Singer-songwriter Lily Rose has already created her own lane in the country genre, since the release of her viral single ‘Villain.’ Signed to Big Loud, Rose has today released her new collection – Stronger Than I Am – out everywhere today that showcases an artist in full command of her own sound and vision.
Lily Rose has been breaking new ground in the Nashville music scene, since the release of her single ‘Villain.’ On 1st December 2020, Rose posted a clip of “Villain,” a song about a break-up she believed ended cordially, only to find out she’d been painted as the ‘bad guy’ through social media. The song ended up going viral leading Rose to independently release “Villain” on 15th December, holding the No.1 spot on the iTunes all-genre chart – above Taylor Swift’s latest releases for several days and remained in the iTunes Top 30 for five consecutive weeks. One week after the release of “Villain,” SiriusXM The Highway added the explosive track to full rotation. Since then, Rose has signed on with Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music and Republic Records who signed her to a joint-venture record deal in January of 2021. Now, today she has released her debut collection – Stronger Than I Am – that showcases a truly individual and unique artist, one in full command of her own artistic vision and sense of self, pushing the boundaries of the genre into fresh, new territory. It is fitting that she is a Big Loud artist, given that they are at the forefront of this move – alongside artists like HARDY – a label that have given her the support to retain the original pronouns in ‘Remind Me of You,’ and not shying away from being the artist, and person she is.
‘Villain’ was a vital introduction to Rose’s music – a catchy, swaggering track about being portrayed the bad guy in a relationship. ‘You can be the hero, I can take the fall / If that’s how your story goes, say it’s all my fault / Whatever helps you sleep at night / Yeah, you can make me the bad guy.’ It’s the only track not produced or co-produced by Joey Moi on the record, yet it fits seamlessly with the entirety of Stronger Than I Am. This is no doubt her sweet spot, playing with the boundaries of the genre, pushing her production into new and interesting moments. So, on ‘I Don’t Smoke’ – written by Daniel Gerard Breland, Lalo Guzman and Michael Tyler, BRELAND, of course, part of the vanguard for the fresh influences currently reaching Nashville – Joey Moi’s production is pure genius, pushing the boundaries of Rose’s sound, yet allowing the song to speak for itself. It’s a breezy, genre-defying track, tripping with ease as Rose sings about yearning for a lover. ‘I know that I’ve been playin’, sayin’ / That I don’t want you still / Me not pickin’ up my phone when it rings / That’s like sayin’ I don’t smoke when I drink.’ It is the line of when to bring in the heavier instrumentation and playing with genre stereotypes that sets this project aside. So on, ‘Breakin’ In’ Moi and Morrisey bring back a heavier instrumentation in a broader track about getting used to the idea of a broken heart. ‘I gotta get to breaking in this broken heart / Start getting used to walking through this town without my arms ’round you.’ There’s a more layered pop-style production on the track, complete with a hint of charming lap steel.
The balance they have achieved is an art form unto itself. Rose delivers with an easy, fresh swagger on ‘Remind Me of You’ – a slower, more deliberate track, co-written by Sam Hunt alongside Corey Crowder, Ernest and Ryan Vojtesak. ‘She don’t remind me of you / You’d think that that was a good thing…Girl, you were all that I wanted / And that’s why falling in love with her is so hard to do.’ It’s a devastating track lyrically and Moi and Matthew Morrisey have stripped the track back to allow Rose’s unique vocal itself to be the instrument. Another restrained moment is provided on ‘Know My Way Around’ – a thrumming track, about waiting for the time to make a move on a potential love interest. ‘Cause ever since you walked in / Only thing that I’ve been thinking ’bout is my next move.’ It’s an edgy, devastatingly cool track, moving with an easy swagger.
Rose has worked hard to scope out her sound, as is clear on this project – retaining some elements of ‘country,’ yet ensuring they are delivered in her own style. So ‘Stronger Than I Am’ is the most ‘country’ song on the record. A sweeping ballad that allows Rose to let her vocal rip, showing the power of resilience. ‘Sometimes I feel stronger than I am / Sometimes I can handle my own / Sometimes my day goes just like I planned / Sometimes I forget that you’re gone.’ Final track on the project – ‘Whole Lotta Hometowns’ is also one of the strongest moments on the record, complete with broad and meaty guitar beats. Commercially it fits with the landscape of the country genre now and fills the ‘hometown’ trope, but Rose still retains her own stamp and pushes her sound further in a tripping verse and driving production. It’s a track made for arenas.
Stronger Than I Am is an incredible introduction to a fresh new voice in the country music landscape – one that feels very timely. The project shows her refusal to be anything less than her authentic self and it is this very fact that will set Rose up for success in a time when people are craving authenticity.
