A Chat with Lilly Bedard (18.03.25)
Emerging singer-songwriter Lilly Bedard continues to establish herself as a rising voice in the music industry, blending deeply personal storytelling with sonically rich compositions. With a unique blend of alternative pop, folk pop, and singer-songwriter influences, the songstress continues to captivate audiences with her evocative melodies and raw, poetic lyricism. We speak with Bedard to discuss her new single ‘Not Everything Ends’, future plans, and more.
OSR: ‘Not Everything Ends’ feels deeply personal – can you share the story behind writing it?
Bedard: I wrote ‘Not Everything Ends’ late at night, like 1 am; just me and my guitar, trying to make sense of everything I was feeling. It was one of those moments where the song just kind of poured out, no overthinking, just raw emotions. A big part of it came from dealing with my dad being sick. That was a really heavy time for me, and I remember feeling so overwhelmed like everything in my life was shifting and I had no control. My boyfriend Noah was such a rock for me through all of it. He kept me grounded when I felt like I was spiralling. I think a lot of the song comes from that place of realising that even when things are hard, love and connection don’t just disappear. Some things, the important things, really do last.
OSR: You’ve mentioned struggling to write love songs in the past. What made this one different?
Bedard: Yeah, I’ve always found heartbreak easier to write about because there’s so much nuance in pain – there’s longing, regret, anger, acceptance. It’s messy, and that makes for really compelling songwriting. Love, on the other hand, is harder because it’s so easy to fall into clichés or say things that have already been said a million times. I never wanted to write something that felt surface-level or predictable. With ‘Not Everything Ends’, I approached it differently. Instead of just trying to write “a love song”, I focused on what I was authentically feeling in that moment.
I’ve been working more with concepts lately, and this song came from the realization that not all love stories have to be tied to loss or heartbreak. There’s still so much emotion in it, but it’s just happier than my other stuff. And that was a challenge in itself – to write something that feels real and deep without leaning on sadness as the driving force.
OSR: Your lyrics are very introspective and poetic. How do you approach songwriting – do lyrics or melody come first?
Bedard: It’s a little bit of both! Usually, some kind of lyric or concept will come to me randomly and I will make a quick voice memo. It happens when I am driving or walking to class or something like that because of something I notice or think of. Then, when I have time, I will sit down at my guitar or the piano and start with some chords. It usually just flows pretty naturally from there. The lyrics and the melody come at the same time!
OSR: How has your musical style evolved since you first started writing songs at 14?
Bedard: I was very influenced by RnB and pop music when I first started writing. I really looked up to sassier artists like Ariana Grande and SZA, so my music and lyrics reflected this more casual language and tone. I feel like there wasn’t as much depth. Now, I am a lot more inspired by folk and country artists lyrically, and I feel like music is starting to reflect that more and more. I am still trying to find my sound, but things are trending towards more acoustic and honest.
OSR: You balance music with being a full-time college student and athlete. How do you find time for creativity?
Bedard: I like to think of it more as I HAVE to find time for creativity. No matter how busy I am it kinda just finds me. Some nights I completely planned to do my homework, but instead I spend it working through something with my guitar. Songwriting is like breathing for me, and I would 100% be still doing it even if I didn’t release my music. I am just lucky enough to be able to share it with the world.
OSR: Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?
Bedard: There are so, so, so many artists that I adore and that shape my sound, but I think the biggest has to be Fleetwood Mac and Lizzy McAlpine. Really, ‘Dreams’ and ‘Silver Springs’ in particular literally never fail to make me want to run to my guitar and write. I love how delicate and beautiful of a storyteller Lizzy is, and I am really inspired to be like that. Poetic mixed with conversational.
OSR: What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take away from ‘Not Everything Ends’?
Bedard: I want to send the message of hope to anyone who listens. There was definitely a time when I was extremely discouraged that I was never going to find someone that really felt like a soulmate to me, but when I met my boyfriend Noah it felt like I could finally dream again. It is a scary world out there, but there are lasting bits and pieces of happiness and love if you hold out hope!
OSR: Was there a specific moment when you realized you wanted to pursue music seriously?
Bedard: I don’t think there was ever a specific moment. I have always loved music more than anything, but it has always only been like a side dish to my life. Something that is a constant, but never a focus. I mean hell, I am literally in business school right now and going to work as a consultant this summer. However, I think that the older I get the more it gets harder to put on the shelf, and the more I start to really consider I might want to spend my life doing this. The recent success of ‘Not Everything Ends’ has pushed me to start taking myself a bit more seriously and dreaming bigger!
OSR: Can you share a behind-the-scenes moment from recording this song that stands out to you?
Bedard: Such a beautiful moment for me recording ‘Not Everything Ends’ was that my boyfriend Noah (who is not really a drummer) played the drums for the song – the song is about him. Watching him enter my world and do take after take in the studio was so funny to watch because it was like he finally felt my frustration and perfectionism! It was also so meaningful to me that he has a part in the creation of the song itself, and it is something we can share with family and friends forever. It will always be such a special song to me.
OSR: What’s next for you? Are you working on more music, an EP, or a full-length album?
Bedard: I am constantly, constantly writing, and I am SUPER excited about the music I have in the queue. I will be releasing a new song this spring called ‘Love You Like’ which I am really excited about! Hopefully it will be trending towards a bigger, more cohesive project as well.
Many thanks to Lilly Bedard for speaking with us. Find out more about Lilly Bedard on her Instagram and Spotify.
