It’s dreamy, it’s sultry, it’s a coming of age track that will have you falling head over heels in love with Jillian Loux.
Melt into the sweet honeyed vocals of Jillian Loux, the 18-year-old songbird hailing from Atlanta, Georgia.
Jillian Loux’s debut single, ‘White Lilies,’ sets the stage for a four-song EP co-written and produced by 2023 ARIA nominees Matt Corby and Nat Dunn.
Recorded down under almost a year ago, this release marks a full-circle moment for Jillian, who describes the track as a “classy diss track,” exploring the complexities of toxic friendships.
“‘White Lilies’ to me is kind of a classy diss track. The song mentions various observations I’ve made about a particular friendship in my life and I’m basically coming to terms with the fact that the relationship is a bit toxic and it may be time to let it go. All love at the end of the day, but self love has to come first, which sometimes means cutting off people that hurt you more than benefit you.”
With vocals evoking shades of Ariana Grande and a timeless style that signals a budding star, so much so, we’d put our money on it. Yet, with a striking originality that stands out, Jillian seamlessly weaves authentic, thought-provoking lyrics with irresistibly catchy melodies.
Raised in the musical hotbed of Atlanta, Jillian, brings a brooding vocal and wordsmith prowess honed since she wrote her first song at the tender age of 5. Her EP, crafted in collaboration with ARIA nominees, was born effortlessly during a week of creative synergy in Noosa, Australia.
Exploring themes that delve into the subtleties of self-love and introspection, Jillian perfectly expresses her unique take on personal development and relationships. As she immerses herself in the music industry, Jillian unravels its hidden intricacies and embraces patience as a paramount virtue.
Despite making waves at just 18, Jillian stays grounded through the humbling experiences of college life and the occasional mishap, keeping imposter syndrome at bay.
Happy: What are you up to today?
Jillian: So far, I woke up, went to an advising appointment, attended my film and entertainment media classes, and now I’m in my environmental class (while answering these questions!) . Hopefully, after this class, I can take a nap. I also had a ham and Swiss cheese croissant from Starbucks earlier.
Happy: Tell us about where you are from? What’s the scene like?
Jillian: I’m from Atlanta, Georgia, and I’ve lived there all my life. I think Atlanta is a great city to grow up in because of its diversity and awareness.
It has a lot to offer in terms of opportunity, and there is always something to do. It might take some time to navigate the traffic, but I feel like there’s no city quite like Atlanta.
Happy: Describe an average day?
Jillian: Since attending the University of Georgia, my days have been pretty routine. On an average day, I wake up around 10 am, attend my classes, go to the gym, squeeze in some time to eat, probably call my parents, do homework, eat dinner, take a shower, and go to sleep.
My description doesn’t sound all that exciting, but it does keep me busy. I’ll also admit the nightlife here is anything but dull, so it’s easy to have a good time if I need to get out of my routine.
Happy: With “White Lilies” being your debut single, what inspired you to choose this particular track to introduce yourself to the music scene?
Jillian:“White Lilies” has some really interesting elements to it, production-wise. It’s very rich and alluring, which I want people to lean into.
I also think it’s fitting because it’s the first song we wrote when we started making the EP. It came out so effortlessly, it’s very special to me.
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Happy: Can you share a bit about how the collaboration came about with Matt Corby and Nat Dunn, and what it was like working with them on your EP?
Jillian: I ended up signing with Nat Dunn and Stephen McGuire for management about a year before making “White Lilies”.
Nat had the idea that I could travel to Australia during my Thanksgiving break of 2022 (also my 18th birthday!) to write some songs for an EP.
She also suggested we ask Matt Corby if he could produce for us, which was an awesome idea; his producing is insane.
We ended up writing five songs that week, and each one felt almost effortless to make. I think both Nat and Matt broke my mind with their talent.
Nat’s songwriting is obviously impeccable, and Matt’s melodic interpretations are genius. I honestly love all the songs we made, and I can’t wait for people to hear them.
Happy: The themes in “White Lilies” touch on introspection and self-love. How do you hope your music contributes to broader conversations about personal growth and navigating relationships?
Jillian: “White Lilies” comes from the heart. I have felt most, if not all, of the lyrics in the song. The song emphasizes frustration, a real human emotion that isn’t always received well but is nevertheless inevitable.
The song’s chorus, however, transforms that frustration into a form of motivation. A motivation to let go.
I hope my song contributes to both personal growth and navigating relationships by highlighting the power in frustration, though we feel so vulnerable.
The feeling is necessary to ultimately grow and move forward.
Happy: Being at the beginning of your music career, what aspects of the industry or creative process have surprised you the most, and how have you adapted to these discoveries?
Jillian: I think what surprised me most is how many moving parts take place in the background. There’s so much that needs to happen before a musical release that tends to go unnoticed.
With that being said, I’ve learned a lot of patience is required to be in this industry. I’ve also learned it’s usually best to take everything with a grain of salt.
Everything is constantly changing, so it’s good not to let your hopes go up or down.
Happy: Having grown up in Atlanta, Georgia, a city known for its rich musical history, how has your hometown influenced your musical style and approach?
Jillian:I think growing up in Atlanta has definitely helped me appreciate a variety of musical genres, enabling me to blend and incorporate different sounds into my songwriting.
This might make more sense when the EP comes out, but oftentimes I don’t know how to describe my music to people because I like to experiment with different styles with a lot of my songs.
Happy: “White Lilies” addresses the complexities of friendships. How do you hope listeners will connect with the emotions in the song, and what message do you want them to take away?
Jillian:“White Lilies” evaluates a relationship that not only consistently makes you feel less than but also crazy for feeling that way.
I hope those who can relate to that narrative feel empowered to take control and ask themselves if the positives of that relationship outweigh the negatives, if it’s worth it.
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Happy: Collaborating with Hayden James on a track is exciting news. Can you tease a bit about what fans can expect from this collaboration and how it adds to the diversity of your musical repertoire?
Jillian: Yes! I wrote “nevermind” a couple of years ago and re-vamped it a bit with Andy Lowden in early 2022. Nat sent a bedroom demo of the song to Hayden to see what he thought, and he said he wanted to work on it! I’m very, very grateful he did; the song sounds awesome.
It’s very groovy and gentle at the same time. I still can’t believe this was my first collaboration. I think it’s a really cool first step into the music industry and a great addition to my repertoire.
Happy: Being just 18 and already making waves in the industry is impressive. How do you stay grounded amidst the excitement of a budding music career?
Jillian: Going to college helps me stay grounded quite a bit actually. Every day I’m humbled here. Reasons may vary.
Maybe because I got a bad test score, fell down a flight of stairs, or locked myself out of my dorm in a bath towel, nonetheless I am always reminded to stay grounded.
Another factor may be due partly because of the beginning of “imposter syndrome”. Most times I hear my songs, the idea that it’s actually me singing travels out the window.
Happy: Lastly, what makes you happy?
Jillian:Usually, it’s the little things. I actually have a notes app of a bunch of little things I love: Sea lions, fall weather, sunsets, pigeons, Spanish architecture, picnics, soup, Michael Buble, Deadpool, How to Train Your Dragon the movie, Subway sandwiches, hiking, dogs sticking their tongues out of windows, juicy strawberries, and Bradley Cooper just to name a few.
