Lily Talmers is the band leader for the new age of Americana — her Midwestern-accented and poetically inclined melodies are informed by Greek, Lusophone and classical music, taking you on a unique journey into Lily’s strange intervallic insides, bursting with lyricism coated in intimacy and refined wit. Musically, Lily calls to mind heady 60’s folk revivalists like Leonard Cohen and Judee Sill, at times expanding into the experimental bigness of Paul Simon, and fitting cozily amidst the emotional delicateness contemporary songwriters like Adrianne Lenker, Haley Heynderickx, and Katy Kirby.
Growing up in metro-Detroit, Michigan has been the catalyst for Lily’s unique blend of what is dismal, forlorn, and sludge-covered, alongside all the wondrous and hopeful idealism of a child. She played classical piano and cello growing up, finding herself always more moved by resonance and melody than by the discipline of notation and study. She avoided studying music in college, graduating from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a degree in comparative literature and philosophy. Her academic work, though, detailed the music of lament– she studied Portuguese fado and Greek rembetika, both styles known as analogous to American blues music in their respective nations. In the process, she even joined a Greek folk band.
On January 30th, 2025, Lily will release her new album It Is Cyclical, Missing You. Every song on It Is Cyclical, Missing You was recorded live in one continuous take, often with a full band in tow, and produced by Lily herself.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout track “I Missed You Today,” an impressive piece of worldly folk that finds Lily singing with beautiful warmth and intimacy. Her lyrics capture the feeling of trudging through the throes of sorrow and grief on the way to get to bliss, and the music provides a charming soundtrack. Cello, woodwinds, and the distinct choice of bouzouki—an affecting nod to Talmers’ Greek heritage – give the song a rich quality that accentuates its timelessness and wisened lyrics. Throughout the song, there is something both haunting and comforting about Lily’s vocals that makes you curious to hear where she will take them next.
Lily Talmers describes the inspiration behind the song:
“I Missed You Today” is an ode to persistence through the ghosts and griefs of the past. The song digs deep into memories of sorrow, but trudges through the throes of intrusive thoughts to arrive at plateaus of bliss. I wanted to blend the sounds of Americana with my northern Greek heritage, to honor the resilience our unique culture has imbued in me. You’ll hear bouzouki, guitar, and cello acting as one fluid instrument, as woodwinds swell in and out, flooding the moments between each verse with intricate melody.
LISTEN:
