lotta Hometowns’ ends the collection on familiar Country music territory lyrically but Rose’s voice elevates it to a new level.
Lily Rose is a Country star for a new generation. She has the potential to sit alongside the likes of Thomas Rhett, Dan + Shay and Kane Brown as a performer who can break out of the genre box and reach audiences beyond the traditional Country one. ‘Stronger Than I Am’ is a bold statement of intent from one of the most interesting artists to emerge in the genre for a while and she deserves to rise to the very top of the charts.
Track listing: 1. Villain 2. Stronger Than I Am 3. I Don’t Smoke 4. Reminds Me Of You 5. Know My Way Around 6. Breakin’ In 7. Whole Lotta Hometowns Record label: Big Loud / Back Blocks Music / Republic Records Release date: 1st October 2021 Buy ‘Stronger Than I Am’ now
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