Interview: Lily Fitts

Lily Fitts: “When things are done to me that I wouldn’t do to others, I write about it.” Photo: Ryan Simmons

The Massachusetts native on her social media rise, first experiences co-writing, and the creative process behind debut album ‘Getting By’

Lily Fitts may still call the East Coast home, but with her witty and confessional songwriting, she’s quickly carving out a space for herself in the songwriting scenes of both Nashville and Los Angeles. Years after going viral for her covers online, she’s now building traction with her own material.

Having released her debut album Getting By in June, the record’s 10 tracks focus on Fitt’s personal life, moving through breakups, grief, anger, and the messy in-betweens of letting go. Produced in Los Angeles and Nashville, with a handful of trusted co-writers, Getting By – with the title track being the only song Fitts wrote solo – is the perfect introduction to her as a songwriter and artist in her own right.

In our interview, Fitts shares how she chose which songs made the final track list, what it was like stepping into co-writing sessions for the first time, and how she hopes her debut album can help others feel less alone.

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You started by sharing covers, but when did you start writing your own music? 

“What I remember is when I was nine, I started taking guitar lessons because I was obsessed with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, and I just wanted to be exactly like them. I was obsessed. I loved making home videos with my sister, like a lot of kids love to do, and I always just loved to sing. Once I started playing guitar, that’s when the whole songwriting thing broke open for me.”

“It’s crazy – I started journaling and all that stuff, and I have songs written from when I was 10 years old that are so terrible, it’s funny. I would print out song lyrics and rewrite Taylor Swift songs to make them fit my life. So, I think when I was around 10, that’s when I started writing, just for fun. You always dream big when you’re little, but I was always such a realist: ‘I love music, but I want to be a doctor.’

“I always wanted to help people in some capacity, that was always at the front of my mind throughout middle school, high school, and college. I wanted to help others because that felt like the most rewarding way to live my life at that point. So, I started writing then, and then really seriously – I would write throughout middle school and high school, but just for fun. I never thought people would actually hear them, besides the few followers I had on YouTube or something.”

Did you start sharing your original songs around that time on YouTube?

“I posted my first video when I was 10. It was a cover of Green Day’s Good Riddance. I did a cover of Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, an a cappella version. That’s when I started posting. Then I would post on Vine, when that was a thing, and I was like 12, 13, 14 at the time. I actually got up to 5,000 followers, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is it!’ And then Vine died, and I was like, ‘Okay, great…’ It really wasn’t until recently that I was like, ‘Maybe I should try…’ and once I rewrote Noah Kahan’s Stick Season, that’s really what changed everything for me on social media.”

You mentioned wanting to help people – did you study medicine at university? 

“I went to UMass Amherst. It’s a state school in Massachusetts and I majored in biochemistry and molecular biology on the pre-med track. I graduated with it, finished it out, did it all… my social media was gaining traction by my senior year. It wasn’t until midway through my senior year where I went out to L.A. for the first time and went into a session. Before that, I’d never stepped foot in a recording studio. I didn’t know what ‘co-writes’ meant. I didn’t know anything.”

Lily Fitts: “I’d rather be authentic and real than write something that’s not true to me just because I think it might please other people or become a big song.” Photo: Ryan Simmons

What made you stay in Boston after graduation? 

“I’m such an East Coaster. I used to think I wasn’t a homebody, but I really am. I have such a great support system at home with my family and friends, and I’ve been lucky enough to travel pretty easily to L.A. and Nashville whenever I need to. I didn’t necessarily have to move in order to make it out to those places, because I am fortunate enough to just travel out there. But, I did most of my work for this album in L.A., and I loved it. I love my co-writers out there, but a ton of them go to Nashville all the time, and I think I really want to sink my teeth into Nashville for my next songs and my next project.

“I write all my music about my real-life experiences and what’s going on around me. The most real I’m gonna get is by being around where I’m from, with the people I know. I have to experience life in order to write about things, and I’m my most authentic self on the East Coast. That’s where I’m the most inspired. Taking all my experiences and then going out to places like Nashville and L.A. is enough for me to feel satisfied and I’m fortunate I can do it like this. I’m inspired by Noah Kahan – if he can do it from Vermont or from Watertown, Massachusetts, you can do it from anywhere.”

This album sounds like a breakup album – can you tell us about the experiences behind the songwriting?

“I’m definitely a brutally honest person – that’s how I am. My nana was like that and I’ve gotten that from her. I translate it into my writing. I’m not one to beat around the bush or waste time, especially in relationships and friendships. I’m a very loyal person and when things are done to me that I wouldn’t do to others, I write about it. That’s my way of reclaiming my power and protecting my peace.

“For a long time, I was a more quiet person, which is kind of weird because the songs I write are so blunt. I think I let people walk all over me, especially in college and in relationships, and I was such a people-pleaser. I still struggle with that, but writing these songs has been my way of reclaiming my power and not letting these experiences own me. When I release this music, I just want others to know they’re not alone. It’s sad to see people go through horrible relationships, friendships, or experience loss, and if someone can take even one piece of my song and relate to it, that’s all that really matters to me.”

How did you go about choosing the 10 songs that made the album? 

“Whenever I went out to L.A. or Nashville, I found myself writing about similar themes, because this album really feels like a timeline of the past two years, but also my whole life in a way. The title of the album is Getting By, and there’s a song with that title that I feel encompasses the entire project. It talks about losing people in your life, and I experienced so much loss when I was younger that’s still impacting me now. I’ve gone through horrible relationships, the fears of growing up, and all of that found its way into these sessions.

“When it came time to put out a project, it fell into place pretty easily. The hardest part was having so many songs I loved and figuring out which ones actually got to the truth and fit into this world. It was really a gut feeling, and based on the timeline of everything, I was like, ‘Okay, this song goes here, this one flows into this one,’ and it made sense in my brain. I hope when people listen, even if they’re not listening top to bottom, they’ll understand the story.

“It feels like the stages of grief in a way, because a lot of my songs are angry, but then you also have the songs where you’re reflecting and forgiving. At the bottom line of it all, whether I’m writing about a person or an experience that hurt me, there’s always a silver lining and there’s always hope at the end of the day. Even if those experiences beat you down and you feel so hopeless, there’s strength in feeling all these emotions and you just have to remember that.”

How many songs did you write that you considered putting on the album? 

“Gosh, I probably have over 60 demos in my notes that are just sitting there, and I hope they all see the light of day at some point – if it’s not for me, then for somebody else. When I went out to California, I would just do weeks and weeks of sessions, so you’re getting so many songs out. Obviously, not every song you’re gonna be obsessed with, but I think you just know in your gut, in your heart, when something is really special and it needs to be out right now, and it fits exactly into the story you’re trying to tell.”

Lily Fitts: “I wanted to help others because that felt like the most rewarding way to live my life.” Photo: Ryan Simmons

How was that experience like, writing with professional co-writers?

“When I first walked into a studio, I was like, ‘What the hell is this?’ I had all these people around me, and I honestly didn’t know what to do at all. But I’ve been so lucky, because every session I’ve had, I’ve never walked out thinking, ‘I never want to work with that person again.’ That doesn’t always happen – you don’t always mesh with people.

“I’ve written some songs with co-writers that I haven’t released yet, or maybe someone else will release them someday. For me, it’s really about finding people with good energy – people where I feel like I can be as open as possible without worrying about being judged or them telling others my business. Especially because the songs I write are about really deep, personal stuff, and you don’t want to feel judged when you’re already struggling to talk about it.

“I’m really lucky that the writers I’ve collaborated with are incredible and so talented. They bring so much to the table but also let me speak and write. No one’s ever trying to dominate the room, which is so nice – everyone’s just there to create beautiful music.”

You went from singing in your parents’ house or your bedroom to performing for much larger crowds. When you’re in those writing rooms or on-stage, are you able to block out how others might perceive you and just stay in the moment? Or now that you’re getting more views and listens, does that outside perception start to play a bigger role – whether for better or worse?

“I definitely think, especially with the types of songs I write, sometimes I’ll say things and then post them, and I’ll get comments that stir people up. The way I write my songs is: I like them to be hyper-specific in some ways, but also open to interpretation. A lot of times, I write songs about a person, but people relate to something completely different – and it still makes sense. So, I think about it like this: not everyone’s gonna love it, not everyone’s gonna like it, not everyone’s gonna agree with what I say – no matter what. It’s whatever my truth is, whatever I truly believe, that’s what’s going to come out. You can’t please everyone.

“As long as it’s truthful, real, and honest, that’s all you can ask for. I’d rather be authentic and real than write something that’s not true to me just because I think it might please other people or become a big song. You have to think about those things, but at the end of the day, I just want to be me and stay true to myself.

“For example, I wrote my song In The Dirt, and there’s a big line that goes, ‘I don’t talk to God, don’t think it works/I know better people than myself still end up in the dirt.’ A lot of people took that to mean I don’t believe in God, and some people comment crazy things. But the truth is, I do believe in God. It’s just that sometimes when something horrible happens, you wonder if God is even real. That’s the thinking behind those lines, but it’s always open to interpretation. So, honestly, I don’t want to have to explain it all the time. People can think what they want to think – and that’s just how it is. If you like it, you like it. If you don’t, that’s okay too.”

Was there any song on this album that you were scared to release?

“Besides In The Dirt, the song I was a little anxious to release was Good Riddance. It’s really my boldest shot on the album. I like to call it my ode to toxic men. It’s always nerve-wracking putting something like that out there, especially hearing people’s opinions and not wanting to be portrayed in a way that’s not true to me. But, at the end of the day, people will think whatever they want, and you just can’t control that. So it’s my truth, and it’s out there.

“I wanted a song on the album that was a little experimental and out-of-the-box compared to what I usually do. This one is definitely the most country-leaning. I don’t consider myself a country singer, but I love mixing country elements into my music. Good Riddance definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. I was anxious about it, but I’m so happy it’s out now.

“I’ve performed it a few times on stage, and it’s so fun. It’s exactly the kind of song that lifts up the crowd. After so many sad songs, you need that one moment to put egos aside and just have fun. I was a little nervous, but I love it so much.”

What was the writing and recording process like for Good Riddance?

“I wrote it two days after a breakup. I remember walking into the session with a producer I hadn’t worked with before, but two writers I really love – [Stephen] Ellrod and DCF [David Charles Fischer]. I walked in like, ‘Hey guys,’ and they kinda knew what was going on, because when you write with co-writers, it’s like, ‘So, how’s the boyfriend doing?’ catching up. And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, sadly, that chapter ended.’ They were like, ‘What?!’ And I said, ‘I’ve cried so much already. I just want to have some fun. Let’s write something silly.’ I didn’t expect anything – when you go into sessions, you never know what’s gonna happen. I kept my expectations low, especially in the state I was in – I wasn’t even sure if I could think of anything.

“We went in and it was so much fun. We were just talking about everything. I kept saying ‘Good riddance,’ over and over, and they were like, ‘Good riddance? That’s the title.’ Then we started working around it. We wrote the hook first and it just poured out. I was literally word-vomiting on my laptop – words like ‘manipulation’, ‘apologies’ – everything just flew out. We wrote it in less than an hour. It was one of those days.

“When we recorded it, we had so much fun. That was another one where we didn’t change a single line – didn’t change much at all after that first day. It really stayed the same.”

After recording it, were you sure you would release it?

“I remember being like, ‘Oh, that’s bold. I don’t know if I could ever release it.’ Because you have to remember, there is someone on the other end, right? I don’t ever want to be mean or hurt someone – that’s never my intention. But it’s also a story, and it’s storytelling.

“I got home from L.A. and showed it to my friends. I usually send them my demos as I get them, but with this one I wanted their real reaction. We were sitting in Southie on my best friend’s back porch, and I played it for them. I wish I took a video, because their jaws dropped. They were like, ‘Holy shit, Lily. You have to put this out there. There’s no doubt in my mind, you need to put this out in the world.’

“That song was also very much inspired by Slim Pickins by Sabrina Carpenter – just that goofy, silly, carefree energy, but also like, ‘I’m gonna call you out on your shit.’ If you can take it, great, and if you can’t, then you don’t have to speak to me again. At the end of the day, it’s my truth. So many women – and so many guys – experience these types of shitty relationships. I felt like we needed a song like this to call it out and have some fun once in a while.”

Aside from Noah Kahan and The Lumineers, who are you currently inspired by?

“I’m definitely inspired by so many people. One of my best friends, Maggie Antone, is an incredible country-Americana artist. I just love her so much, and her music is amazing. The band Ole 60, they’re incredible as well. I really gravitate toward the writing, especially when people say these powerful lines and words. That’s what I come back to as a listener – it’s what I want to hear.

“The Red Clay Strays, too. I saw them live at a festival I played at, and I was like, ‘I need to see them again.’ They were just the most incredible live, it was insane. Michael Marcagi is a huge influence as well. I was lucky enough to support him last summer and he’s just an incredible person, and his writing is so raw and authentic.

“And then, you know, I love listening to Shania Twain when I want to hype myself up. I’m a huge Fleetwood Mac fan – that’s what I grew up listening to, a ton of Fleetwood Mac. I love Stevie Nicks; she’s my idol.”

Do you have a dream co-write?

“Obviously, I’d love to co-write with Noah Kahan or The Lumineers someday. But a writer I’ve really been wanting to work with is Lori McKenna. She lives in Massachusetts, and she’s just so incredible. I would absolutely love to work with her.”

Getting By, the debut album by Lily Fitts is out now on Thirty Knots Records. For music, live dates and more, follow Lily at instagram.com/lilyfittsmusic

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