FEATURE
THIS IS KNOTT A MELODRAMA
We witness a familiar feeling in Lily Knott's music; her song 'Haunt Me' marks the beginning of her musical journey, leading up to her latest single in 2024, 'I Blame You.' Lily Knott often explores themes of emotional depth and personal experiences in her creative process, reflecting inner feelings like a mirror.
"Inspiration, not competition," as Lily says, she found a way to genuinely enjoy creating in a fast-paced environment. From early inspirations like a Katy Perry concert to early childhood memories, she blends her thoughts into music, distorting the ideas of what music really means. Her evolution and connection with the audience make it clear that being an artist and creating something from scratch is a journey that feels vulnerable yet enjoyable at the same time.
Les Mirabilia 'This Is Knott A Melodrama' highlights Lily's musical and personal journey.
Can you tell us about your upbringing and how it has influenced your music Who were some of your earliest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?
I have many childhood memories with my parents and especially my sister Ella, who has played a significant role in shaping who I am today. Like many sister relationships, my admiration for her led me to automatically imitate her likes and dislikes.
One of my favorite memories is driving back from swimming lessons in my dad's car, with the roof down so our hair could dry in the wind. We would always listen to either Queen or Amy Winehouse. As I grew older, I developed my own taste in music, exploring a wide range of genres, including Pink Floyd, Dave, Billie Eilish, and Rihanna. One of my earliest concert experiences was attending Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' tour (where she had the cupcake boobs). I was probably at the age of 10 or 11, I dreamt of being on a stage like hers, performing in front of a massive crowd.
How you describe your journey as an artist so far, from your first experiences with music to where you are now?
I've made significant progress throughout my journey as an artist. I definitely lacked self-belief on stage and also in sessions initially when it was time to give my opinion; or to ask to re-record something more than a couple of times, fearing it might inconvenience the engineer. Now I realize, only inexperienced engineers would find this frustrating. In contrast to that, I'm in a great place with my music's sound, feeling confident and excited about my future in music of course regarding; my fanbase who I truly cherish so much and I can’t wait to keep giving them music that they’ll hopefully love.
In your EP 'Sister Warned Me,' you touch upon themes of womanhood, support, and relationships. How do you seek solidarity and encouragement from the women in your life?
Being a woman in music can be both a blessing and a curse. I believe we’re moving in a positive direction, but we still have a long way to go.
I seek inspiration and encouragement from all the amazing women in my life. As the ‘breadwinner’ in my family, my mum has always been such a strong figure for me; she set an example from an early age that you can do and be whatever you want, regardless of your gender or background. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the constant support and advice from my sister.
Womanhood always keeps me pushing forward, as I find comfort and motivation from hundreds of other women and non-binary artists constantly. They are breaking boundaries in the industry and keep us motivated with their hard work and persistence.
Your latest single, 'I Blame You,' taps into the emotional struggles many women face, making it a deeply relatable track. What was the inspiration behind?
One of the quickest songs I’ve ever written; I Blame You written in under an hour and just felt special while I was creating it. I remember talking to my friends about how frustrating it can be when you're with someone who is really good for you, but due to how someone else might have hurt you in the past, sometimes you can't help but subconsciously think that it might happen again. It’s unfair that someone can treat you badly, and you still have to deal with the repercussions of their actions even after they are gone. It might end up with trust issues, insecurities, or irrational thoughts. I thought that was a really interesting concept to write about, one that I felt a lot of people could find personal. Blaming someone for how their past actions are still affecting how you think now.
Do you ever feel a sense of vulnerability when you peel back the layers of your innermost thoughts and feelings, exploring themes like heartbreak and relationships in your music?
Writing is very therapeutic for me, so most of the time, it feels like a weight off my chest when creating and releasing music. I definitely feel vulnerable when releasing music, especially when the topic of the song is very personal to me; it feels raw and real because I don’t always know how people will respond. Some of my songs are incredibly special to me; I’ve spent countless hours on them, pouring out my real emotions. So, of course, it’s quite nerve-wracking to expose how I feel to the public. Having said that, the music I write isn’t about me or my current situation; it might be about a friend or an experience from years ago.
I always want my listeners to interpret my music in any way that best fits them and what they’re going through. My goal is for listeners to find their own meaning in my music, connecting with it and finding comfort. Being vulnerable often leads to deeper connections with the audience.
How do you typically approach songwriting? Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into the creative zone?
I don’t have an approach that I always stick to; it often changes depending on how an idea sparks. Sometimes I'll be in the shower or driving and come up with a concept or just a couple of lines of a song that I'll later work on. Other times, I sit down at the piano and try to write something off the top of my head. My favourite way to write is when I get an idea and can work on it right away without it feeling forced. How do you see your music evolving in the future? Are there any genres or styles you're interested in exploring that you haven't delved into yet?
How do you see your music evolving in the future? Are there any genres or styles you're interested in exploring that you haven't delved into yet?
I definitely see my music constantly evolving, and it will continue to change in the future. Often, I'll write a song and think it's the best thing I've ever written and surprise two months later: I think the exact opposite! I’m not 100% what genres or styles I’m yet to explore; I think I’ll dive into what feels natural to me at that time. Whatever direction I go into, I already feel excited about it and the idea of experimenting.
Do you feel pressure to conform to certain trends in the music industry, or do you prioritise staying true to your own artistic vision?
As sad as it might sound, in today's climate, artists often find it challenging not to consider trends when promoting and writing music. Don’t get me wrong; there's another aspect to trends that can be super beneficial for artists promoting music. So I'm absolutely not against them and would probably be really happy if my music became a trend, as I would love for it to reach so many new people
Regarding the challenging aspect: I try to remind myself that if the music is good, people will connect with it regardless of whether it trends or not. However, as I mentioned, I don’t aim to write music solely for the purpose of trending; I can imagine for me personally, I wouldn’t feel as connected to it.
How important is it for you to connect with your audience through your music? Do you consider their preferences and feedback when creating new songs.
Connection to the audience is an absolutely vital part of the process for me! It sounds cliché, but my audience and friends (I hate calling them 'fans') are the reason I create my music and how I stay motivated.
As an emerging artist, I have to do everything on my own, so when my audience tells me they relate, feel connected, or simply like what I've done, it truly keeps me going and serves as a reminder that it’s all worth it. Whenever I promote music, I always have my audience in mind. I think about how I can give them teasers, merch, or freebies to make them feel as much a part of my journey as possible.
What do you hope listeners take away from your music, both emotionally and intellectually?
One of my favorite things when listening to music is when you hear a lyric and you think ‘oh, I wasn’t crazy for thinking that’ or ‘omg I’ve done that as well’. When you can really resonate with what someone’s talking about and it can actually make you feel better about a situation. I think that’s so powerful so if any of my listeners ever felt like that, it would be amazing. Other than that, like I’ve said I simply want my listeners to enjoy my music and take from it whatever helps them best.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?
I believe the biggest challenge for me has been confidence and imposter syndrome, which I've struggled with at various points in my life. Being an artist often involves external validation of people liking and engaging with your music, which can lead to questioning if you're good enough when engagement dips. I think I’m much better at dealing with this now, as I feel much more confident in my creations. Regardless of whether it reaches my expectations or not I’m proud of what I’ve put out anyway.
How do you continue to grow and push yourself creatively, even when faced with obstacles or self-doubt?
I used to struggle, and sometimes still do, with comparing myself to other people. I now try to live by the mantra ‘inspiration and not competition’ which really helps to ground me. I genuinely see people as inspiration and use it stay motivated. When I witness my peers get a great opportunity or their music taking off, success feel more attainable for me as well.
Check out Lily’s latest single ‘I Blame You’! -
Interview edited for length and clarity.
XPULENT | FEATURE, MAY 15, 2024
CREDITS
Talent: Lily Knott
Photographs by Rose Stewart-Tomes
Styled by Drew Charlotte Smith
Creative Director: Deborah Matarozzo
Film/Video by Elleesha Hannan
HMU: Lily Knott
Interview by Ceren Ay
Shoot Location: Brighton, UK
A Les Mirabilia Production
