INTERVIEW: Lili Tristam

Lila Tristram is a London-born songwriter whose music moves between fragile intimacy and expansive, boundary-pushing soundscapes. Emerging first from the city’s folk scene, she quickly established herself as a distinctive voice, known for moonlit acoustic songs that carried both delicacy and depth.

Her new album America, released September 12th, 2025, marks a striking transformation. Written between London and Wiltshire and shaped through close collaboration with producer Gus White and a band of forward-thinking musicians, the record expands her folk roots into rich layers of rock, synths, and harmony. At its heart lies a story of growth: from solitude to community, from fragility to power, from longing to clarity. We caught up with the singer to learn more about her new release.

You’ve described America as a life-changing album. At what moment did you first realise these songs were taking you somewhere new?

I had just finished writing ‘Closer’, which at that point was just me with my acoustic guitar. Something about the song just felt like it demanded something more .. it had a groove to it which felt like it was being pulled towards drums and bass and a bigger, fuller sound. 

The album was recorded partly in London and partly at The Barn in Wiltshire. How did those two environments shape the sound and spirit of the record?

That’s a great question. Some of the songs were indeed recorded in quite a DIY way in my bedroom in London, and some of them were recorded in a much more polished way in the countryside studio. I think the parts recorded in London have - for me at least - a kind of rawness to them which I think is an essential part of the America soundworld. And then the juxtaposition with the Barn; I mean those sessions just offered an environment that I could really sink deeply into as a performer. So they simultaneously brought a lightness and also allowed me to really sink deeply and heavily into the music. 

Collaboration plays such a big role in this project after years of writing solo. What did working with a band unlock for you as a songwriter and performer?

Firstly, I just want to share my gratitude to my band. Wow, what incredible players. I am so lucky to have had the chance to work with them. They really unlocked so many doors for me. Going from solo artist to bandleader just opened up so many worlds, adding so much richness and depth and magic to my songs which I never would have been able to come up with by myself. Each player contributed a whole new mind, set of ears and heart to the record and I can really feel every single personality in those songs. 

What's your favorite track from the album and why?

Oh wow .. haha that’s like asking a mother to pick her favourite child! Each song is wrapped up in so many different memories and emotions it’s impossible to say. I was originally most excited by “Baby,” but I think “Hallelujah” might be my favourite recording … which brings us nicely onto the next question. 

The 9-minute track "Hallelujah" is such a bold closer in today’s climate of short-form music. What gave you the confidence to end the record that way?

Thanks. I think it’s important to try and resist the temptation to lean into current trends and follow where the art wants to go. And actually this song started off at a reasonable length, and it was in the studio we naturally fell into this jam at the end. Which we all fell completely in love with and it ended up being part of the record. And now, like you say, I anticipate that it will mostly go unheard, but I think it’s honestly one of the best recordings I’ve been part of making. Just the collaboration and the humour and the conversation inside it. The journey it takes you on. I know it might be a long one that people might skip, but I hope that those who do listen to it will fall in love with it too. 

You’ve spoken about writing delicate folk songs at night while others slept, almost whispering them into existence. How did you move from that fragility to the power we hear on this album?

Hmm, I suppose it was a mixture of things. Like I mentioned earlier, I think the songs drew it out of me. Suddenly I was writing melodies which felt like they demanded more. Also maybe just watching myself grow up a little more, becoming bolder, more self assured, better at speaking up and articulating myself. Learning to be more confident in myself and in my music. 

In your reflection, you describe America as not only changing you as a musician but as a person. How do you feel your life looks different now compared to when you began writing it?

When I was writing this record, I really felt that I was existing so much in my imagination. I had this attachment to an imagined reality, a future possibility, and daydreams about a place far away. I guess that was because in so many ways I was disappointed with my reality. Fantasy felt much easier to exist in. But now, through the journey of making and releasing America, I feel like I’ve come to see the magic in real life. 

There’s a thread of longing—for love, for place, for belonging—running through the record. Do you think you’ve found what you were searching for?

I think in so many ways I have, and in many ways there’s a thread of longing in America (this word-play on the American dream…) which is an innate part of being human, and which I actually would never want to let go of. The parts of longing which are wrapped up in hope and passion and dreaming and excitement and belief. 

You’ve already played sold-out shows and toured widely. How do you envision bringing America to life on stage during the album launch tour?

I can’t wait to play the record live. These songs are just meant to be performed live— a lot of the recordings are live actually. I’ve got some dates in London, Rotterdam and New York confirmed and I’m currently securing some more dates in the UK, so it’s going to hopefully be an exciting year for me with performing. 

What's coming next for you?

Lots on the horizon … I’m hoping to head back into the studio very soon. I also run an artist mentoring programme (more on that here) and also I’ll be part of running a festival near to where I live in Wiltshire. So working on developing my own art and also expanding and nurturing the artistic community around me too.

WHERE TO FIND LILI TRISTAM
Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music