Music student picked to perform at Sound City

Third year music student Lila Holler will be performing at Sound City festival in Liverpool this May, having successfully applied for its Artist Talent Development Programme.

Lila joins LIPA alumni MT Jones and Jalen Ngonda on the line up.

Sound City has a reputation for platforming the big names of the future, having previously featured Ed Sheeran, Oliva Dean, Stormzy and Sam Fender.

We spoke to Lila to find out more about her journey to Liverpool, how LIPA has shaped her as an artist, and performing at Liverpool’s biggest music festival.

Tell me about your journey in music so far, and why you decided to come to LIPA?

I grew up in the US, and have been writing songs since I was 15 years-old, around when I got my first guitar. I originally had more of a Musical Theatre background, but I think it was my songwriting and music career ambitions that led me here.

I went to high school at a performing arts boarding school called Interlochen in Michigan, and all of the teachers and the head of the programme spoke really highly of LIPA and what it could do for my future in music. After auditioning I came to visit Liverpool for the first time, and just completely fell in love with the city and LIPA, and that made it a really easy decision to come and study here.

What has it been like living and studying in Liverpool as an international student?

Coming here was a big culture shock at first. It was easy to integrate into LIPA because all the students just have so much in common, but it can still be really overwhelming at first when you’re coming to a new country. I think as time has gone on I’ve really found my place here, and I’ve decided that I’m going to stay in the UK after I graduate.

Congratulations on being chosen to perform at Sound City! How did that opportunity come about?

I applied and got in to their Artist Talent Development Programme, where they take on 12 artists and give them masterclasses, studio sessions, mentoring and loads of other great stuff that really sets you up to make your mark as an artist.

From that group they selected a few of us to perform at the festival this year, and I was lucky enough to be one of the artists who got picked!

How has LIPA been able to support you in your music career so far?

Without LIPA wouldn’t have been able to make the connections I have. For example, my manager, who’s a management student here at LIPA, did a work placement with Sound City a while ago, and without knowing her, and getting support from my tutors, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to apply for it at all.

I met my band members, manager and producer here, and using all the amazing facilities like the practice rooms and recording studios have really helped me develop my craft over the past three years.

As well as Sound City, you’re also performing at 2ube Xtra at LIPA this year, how has the process of preparing for it been for you?

The whole 2ube Xtra process has been amazing, it’s incredible to see how intricate the whole festival is and how much work goes into it.

It’s great to get to work on a production on such a big scale, and making creative decisions on things like the lighting and set design, which just wouldn’t be possible at the smaller venues I usually perform in.

I’ve been to every 2ube Xtra show so far, they’ve been absolutely amazing and it's lovely to see the culmination of all the work the students have been putting in for the last three years to get to this point.

You can catch Lila’s 2ube Xtra set tonight on Thursday 23 April at 8pm, and her Sound City performance will be at Heebie Jeebies, Sunday 3 May, 8pm.

You can also listen to her latest release 'Monster' below: