TILLY FENTON SHARES PUNCHY NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘IT’S YOU!’ DEBUT EP ‘IT’S A FEELING THAT I KNOW’ SET FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 10
A sparkling new chapter is imminent for Melbourne/Naarm indie pop artist Tilly Fenton, with a punchy new single It’s You! out in the world today, and the announcement of her anticipated debut EP it’s a feeling that i know set for release on October 10.
Playful, effervescent and with some charmingly gritty rock edges around the gloss within, It’s You! showcases Tilly’s expansive nuance as a songwriter, capturing her cheeky, fun side while also embracing some iconic pop icons and a soundtrack-inspired modus operandi for the end result. “Olivia Rodrigo’s music definitely had a huge influence on the sound for this song,” shares Tilly. “Ever since her first album came out, I had always wanted to write a super upbeat, angsty and playful pop rock song after hearing ‘good 4 u’ for the first time when I was in high school. It feels pretty full circle considering this was the music I was listening to, while I was going through the experiences that inspired It’s You! Another artist that shaped the sound of this song was Hannah Montana and the early Miley Cyrus music. I was so obsessed with the Hannah TV show and movie growing up, so a lot of the music from it was engraved in my brain from a very young age. I had always wanted to write a guitar driven song with punchy hooks and confident, cheeky lyrics, so I definitely channelled my inner Hannah for It’s You!”
Marking an exciting step closer to the release of her first-ever EP, It’s You! also balances its upbeat stylings with relatable and immersive storytelling, with Tilly delivering an empowering ode to standing up for yourself on her latest track, as she elaborates, “It’s You! is about that one person who really gets under your skin. It’s a love letter to the kind of people who twist things, make you question yourself, and somehow turn you into the villain. It’s that moment you stop biting your tongue and finally say what you should’ve said ages ago, with just the right amount of pettiness “my co-star said you’re hurt because you picked a fight with your best friend”. It’s playful, dramatic and weirdly healing screaming “it’s not me, it’s you!”
Initially penning It’s You! during a session with Anna Laverty (Lady Gaga, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), Tilly sought to write “a vengeful yet cathartic song”, with the pair brainstorming lyrics that ultimately led to a discussion of the common saying: “it’s not you, it’s me”. “I thought it would be fun to reword it to “it’s not me, it’s you”,” Tilly explains. “I then brought this song to my producer Michael Belsar and my drummer Ben Ellingworth and started the recording process, and we all had so much fun experimenting with different sounds. Michael and I then spent more time on the song, and it continued to evolve into what it is today.”
Mixed by Michael Belsar and mastered by Dale Becker, the accompanying music video for It’s You! saw Tilly work alongside Jesse Richards, who returned after working on Tilly’s previous live video for The Secret, with the brand new clip bringing It’s You!’s underlying message to life via a live performance, mirroring the dramatic yet liberating themes. “The video for It’s You! is a live performance we shot in an empty theatre,” shares Tilly. “The concept came from the idea of performing to no one but yourself. There is something really dramatic but also freeing performing a song like “It’s You!” in that kind of space. It’s kind of like dancing in your bedroom when no one is watching. I have had a vision to do a music video in a theatre for so long and I think it’s so perfect that I ended up doing it for this song!”
Sitting as the energetic closing moment for the broader five-track EP it’s a feeling that i know, It’s You! powerfully concludes the EP’s oscillating moods and moments. Opening with pillowy-soft introspection with The Secret, Tilly’s dulcet vocals float over serene instrumentals and vulnerable lyricism. The percolating bliss of the EP’s midway point, Valentine, dazzles in driving rhythms and dreamy hooks, and It’s You! concludes on a grittier yet jubilant note, with the entire EP resoundingly reflecting Tilly’s ultimate mission statement. “This EP is a very coming of age story,” says Tilly. “I wrote these songs while I was navigating all the confusing, emotional, and overwhelming moments that come with growing up, especially in your teenage years. They’re honest and vulnerable, but always with a sense of hope that everything is going to be ok. I hope that these songs offer comfort and remind people they’re not alone in what they’re feeling and allow them to find joy in the chaos.”
Starting her musical journey back in 2023, Tilly Fenton has spent the past few years crafting her debut EP, working alongside renowned producers and songwriters Anna Laverty and Michael Belsar, while also channelling inspiration from Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers into her own unique sound. An artist capable of balancing vulnerability with strength, Tilly is one of the rare few who can imbue the emotional complexity of growing up and navigating relationships through a mature lens far beyond her 22 years, with her debut single The Secret and Valentine already captivating listeners along the way, and the latter also featured on The Hot Hits with Nic and Loren on the HIT Network.
Earlier this year, Tilly also ticked off another massive first: completely selling out her first headline show at The Bergy Bandroom, with more live performances slated for later this year to launch her brand new EP which has been many worthwhile years in the making. “Performing live is one of my favourite parts of making music,” shares Tilly. “There’s something so special about feeling the energy in a room, connecting with people in real life, and sharing that moment together. Fans can expect a fun, high-energy show where we dance our hearts out, mixed with intimate acoustic moments for some of my slower songs.”
It’s You! Is out today.
it’s a feeling that i know EP due out October 10.