Inspired #400 - Lily Moore
London based powerhouse Lily Moore has returned with brand new single ‘Hard Days Love’.
Showcasing her signature soulful and soaring vocals, the track was co-written by Lily and The Nocturns (Mimi Webb, James Arthur, Dylan and more), who also produced the song. The long-awaited Hard Days Love is Lily’s first musical offering since her More Moore mixtape featuring Maverick Sabre (on track In-between) and Dan Caplen, and is the start of a brand new compelling chapter for her.
Alongside the release, the songstress has also revealed the official music video which was directed by Claryn Chong (Holly Humberstone, flowerovlove, Tommy Lefroy). The visuals were shot at an arduous assault course near Brighton, which Lily was already very familiar with as she took on the challenge at school when she was just 14.
Lily took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind her music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
Tobias Jesso Jr - my first time as a teenager listening to something none of my friends knew about. I felt like a badass. Something about the sound of the piano on all the songs and the storytelling got me. Years later I'm still obsessed with his debut and only album. (And still trying desperately to be a hipster.)
Alabama shakes - Brittany Howard's voice has always managed to stop me in my tracks. She is an unbelievable musician and guitarist, and when I'm walking down the road with them playing, I strut with confidence.
Aretha Franklin - I've always been obsessed with her music, to the point I did an entire project on her at music college. She really went through it and still kept her head. Even though it was the early 60s, the music industry still messed her about about but she went on to make some of the best songs I've ever heard in my life.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
Paddington. I fucking love that little bear. He made it all the way from Peru to London eating only marmalade sandwiches. I watch it whenever I am sad or poorly and it makes me so happy. Beside, if he can survive in London then so can I.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
I like Liverpool a lot. Every time I go I have such a good time, and it reminds me a lot of Dublin which is also one of my favourite cities. The people are warm and funny, and really care about live music too. Last time I went it was hard to find somewhere without a band playing which I like a lot. Also it has a beach which as I grew up in Brighton, is a must have.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Probably my friend Julia. We grew up together in Brighton and have all been best friends ever since. Although we did used to get up to a lot of mischief, she's a mental health nurse which makes sense as she's done a lot of looking after me, and still does. I reckon she has one of the hardest jobs in the world. But despite the fact she doesn't get paid enough or treated properly, she still makes me laugh like no one else. Fingers crossed she doesn't read this as she'll call me a soppy bitch.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
I think being angry was a big inspiration. I hate to admit it but being in a shit place mentally was actually very motivating. I wrote it when I was feeling stuck and lost, and didn't know whether I should give up or keep going - something I know most of my mates have gone through in the last few years. So it was a way of me trying to figure that out - like a tiny pros and cons list so I could actually imagine how leaving would feel. It was my musical glow up if you like. Like any post heart break moment, I wanted it to be sexier and more glam than ever before.
How would you like to inspire people?
I want to make people feel confident in who they are; that it's good to be weird and all the best people are, so don't bother hiding it. I wish I spent less time caring what people thought of me in the last few years. I'm still stumbling around my early twenties and don't know that much, but I do hope that anyone who listens to my music feels a bit better knowing I also don't have a fucking clue. But I have been there and hopefully that makes it a bit better.
