Y
ou might not know her yet, but Amelia Lily is poised to become the next big pop star.
At just 19, Lily has become a force to reckon with on the UK music charts. Out of the three singles she has released over the last two years, two have cracked the top 10 on Billboard’s UK music chart. Her first single, “You Bring Me Joy,” released in 2012, peaked at number 2 and has over 11 million video views on YouTube. Last year, her second single, “Shut Up (And Give Me Whatever You Got),” reached number 8. Influenced by P!nk and Kelly Clarkson, Lily builds on the traditional pop sound, adding bits of rock and EDM to the mix. It’s the kind of pop music that grabs you and pulls you onto the dance floor. Pulsing beats lay a solid foundation for each of Lily’s uptempo songs, similar to the euro-dance hits of the mid 2000s. This is particularly true for ‘Shut Up (And Give Me Whatever You Got),’ which combines a gritty rock sound a la Paramore or Automatic Loveletter with a pulse that makes you feel like the room is shaking. Lily’s vocal lends itself well to pop, at times evoking hints of Katy Perry (‘You Bring Me Joy’) and Kelly Clarkson (‘Party Over’). Getting her big break on the 2011 edition of The X Factor UK, Lily became a crowd favorite early on in the competition. During her season, she was the first person eliminated from her coach’s, Kelly Rowland, team. However, when the opportunity to return to the show arose from the disqualification of fellow contestant Frankie Cocozza, she was chosen in a nationwide vote to return in week six. Lily continued to be a favorite of both the judges and fans, surviving the next four rounds and making it to the finals. Her powerful vocal performances got her to the
third place spot, just behind runner-up Marcus Collins, and winner Little Mix. Lily never saw her elimination as a problem. “The journey on that show was such a rollercoaster,” Lily told Digital Spy in a 2012 interview. “I don’t think I could explain to anyone how difficult it was to go out on week one, miss five weeks of shows and be brought back in. I actually think now it was the best thing that could have happened, because while I was out I could connect with a real audience.” As for her debut album, the world will have to wait just a little bit longer. Signed to Sony Records offshoot Xenomania mere months after ‘The X Factor’ ended, Lily was set to release her debut album, Be A Fighter, back in February 2014 after many push backs. The album was already up for pre-order when the announcement came that it was being scrapped in order for Lily to go back into the studio to work on more songs. “I didn’t want to release something that I wasn’t 100% happy with,” Lily told Digital Spy in October 2013. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot from being in the industry for the past two years and I’ve gone back in and I know exactly what kind of direction of music I want to do.” On May 22, Lily announced that she will be releasing a new single in the near future. She is currently scheduled to perform at Chilfest in Tring, England on July 6, and the Pinkfield Festival in Yorkshire, England on August 30. If her singles are any indication, Amelia Lily might just become the next big thing. “I’m looking forward to people hearing my new music, and hopefully it won’t disappoint you all!” said Lily to Digital Spy in October. “It’ll be worth the wait, I promise you.”
23