Photo Credit: Breyona Holt (@exquisite_eye)
By Alissa Arunarsirakul // April 22, 2020
Womanhood, self-empowerment, and love have always played significant roles in Lili Kendall’s life so it only makes sense that she’d focus on these very themes in her compelling songwriting. Shortly after relocating from Australia to sunny Los Angeles, Kendall found herself adopting a new perspective on countless things, but her idea of love remained the same. With much to say, Kendall took it upon herself to craft a stunning ten-track album that truly knows no boundaries: love, herself.
On love, herself., Lili Kendall reflected,
“I’ve found peace in the lyrics of these songs – writing this project has been how I processed and released all that I’ve encountered over the last two years. And I hope listening to these songs has the same effect on people that they’ve had on me.”
To celebrate the release of her new music, we recently chatted with Lili Kendall about Los Angeles, genres, and of course, love, herself.
HH: Even with all the gorgeous instrumentals and moody electronics, your vocals stand out above anything else. When did you first discover you had an incredible singing voice?
LK: I’m currently on the phone with my manager, Sergio, asking him if he knows what Singstar is, but he says he doesn’t know what I’m talking about, so it may just be an Australian thing… but growing up we had a Playstation game called Singstar and I would dominate my siblings in every round. I was around twelve though when I got really serious about singing and started writing my own songs.
HH: It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly which genre you’d fit into. What inspires your innovative sound?
LK: Good, ha! I just try to write from a place that is natural for me. I guess that is inspired by what I feed myself, from food to art to the environment.
HH: You wrote love, herself. about womanhood, self-empowerment, love, and life. What about these topics specifically do you find so compelling and what do you want listeners to take away from the album?
LK: I find the human condition interesting, I find the quest for faith in every human being interesting, and I find love being the driving force in most people’s lives interesting. I don’t really think about what I’m writing about when writing it.
HH: Whether it’s the determination of “third degree love crimes” or the revelation of “somewhere else,” love, herself. has something for everyone. Can you summarize the album in only one sentence?
LK: I just got slightly shook when I just read that someone has heard my whole album! Eek! I think I want to let listeners create their own one sentence summary of her, just like you did.
HH: After moving from Brisbane to Los Angeles, you’ve had to spend time alone trying to figure out who you are and what you want. Would you say you’re better off now than you were when you first got to California?
LK: I wouldn’t say better off, just in a different place. Regardless of my physical location, I’m always growing and giving myself the space to grow.
HH: If you could sell out a headlining show anywhere in the world, where would you pick?
LK: The Sydney Opera House.
HH: What are your three hidden hits?
LK: “Icarus” by Fana Hues
“Hell N Back” by Bakar
“Fool” by Martha Da’ro
The Hidden Hits 