Q&A: Liily Talks Finding Themselves as a Band Again with New Self Titled EP
Effortlessly creating unique and addictive soundscapes, LA based post-punk band Liily showcase their most authentic selves on their self titled EP, which was released June 14. The band recently became independent and now they’re able to create on their own terms, which this EP has been an exciting example of.
Dylan Nash (vocals), Charlie Anastasis (bass), Sam De La Torre (guitar) and Maxx Morando (drums) make up the dynamic band, and each have consistently shown time and time again the talents they possess.
PHOTO BY EMILY ENTZ
Known for their raw energy and intense live performances, they have carved out a niche in the alternative music scene with their gritty sound, combining aggressive guitar riffs, head-banging rhythms and powerful vocals. Their music captures a visceral, unfiltered essence, bringing in influences from post-punk that came before them while also infusing their own modern twist.
Pleaser sat down with the band to discuss this new, independent chapter in their lives that led up to the release of the EP, their upcoming show in LA Aug. 31, and how they discovered what Liily means to them.
PLEASER: Let’s take it back to the beginning. How did you guys meet and how did that lead to Liily being born?
MAXX MORANDO: I met Dylan at a music school when we were seven. Then, I met Sam at that same music school. I met Charlie at an all boys Catholic school, but Charlie had played little league with Dylan, so they had already known each other. Sam and I wanted to start a band, Dylan and Charlie came soon after and the rest is history.
[Charlie shows his tattoos for each member of the band]
A lot of history there for sure. Your self titled EP was released on June 14, what were some big lessons or takeaways from creating it?
DYLAN NASH: There was so much time between when we made it and when it got released. We learned how to be a band and struggle as a band. I feel like the first year as a band, we got so many things, so there’s imposter syndrome tied into that. As time went on, especially with this EP, we’ve learned that it takes time to have your art.
CHARLIE ANASTASIS: You know that thing on the internet where people say they don’t want to learn any more life lessons and they just want to chill for a little while? I think after making this EP, that’s how we’re all feeling. There were so many stressors, growth and change — it was perfect and exactly what it needed to be.
DN: We also were learning how to function as an independent band with no label.
CA: Totally. When we first started the band, there was immediately a group of people around us, doing stuff for us. So, it led to this total confusion and we’re finally in a place where we know how to function and operate. We know how to have fun in this band.
Would you say the experience has been better without constant timeframes and deadlines? Or do you miss that set structure?
CA: It’s actually funny because with no timeframes, the rate at which we’re able to do stuff is quicker than it’s ever been. There was this general sense of feeling like we had to put stuff out and keep doing stuff, which was met with utter gridlock. This EP didn’t even have a release date in March of this year. Now it’s out, which I think was a little numbing to all of us. The day it came out, it was kind of a fugue state. Now, we get to enjoy that it’s out and we’re already working on and finishing up another project. Without the pressure and restraints of a schedule, there’s been a blossom of productivity.
I first saw you guys live back in 2019 opening for Bad Suns. During that period of time from then to now, which I know is a pretty big gap, what areas do you feel that you’ve progressed in as a band?
DN: That tour was the first time that we were progressing as a band. We were playing all new music — none of that music came out. We were trying to make angular post-punk music and that was really the first tour that we did that on, so I think that was the start of progression for us.
CA: We’ve been so lucky when we play shows to generally get a good reception to it. We’ve had many hurdles as a band, but our live performances have never been one fortunately. I think that tour was a realization of that.
DN: We also weren’t playing music that catered to Bad Suns fans whatsoever, but people were kind of eating it up! The first show on that tour was the craziest response we’ve ever gotten. They were people we weren’t even expecting to care.
SAM DE LA TORRE: I think now, more than ever, we know who we are as a band. There were points when we were still trying to find what Liily was, and I think we’ve gotten the closest we’ve ever gotten with this new EP and this time period that we’re in.
CA: On that tour, I threw a water bottle into the crowd unopened, and of course, it hit somebody right in the head. It wasn’t intentional! Then we got tagged in something on Facebook of the person it hit going off on us —
MM: ‘You can’t throw the bottle when it’s full, it’s too heavy!’
CA: I learned that! Regardless, the woman posted that she bought those tickets as a Valentine’s Day gift for her and her husband and that she got decked in the head by the bass player of Liily. I feel really bad about it, so if you’re reading this, I’m sorry!
There’s six songs on the new EP. Individually, which one is your favorite?
CA: I love “MORE,” “MOTIVATION” and “TALLER.” I love “IMITATE,” I love “SWALLOW” — it’s a damn good EP!
DN: “TALLER” is mine.
ST: Yeah, I think that’s my favorite too.
MM: Honestly, I love all of them for different reasons and I don’t think I have a favorite.
DN: I think that “IMITATE” was the first song that we did with the producers of the EP and it was the first time energy was inserted back into the band. We were in the studio bouncing up and down. That energy changed everything. One session made us realize that they were the ones that we needed. It’s crazy.
You recently released the music video for “SWALLOW,” which consisted of footage from shows and personal self recorded segments as well. What inspired that idea?
DN: Honestly, we just couldn’t afford to employ people for a whole music video, so it was out of necessity. Sam is good at making things look cool in a video format, so we thought that if we could do something with a handicam, let’s just do it. We did that with “Sepulveda Basin,” but I think we executed it better this time being that we know ourselves a little better.
ST: I think the timing of it had something to do with it too. We needed something that was sort of a compilation video of us making this record over the span of almost three years. Some of it was stuff that was on tapes that I don’t even know how I ended up with.
You guys are playing a show at The Roxy in LA Aug. 31, which is incredible. How are you guys feeling going into it and what can fans expect to see?
CA: I can say for sure that there’s going to be a special guest, but I can’t share anything more than that. [laughs]
DN: This is our first surprise ever. We’re really excited to play there, it’s a great venue.
If you’re reading this, come to the show! There’s going to be a huge surprise! How do you guys feel that you’ve contributed to your genre?
MM: A really cool moment is when people bring their younger kids to the shows and the kid comes up to tell us that they picked up an instrument because of us. They’re the next generation of people making music, so it’s really cool to be able to inspire somebody to also make music. Maybe down the line, we’ll make a bigger impact, but I feel that we’re still so early in our career — I think these little things will go a long way.
