Atlanta-born Lily Rose first shot to fame when her song ‘Villain’ went viral on TikTok back in 2020. Since then she’s toured alongside the likes of Shania Twain and Sam Hunt, performed on The Voice and Good Morning America, been nominated for the ACM Award for Best New Female Artist and scooped GLAAD’s Outstanding Breakthrough Artist Award in 2022. Now, following her triumphant performances at C2C back in March, she’s back with her latest EP ‘Runnin’ Outta Time’, the follow-up to 2021’s ‘Stronger Than I Am’.
The six-song project opens with ‘The Goal’, a lilting acoustic ballad with a shimmering intro. The song really highlights the depth and richness in Rose’s voice – as well as her trademark Southern drawl – as she sings about the grind of life as an artist but also striving to be the best version of herself. It’s a simple but powerful mission statement which sees Rose owning up to her imperfections (‘waking up in a quarter life crisis’) as the layers of sound build up along with her rawer, slightly husky tones, before abruptly dropping away at the end. Rose has spoken previously about this feeling like a new chapter for her and her music and this feels very much like her showing how much she’s grown since her last record.
That sense of knowing yourself and working towards your purpose is a thread that runs throughout the record. The gospel-influenced ‘Back Pew’ has hints of Sam Hunt about it, with Rose almost rapping in parts as she pleads for her prayers to be heard. Its catchy chorus and big crashing drums add to the spiritual vibe and the claps on the bridge are practically begging for an audience to join in with them. Elsewhere, ‘Two Flowers’ – my personal favourite track – is a gentle, mellow number that sees Rose in nostalgic mode as she looks back at her musical career and how she was destined for this from the start. There’s a sweet, touching quality about it that I find incredibly moving, and Rose’s smooth, soulful vocals complement the laidback vibe and bluesy guitar solo perfectly.
There’s still plenty of space on the EP for fun though. ‘True North’ features distorted vocal effects and vivid imagery of ‘Springsteen, sweet tea and a red letter page’ alongside bars with Georgia Bulldogs signs. You can feel the warmth and affection Rose feels for her home state running through every note and I can see crowds swaying along to this in full force when she plays it live. Meanwhile, the anthemic ‘Parking Lot’ sees Rose showing her playful side with a stomping rhythm and quick-fire delivery on a tale of teenage experimentation with ‘Keith Urban, Coors Light and 2009’ (a reference continued with a wicked guitar riff right before the bridge). I love country songs that use those personal details and it’s something Rose does so well on this project.
The EP closes with the title track, which for me sums up the whole record. Its pulsing beat and sharp twang contrast the self-doubt in Rose’s lyrics as she tries to make the most of her youth whilst feeling like she doesn’t have much longer to reach her goals. Her yells and whoops add to the sense of ‘rais[ing] hell on this hell of a ride’ and the crunchy guitars and twangy finale add a sense of urgency. It’s one that feels sure to connect with listeners and live audiences alike and to me the complexity of the song shows how much progress she’s made as an artist as well as leaving me excited for what’s to come.
Overall ‘Runnin’ Outta Time’ feels very much like Lily Rose has planted her flag and declared who she is. There’s a real sense of conviction about these songs, as well as a determination to keep doing better and working on oneself, and I like the rock and blues touches which complement the slightly gravelly tones of her voice. It’s a project full of energy, excitement and joy, and I personally cannot wait to see where she might go from here.
Track listing: 1. The Goal 2. Back Pew 3. Parking Lot 4. True North 5. Two Flowers 6. Runnin’ Outta Time Record label: Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records/Republic Records Release date: 10th May 2024
