Lily Monaghan makes a stunning first impression with debut single ‘Sleeping Alone’
With delicately plucked acoustic guitar and a vocal performance as pure and soulful as a Prairie sunrise, Lily Monaghan’s debut single, “Sleeping Alone,” heralds the arrival of a compelling new voice on the Canadian roots music scene.
Based in Edmonton, AB, Lily has been building up to the release of her first EP, Introspection, in early 2023 by crafting songs such as “Sleeping Alone” in a manner that blurs the lines between folk, country, soul and pop. Working closely with producer Mark Maclure, with whom she was enrolled in MacEwan University’s music program, Lily experimented with several different musical approaches before finding the natural balance that brought out the most in her songwriting.
“I grew up listening to, practicing, and studying all types of music, and I was really confused for the longest time about what genre I should commit to because I loved too many,” Lily said. “Even some of the first drafts of the tunes on this EP began as completely pop-based because I believed audiences would like that the best. It took a lot of introspection, and it wasn’t until recently that I realized that roots and folk-inspired music is what feeds my soul and speaks to me the loudest, and the songs on this project are a reflection of that. I understand now that my versatility for other genres isn’t a weakness but a strength, and I intend to allow my knowledge for all styles of music to support me by bleeding into my writing and performing rather than setting me back by believing I must only choose one.”
Such self-awareness is certainly uncommon in such a young artist, and that’s reflected in Lily’s lyrics as well. On “Sleeping Alone,” a Taylor Swift-level breakup song, Lily sings, “I’m not a drinker but pour me a stiff one / I’m stuck in the ringer and no money’s enough / To look a dead man in the eyes before shooting him down.”
Other songs that will be on Introspection equally demonstrate Lily’s wise-beyond-her-years songwriting ability, the result of the influence that many of her favourite artists have had on her.
“The songwriters that inspire me the most are those who make it evident that the craft is precious to them,” she said. “People like Gord Downie, Stevie Nicks and Florence Welch made a point to be eloquent and expressive through the use of literary devices and storytelling. Additionally, as a female vocalist, I am also hugely inspired by strong and powerful female artists. Women such as Adele, Brittany Howard, Maggie Rogers and Miley Cyrus each have such different strengths and styles but they also set good examples on allowing yourself to musically evolve, grow, and experiment without limitations.”
With “Sleeping Alone,” Lily Monaghan has laid the first cornerstone in a career that is sure to evolve in ways like those of her heroes. Savor it for now, but there is much more to come.
“My passion for songwriting began a decade ago, and I have been writing tunes almost every day since,” she said. “I feel like as I grow, learn, and develop as a person in this world, my writing reflects that. Although I pride myself on always being as vulnerable and open as I can be within my songs, the tracks on this project have confidence and strength within the lines.”
Lily Monaghan’s debut single, “Sleeping Alone,” is available now on all digital platforms and from Bandcamp. Follow her on Facebook @lilymonmusic and on Instagram @lilymon_music.
