Lila Holler shows vulnerable side in 'The Way I Am Now'

If you like songs by Lizzy McAlpine, Phoebe Bridgers and Gracie Abrams, you'd like this California-raised Singer-songwriter Lila Holler

About Lila Holler

Lila Holler is an indie-pop musician inspired by her nomadic upbringing across the U.S. She began her musical journey at 14 when a family friend gifted her an old guitar, leading to self-taught playing and songwriting. Influenced by artists like The Marias, Ani DiFranco, Phoebe Bridges, Clairo, and FKA Twigs, Lila studies songwriting and performance at LIPA in Liverpool while also residing in Seattle. She values live performances and aims to connect meaningfully with her audience. Her achievements include being a two-time winner of the National YoungArts Competition for Voice: Singer-Songwriter ('23, '24), earning semi-finalist status in the International Songwriting Competition and the American Songwriter Contest for her songs "Be a Ghost" and "Worth It Soon," attending The Grammy Foundation's Grammy Camp, and releasing her EP "Worth It Soon" in 2023. Recently, her music video for "Headache" was recognized by the International Songwriting Competition. Lila is committed to transparency, connecting with her audience through relatable lyrics. She has collaborated on projects like BENJI & Their Orchestra's EPs "hypnagogia" and "music for an elevator," and has credits on Marylin Hucek's EP "Love and Loss."

About 'The Way I Am Now'

'The Way I Am Now' was written during a period of personal struggle. This trick finds Lila balancing themes of self-care, insecurity, and intimacy within a serious relationship. Lila shared that she wrote this song "while in the midst of dealing with some mental health issues last year,“ Along with being in a serious relationship, Lila had learned how to balance taking care of herself and showing up with 50%, also stating that 'The Way I Am Now' is a "song laced with insecurities, written in the hopes that people who deal with the same struggles feel less alone.”

Composed alone in her bedroom, the song poured out in near-chronological order as she sat with a guitar in alternate tuning. The result is both delicate and powerful, anchored by the striking chorus: “Tell me you’d take me without knowing I’ll ever change from the way I am now.” For Lila, this lyric encapsulates the heart of the song—the plea for unconditional acceptance in love. As with all her work, the single highlights Lila’s commitment to creating music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

What I Thought About The Track:

This song can relate to anyone on a mental health-level, as this song has a few parts about insecurities and hopes of feeling secure and authentic.

Check out Lila's Discography

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