AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LILLY AHLBERG ON EDM CAVE

What first sparked your interest in music?

Well… When I was really little I LOVED to sing on SingStar, but it wasn’t really until my brother asked me one day when I was 14 if I wanted to learn how to play ‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman on his guitar and I said yes. After that I realised how fun it was to play songs on the guitar and sing along and I never stopped!

From the time you were making indie music, was there a particular dance track that you loved? Did this song have any impact on your move in to the dance world?

I love ‘Bird Song’ by Elderbrook, and I’ve listened to it for quite a long time now. I think his sound in general really inspired me because he combines the indie feel with the electronic dance elements in such a cool way.

How can you describe the experience of working with Sonny Fodera?

Working with him definitely changed my life. I knew nothing about dance music before working with him really, and it opened so many doors for me. Hopefully we will do more together in the future! I think he is sick!

You have mentioned your influences in from your time in Australia, was there any DJ’s out there that you noticed?

I lived in Australia 10 years ago and to be honest I knew nothing about DJs and the dance music world back then. I’ve never really been a raver or someone who partied a lot, my happy place was hanging out with other singer/songwriters and jamming. I used to hang out a lot with the buskers in Sydney too. I can say now however when I know more that I think Rufus Du Sol are an amazing Australian electronic act. Hayden James is also really cool.

That would make it Sweden, Australia and the UK as countries that you’ve lived in, what do you think you’ve gained from this travelling in a human sense?

That is right, I was also born in Italy, and lived in Norway for a while too so I’ve definitely moved around a lot! Growing up we would usually spend around 2.5 years in one place and then go somewhere different. I think it made me really adaptable and flexible as a person, and I love making new connections and friendships with people. I think that’s part of why I like writing in the studio so much and also working with new people, not just sticking with the same people. I like to think it’s given me a lot more positive qualities than if we just stayed in the same place, however, I’ve also struggled a bit with being vulnerable and fully letting people in because of all the moving around.

Does any of that experience translate into your music?

It definitely does. Our pasts shape us into who we are and as I mentioned the moving around made me put some walls up to protect myself and a lot of my music is about that fear of vulnerability. Over the last couple of years I’ve done some really deep reflection on why I am the way I am which I think is so important if you want to be the best version of yourself and learn why you take offence to certain things, or why sometimes you feel trapped in a cycle. I like to write about all of this in my
music.

If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice when you first started making music, what would it be and why?

I would tell myself to never quit YouTube and keep that fanbase alive. I had an amazing fanbase there, that I sort of took for granted… When I signed my first record deal I was very naive and thought I was going to be ‘’famous’’ regardless and that I didn’t need to post covers of songs online anymore. Worst mistake ever!

Is there a final message you would like to leave with your fans? What can we expect from you?

I’m just super excited with this new sound, and I feel like I’ve really found my place
and I’m making music I’m so proud of. I can’t wait to release more songs and share
more of who I am through my music!