Lily Fitts: Back in the UK, Teasing New Music and Ready for British Crowds to Go Mental
Written by Lauren Page | @LiveWithLP
The last time I spoke to Lily Fitts, I had one request. Come back to the UK.
That was backstage in Glasgow in December, when Fitts was opening for Max McNown and experiencing British crowds for the first time. Fast forward eight months and, ladies and gentlemen, SHE’S BACK.
This time we swapped a freezing Glasgow winter for the slightly unpredictable British summer as I caught up with Lily backstage at The Long Road Festival ahead of her set on the Interstate stage.
“Oh my gosh, it’s so incredible,” she said of being back on this side of the pond. “I’m so happy to be back. And I’m just so grateful.”
We'll take that as proof my campaign worked. A lot has happened since we last caught up.
That run with Max McNown introduced Fitts to an entirely new audience across the UK and Europe - something she admits can be slightly terrifying when you're walking onto a stage full of people who haven't necessarily bought a ticket to see you.
“I always get so nervous when I do support acts because you never know how the crowds are going to react,” she explained.
“But every city I went to, it was just such an amazing response.”
And Glasgow certainly noticed her.
After that show, I had people commenting asking the same thing: what do you MEAN Lily Fitts was in my city? So, naturally, I passed that information on.
“I really need to,” she said when I suggested some Scottish dates of her own.
Correct answer.
While December was all concert halls and indoor venues - because absolutely nobody needs to see an outdoor Glasgow show in the middle of winter - The Long Road brought a very different UK experience.
Festival season. Sunshine. Tents.... before the constant threat that the heavens could open at literally any moment.
Luckily, Lily had already worked out how to turn potential British weather chaos to her advantage.
“I was like, oh, it might rain during my set, but we’re covered and it will be great.”
Then came the master plan. “Hopefully more people will come to my set because it’s under a tent.” She's a marketing girlie.
Let it rain. Get everyone inside. Suddenly you've got a packed Interstate stage.
Genius.
Weather aside, there is something about UK and European crowds that has stuck with Fitts since her first trip.
“When you go up on stage, you really feel the energy of the crowds,” she said. “They’re so respectful and just into it.” “You can tell that they truly care about the music and are just so present.”
That feels particularly suited to an artist like Lily.
Her voice has this ability to completely cut through a room, whether that's supporting someone else inside a packed venue or standing on her own festival stage.
And she's got plenty more music to use it on.
Since we last spoke, Mess of Me hadn't yet entered my life and, quite frankly, since - it has refused to leave.
If it doesn't appear somewhere in my Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year, I'm suing.
Luckily, it sounds like it isn't the only new music we have to look forward to.
“I’ve been in the studio in between all these shows and I’ve been working really hard and trying to record as much music as possible,” she revealed.
“Definitely a lot of stuff in the works. So stay tuned.”
Okay, but Lily, WHAT stuff?
When we spoke in Glasgow, she also told me how much she loves collaborating with other artists.
So, obviously, I needed to know if any collaborations might have made their way into all of this mysterious studio activity.
“Definitely.” Names? Absolutely not. “Stay tuned.”
She's giving us crumbs.
Still, a definite is a definite, and I'll take it.
There was another little surprise waiting for The Long Road crowd too, with Lily teasing that her Interstate set might contain a special cover “to honour some incredible humans”.
Again, she wasn't giving much away.
There's a theme developing here...
One thing Lily WILL happily share, however, is what she's listening to.
Last time we spoke, we covered everything from Ella Langley to Carter Faith, so naturally I needed an updated edition of the Lily Fitts playlist.
This time, Emma Ogier is firmly on her radar.
“I’m obsessed with this artist Emma Ogier right now,” she said. “She’s like indie, I don’t even know how to describe her, but she’s just so cool.”
“Her writing is incredible and her melodies are so sick, so you should keep an eye out for her because she’s amazing.”
Noted.
But I always like to give artists one more chance to shout about someone they think deserves more ears on their music.
Lily had another name ready...Maggie Antone.
“She is one of my best friends and she is just truly such a talented and pure soul,” she said. “I love her so much and her music and her voice is just insane.”
At this point I basically need Lily Fitts as my own pocket Spotify.
She tells me what to listen to, I add it to the playlist, everybody wins.
As for Lily herself, there is still plenty to come before the year is out.
After wrapping up her European run, she's heading home for more shows in the US, while continuing to work towards releasing more music.
“Hopefully release some more music,” she teased. Hopefully?
Lily, you cannot tell me you've been constantly in the studio, confirm potential collaborations and then leave me with hopefully.
Before heading off to get ready for her Long Road set, there was one last thing to establish.
When we spoke in Glasgow, Lily had already noticed something slightly different about British audiences.
Yes, we can get rowdy, but we also have a habit of standing there and REALLY listening.
That's lovely in a concert hall.
But this was a festival.
Did she still want us standing politely and appreciating the music, or was she giving us permission to lose our minds?
“I want you guys going as crazy and mental as possible.” You heard her!
And judging by the amount that has changed between my first and second conversations with Lily Fitts, I'm already intrigued to see where we are by interview number three.
The Max McNown tour introduced her to UK audiences, The Long Road brought her back.
There's more music being made, collaborations potentially coming and a rapidly growing number of British fans waiting to see what she does next.
Now we just need those Scottish dates.
Third interview in Glasgow, Lily?
I think it's only fair.