{"id":4030,"date":"2024-08-13T20:02:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T20:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/?p=4030"},"modified":"2024-08-19T19:43:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T19:43:00","slug":"a-mothers-intuition-how-lily-mckenzies-pregnancy-shaped-her-best-music-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/2024\/08\/13\/a-mothers-intuition-how-lily-mckenzies-pregnancy-shaped-her-best-music-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"A Mother's Intuition: How Lily McKenzie's Pregnancy Shaped Her Best Music Yet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Armed with turntables and a baby bump, Lily McKenzie<\/a> is redefining the sounds of resilience.<\/p>\n

The South London-based DJ, producer and singer-songwriter recently released Pressure<\/a><\/em>, her debut EP, via Warner’s Major Recordings label. Influenced by impending motherhood, the project palpitates with the raw energy of creation\u2014both musical and maternal.<\/p>\n

In Pressure<\/em>, McKenzie crafts haunting yet energetic dance music that echoes the complexities of her dual roles. With a growing life internally and a burgeoning career externally, she’s turning pressure into power and vulnerability into art.<\/p>\n

The surging triple-threat, who recently performed twice<\/em> at Glastonbury while pregnant, spins tales of self-worth and perseverance in her new record. Through the sensual slink of “Satellite” and the aching twinge of the UK garage-inspired “Middle,” among other tracks, the EP serves as a reminder that we are much more than the sum of our struggles.<\/p>\n

McKenzie is currently riding the wave of a breakout after nabbing support from Capital Dance as well as BBC Radio 1’s “Future Sounds” and “Future Dance with Sarah Story.” She’s also landed on major playlists such as Spotify’s “New Dance Revolution” and “The Loft.”<\/p>\n

We caught up with McKenzie to discuss her new EP and the adversity that comes with navigating the music industry as a pregnant woman.<\/p>\n

EDM.com:\u00a0Before we get into the new EP, let’s talk Glasto. What was your experience like performing not once, but twice this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:<\/strong> Glastonbury was amazing. It’s always such a privilege to perform there and I always find that anyone I speak to\u2014at whatever level they are in their career\u2014there\u2019s a sense honor but also pressure to put on a great show.<\/p>\n

I played at the Stonebridge bar, which was packed and such good energy\u2014I was worried I wouldn\u2019t be able to get to the stage as it was so crowded! I also played The Temple, which is one of my favorite venues, so that was definitely one to remember.<\/p>\n

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EDM.com:\u00a0With this EP, it’s all in the name. How does the concept of pressure relate to your personal and professional life, especially in the context of your current journey as a pregnant woman?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:\u00a0<\/strong>Pressure<\/em> is about navigating your way through the strains of life, in particular within the music industry. I definitely feel those pressures, and being pregnant your emotions and hormones are heightened so that adds another layer! <\/p>\n

The EP discusses these concepts, but it\u2019s about knowing you are enough, seeing through what doesn\u2019t serve, and coming out stronger. When you are true to yourself, everything levels out and you are able to thrive under pressure.<\/p>\n

EDM.com:\u00a0<\/strong>The track “Satellite” explores detachment and our pleas\u2014even desperate at times\u2014for human connection. From where did you pull inspiration to write those profound lyrics?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:\u00a0<\/strong>I think we all feel a little lost at times\u2014the world can be so noisy and it can be hard to feel connected. I wrote this song with two amazing producers, Andy Sheldrake and Ross Quinn, and after chatting we found we had all experienced these feelings at some point in our lives. We thought back to times we\u2019d felt that way and from there the lyrics just flowed.<\/p>\n

EDM.com:\u00a0There’s been a growing conversation around the stigmas that pregnant artists face in the music industry. What have been some of the biggest obstacles you’ve encountered, and how have you navigated them to stay true to your vision?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:\u00a0<\/strong>I did feel at first that I had to hide being pregnant for as long as possible as I was worried people would think I couldn\u2019t be booked for shows, or wouldn\u2019t be able to release music. But to be honest, the response has been really positive and I think there has been a shift.<\/p>\n

As soon as you show you can do it (literally perform pregnant) then it\u2019s normalized and the opportunities will hopefully keep coming. Women are proving we can do it all and I think it\u2019s such a powerful and inspiring thing\u2014I for one feel so lifted when I see other women doing the same.<\/p>\n

EDM.com:\u00a0<\/strong>How have you been managing the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy alongside the demands of your burgeoning career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:\u00a0<\/strong>Pregnancy for me has definitely been physically and emotionally challenging and I\u2019ve just had to go at my own pace. I\u2019ve made sure to be kind to myself and rest when I\u2019ve needed to. Staying busy with my career has helped though as it\u2019s been a distraction when I haven\u2019t been feeling great. It\u2019s important to stay positive and music has always been my happy place too.<\/p>\n

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EDM.com:\u00a0<\/strong>What advice would you give to other expecting musicians navigating this territory?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:\u00a0<\/strong>I would say that there\u2019s no rules. People have different experiences and the priority is making sure you and your baby stay healthy\u20149 months is a really short time if you look at the bigger picture. You can only do as much as you feel strong enough to do.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been really lucky to have had great people around me at my shows, or in my studio sessions, so if I\u2019ve been tired or unwell they\u2019ve totally understood. I would say that\u2019s so important, make sure the people you work with on this journey have that same understating and compassion.<\/p>\n

EDM.com:\u00a0<\/strong>Looking ahead, what kind of impact do you think motherhood may have on your artistry? Do you see yourself approaching lyricism, production or other processes through a different lens?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:\u00a0<\/strong>I write from a very honest and sensitive place and I think if anything motherhood will enhance that. I don\u2019t expect my sound or process to change too much as that\u2019s already a strong part of me, but this is my first time having this experience so I\u2019m sure I will notice any changes as I go along!<\/p>\n

EDM.com:\u00a0What’s next for you? Without getting into too much trouble, are there any exciting things in the Lily McKenzie pipeline you can reveal to our readers?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lily McKenzie:\u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s definitely been go, go, go leading up to the EP which has been great, but I\u2019ll be taking the next few months to enjoy being a first time mum for sure. It\u2019ll also be nice to spend that time listening to music and crate-digging at a slower pace.<\/p>\n

I have been writing lots of new music that I\u2019m excited about and I\u2019m planning to drop some new records towards the end of the year. I\u2019ve also started booking in some shows for then too\u2014so it\u2019ll be nice after a little break to come back with a fresh perspective!<\/p>\n

Follow Lily McKenzie:<\/h2>\n

X: <\/strong>x.com\/lilymckenzie<\/a>
Instagram:\u00a0<\/strong>instagram.com\/lilymckenzie<\/a>
TikTok: <\/strong>tiktok.com\/@lilymckenziemusic<\/a>
Facebook: <\/strong>facebook.com\/lilymckenziemusic<\/a>
Spotify: <\/strong>tinyurl.com\/2s4pjx3t<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Armed with turntables and a baby bump, Lily McKenzie is redefining the sounds of resilience. The South London-based DJ, producer … Continue ReadingA Mother's Intuition: How Lily McKenzie's Pregnancy Shaped Her Best Music Yet<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4030"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4030"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4031,"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4030\/revisions\/4031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/heartbit.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}