Interview: Lyli J
Lily Jordy, known musically as Lyli J (pronounced “Lily Jay”), is a French American instrumentalist, singer, and electronic music producer with a rather nomadic upbringing.
Moving across over 10 countries in the past 3 decades, Jordy soon realized that music would be her roots and true home within. Her unique sound mixes elements of trip hop, ambient and indie electronica, with complex IDM like grooves that weave a tapestry underneath crystalline, Celtic melodies.
Lyli J is musical artist Lily Jordy’s project that was born when she discovered the infinite horizon of electronic music, back in 2011 while living in Montréal. She began experimenting with Ableton Live and quickly fell in love with sampling her own recordings.
• trip-hop
• PJ Harvey
“In Lyli J’s music, the soft felt touch of the piano melts into singing Gaelic melodies, surrounded by some of the deepest sea-sound textures you will hear in organic electronica. Through live recordings of various soundscapes, Lily explores her fascination for all elements of nature and binds them to warm, esoteric beats.”
But Jordy’s background is more classical: her parents encouraged piano lessons after hearing her play back melodies from the TV and radio at just 3 years of age. These foundational years would also include cello playing in local orchestras, practicing metal solos on electric guitar, and acoustic song writing.
The repeated moving and uprooting of her family would cast music as Lily’s ultimate sanctuary for her soul to be at home, no matter where she goes.
Jordy’s productions have garnered praise from DJ’s like Christopher Ledger, Pawas, Thomas Melchior and Julie Marghilano, and she was on the line-up of the Hadra Trance Festival 2020. Since then, she regularly plays livestreams and live sets, lastly heard on Radio Campus Grenoble 90.8FM.
Her captivating musical universe enchants its listeners and is continuously unfolding, becoming bolder and more powerful with time and experience playing for audiences. Lyli J is definitely an artist in bloom to look out for.
Read below to learn more about her!
Can you tell me a bit about how you started your music journey?
My parents bought me a little toy piano when I was 2 or 3. When they heard me replaying melodies I would hear on TV, they made me take piano lessons as they believed I had a gift! I went on to also play cello, electric guitar, sing and then discovered electronic music in college.
You are French American, but who in your family is French?
My dad is French and my mom is American.
Who have been some of your inspirations for your music?
You can hear Celtic and ancient/classical music influences in my melodies because it's so ingrained in my musical upbringing and I connect to it on such a.deep level. I loved metal bands like Opeth as a teenager, and then later moved onto artists like Portishead, Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, Bonobo. So a blend of ancient music, melodic metal vibes, and various eclectic electronic acts.
I heard you have new music coming soon! That is super exciting! Can you tell me a little about that new music and what fans can expect?
'Piano Lessons' is my next release, out June 7th on Bandcamp, Spotify. It's a piece I made after visiting the ocean with a friend last September and I was waiting for the right time to get it out there. It's a really hopeful song that connects with the timelessness of this world and what we are made of : it's like a gentle hug that reminds you that everything's alright.
How would you describe your music?
It's a melting pot of all of my favorite elements of many genres, and has been hard to describe for a while. But I now call it indie electronica, or organic electronica that is spiritual and transcendental in nature.
What is some of the best advice someone has ever given you?
Don Miguel Ruiz with the "Four Agreements" : if. you follow those four principles in your day to day life, you will find serenity and be the best version of yourself! But, nobody's perfect :)
With festivals and concerts coming back, what’s one show or festival you want to go to?
I had an incredible time in 2018 at the Club to Club Festival in Torino : I recommend it because the people are so laid back and down to earth, Torino is a gorgeous city and the line up was pure underground goodness! I'd love to go back there this year.
Has your family been supportive throughout your whole music career?
Absolutely, although my dad wishes I'd make catchy commercial tunes..!
With your new music already coming soon, anything more planned music wise or anything in your career, for the rest of the year that you are looking forward to?
I am preparing a new live set from scratch, I want to change the way I compose and approach composition in general, so the results should be pretty different to my previous work!
Find more on her below