How a Shakespeare Misquotation inspired Lily Forte’s Album, 'Don’t Gild The Lily'
- Isabella Basile
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Lily Forte, previously featured in The MIC Mag for her single “Out of the Blue,” is back with her second album, Don’t Gild The Lily, set to release February 13th. Collaborating with 20 individuals, Lily Forte combines Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Pop to create her 11-track album. From electric guitars to trumpets, Lily Forte blows listeners away by creating her own style, with not only her voice but her killer looks, wearing popping blue eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, lined lips, long nails, and pop princess attire.
Don't Gild The Lily
Writing: Lily Forte, Louie Diller, Maya Mougey, James Cain, Jamie Gelman, Ethan Avery, Bobby Nimoy, Samuel Yun, Michael Myylo Lewis, Jesus Acosta, and Jordan Meltzer
Production: James Cain, Ethan Avery, Bobby Nimoy, Samuel Yun, Jesus Acosta, and Louie Diller
Drums: Dom Anzalone and David McInnes
Guitar: Sam Kulchin, Alex Shaw, Simon John, Samuel Yun, and CJ Perrera
Bass: Simon John
Trumpet: Addison Tharp and Ethan Avery
In the words of Lily Forte: “This project was filled with an abundance of collaboration. We recorded most everything live with players on trumpet, bass, guitar, piano, and drumset. It was really important for me to have a live feel to this project, as my whole theme throughout writing was “Rock n’ Roll is alive.” Don’t Gild The Lily was derived from a misquotation of a line from Shakespeare: “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily … is wasteful and ridiculous excess.” I felt inspired by the simplicity in the quote. No need to over embellish, there is beauty in the simple nature of being.”
LONG STORY SHORT: Lily Forte lures listeners into her album, Don’t Gild The Lily, like a siren with a melodic humming in the title track, “Don’t Gild The Lily.” The album has a mix of genres, where smooth harmonies, vocal slides, runs, rasp, and her soothing head voice are heard throughout. The title track is jazz and blues inspired, while the second track, “Stardust,” and the fifth track, “Miles to Go,” have a more rock feel to them. Track eight, “The Luckiest," starts with an acoustic guitar and adds piano. It starts calmly, with lyrics like, “I’m sweet like honey” and starts to sound more aggressive at 2:30 with lyrics “What do they sell / What do they sell / They got you baby / Now look at yourself / Casting their spell / Casting their spell / They got you baby / Can’t look at yourself” and getting calmer again for the rest of the song. This progression in volume could be the realization of an issue, the spell they cast, and the quieter parts following can be the calm after the storm. The final song on the track, “Beauty in Everything,” is a beautifully solemn song that pulls on your heartstrings with heartfelt lyrics, letting you go as your journey with Lily Forte and "Don’t Gild The Lily" ends.
Stream Don’t Gild The Lily below!
