Lily Kelso - “The Car”

It is pretty rare that we fall in love with a song as soon as we press play, but it’s not every day that Lily Kelso releases new music. And people, when you press play on “The Car,” it already sounds like your favorite new song.

“The Car” fades in ever so poetically in its first eleven seconds that by the time it gets to the twelfth, you already know that you are in for quite the epically sonic experience. Kelso has just enough Maggie Rogers in her vocal that the song already sounds like home, but she is also not afraid to take production risks that we have yet to hear anywhere else.

Just when you acclimate to the endlessly reverberating vibe of the first verse, Kelso switches gears and it is unbelievably captivating– with a bass groove that will definitely test your neck muscles as your head practically bobs itself from atop your shoulders. The vocal harmonies here are alluring as all hell and you might find yourself trying to decide where this song fits as far as genres are concerned. To that, all we can say is that there’s a bit of everything in here, especially when the dark and dirty guitar solo slaps you upside your eardrums, but the star of the show is definitely Kelso’s fantastic voice.

If all of that is not enough, Kelso wrote “The Car” based upon some memories she’s shared with her brother, so peep this sentiment: “This is an original song dedicated to my little brother. He has always been an athlete, and there was a period during high school where I drove him to and from school and it would be just the two of us after sports practices. That time we spent listening to music, telling stories, and sibling bonding was foundational in our relationship, and I wanted to commemorate it by dedicating this song to him.”

Songwriting, talent, and a heart of gold? We have just found one of our new favorite artists.

-TM