Lili Kendall Run Interview

Lili Kendall Run Interview

The only Australian to win in any category, Brisbane indie pop artist, Lili Kendall has won first place in the 2014 Unsigned Only music competition (Teen category) with her song, Move. And in perfect timing off the back of this win, Lili is set to release her new single, Run, the second single lifted from her forthcoming album slated for a February 2015 release, which also features her debut hit single, Moonlight.

Unsigned Only is a prestigious music competition open to submissions from solo artists, bands, and singers all over the world who are not signed to major labels. With the goal to unveil and discover outstanding talent across the globe, there's no wonder Lili is thrilled with her win, saying, 'I'm soo humbled by this win… it's quite incredible to think my song was chosen from soo many songs from around the world."

Splitting her time between LA and Brisbane with a hectic schedule of songwriting, recording and finishing her last year of high school, Lili's catalogue of music is steadily growing with the addition of Run. Fast establishing an impressive and unique sound all of her own, Lili's style is comparable to the sounds of Jessie J, mixed with the songwriting skills of Sia and the vocal ability of Adele. Run is a beats driven tune with an unassuming choir introduction, clever lyrics and a memorable chorus. 'It was written in a time where my career wasn't too busy and I was bored of going to school and doing the same thing everyday," explains Lili, 'I was ready to get up and do something else with my life."

The video clip for Run was shot in Melbourne by Donna Yeatman and Mohini Herse (Boy & Bear, Hungry Kids of Hungary) and sees Lili at the top of an urban jungle with a set of dancers individually performing upon her command. Shot in slow motion and showcasing the varied styles of the dancers, Lili has created yet another chic, creative clip, showcasing maturity well beyond her 17 years.

Having just supported Celia Pavey (The Voice) in Brisbane, Lili beams, 'opening for Celia may have been my all time favourite gig to date, she is such a genuinely kind person and an incredible artist."

Lili will continue to release one new track every month, giving listeners the opportunity to hear a lot of her songs before dropping her debut album early next year.

Interview with Lili Kendall

Question: What was the main inspiration behind the track, Run?

Lili Kendall: I am still graduating high school, sometimes I lose focus on that when I have such busy career. The inspiration for the song came from a time where school was taking up a lot of my time and I was really bored and just wanted to make music and travel.


Question: How did it feel to win the teen category at NY's UNSIGNED ONLY song competition?

Lili Kendall: It is really amazing to win a well known songwriting competition with thousands of other incredible artists submitting songs. I think the main factor that makes it feel really special is that the judges are highly respected musicians and they chose my song to win, it's a great feeling.


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Lili Kendall: Yes! I co-write my songs with my mentor and producer, Cameron Jaymes. I am still young and have a lot of first life experiences so they are definitely an inspiration for writing, but it also depends on who I am writing with because everyone has something going on in their life and they may want to put it in to that song.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Lili Kendall: I listen to a lot of different artists. At the moment I'm listening to Banks, Haim, Kanye, Beyonce, Chet Faker, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, James Vincent McMorrow, Rihanna and Robyn.


Question: How have you managed to juggle your music and your schooling?

Lili Kendall: I go to Music Industry College in the Fortitude Valley and I can honestly say that I would not have gotten this far into the year or got good marks without them, they help me in every way possible. I still struggle with certain things because I do have to miss a fair bit of school sometimes because of music stuff, but I am just trying to get as much handed in as possible and working as hard as possible to get through the last 5 weeks.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Lili Kendall: I have my debut album due for release in February 2015 and am excited to get on the road soon after for a National Australian tour!


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Lili Kendall: Not at all. I have never second guessed that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, it is one of the only things I am really passionate and motivated to do. I can honestly say I could not see myself doing anything else as a career.

Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Lili Kendall: I love performing live, I am still usually a nervous wreck the first couple of minutes I get up there but having an audience to perform to is always really nice. Recording can be tedious and long, whereas performing live is all in the moment.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Lili Kendall: I have always loved music but as weird as it sounds, Michael Buble.. My dad took me to his concert when I was younger and I was so consumed by the way he performed and captured the audience.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Lili Kendall: Probably trying to fit everything in while finishing school, usually school suffers a little when I am really really busy but when I think about my schedule without school in it, it's not too bad on a usual day.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Lili Kendall: A typical day would be starting school at 10, with 2-3 interviews thrown into it somewhere, finishing school at 4 and either doing work or hanging out with friends at night.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?
Lili Kendall: Probably all the different people I have got to meet and the places I have been. Some of my closes friends are the people I work with and I am so grateful to have them in my life.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Lili Kendall: Probably Kanye West, I'm sorry but I'm obsessed and having him do a verse on one of my songs… it would be insane.


Interview by Brooke Hunter