Lily Forte Brings the Soul Back to Indie Music
Lily Forte is bringing back soulful indie in a big way, and the up-and-coming rockstar from Los Angeles's latest single, “Out of the Blue,” is a bold cry for recognition.
NEWSROCK
OLIVIA CONNER-BENNETT
2/3/20262 min read
Photos: Julia McKay
Lily Forte is bringing back soulful indie in a big way. The up-and-coming rockstar from Los Angeles is introducing her new single, “Out of the Blue,” as a bold cry for recognition, and I’d say it’s working. Forte’s voice is unlike much of anything I've heard in 2025: rich, soulful, bluesy, emotionally raw, and powerful. Her enunciation is particularly impressive. Her voice immediately reminded me of Lady Gaga mixed with Amy Winehouse, evidently her inspirations, with the way she uses her vibrato and chest voice so poignantly. The sound of her voice matches perfectly with the tone of the song: bluesy, soul-filled indie with hints of rock and pop. That bass carries the instrumentation! The doo-wop-esque backing vocals really complete the vibe.
In this song, she writes about a brutal breakup she wasn’t expecting. You can tell she’s hurt, yet she’s coping by using humour and witty comebacks to get back at this ex-partner–and I love it. She jokes, “Did you find Jesus on the road / Was it in something that you smoked?” She’s clearly not going to let this person get the upper hand, and that badass energy radiates throughout the song. The production is almost aggressive, matching the intensity in her voice, tone, and message. She’s clearly fed up with this person. She begs them to listen to her frustration, but can’t help being cheeky with it, a vibe that I, biased, am obsessed with.
I also have to point out that the way she enunciates “What the fuck was that?” and “Who the fuck are you?” is sooo satisfying. She’s really conveying her anger through her singing style, and I love it. Her voice is so strong and has that classic, old-timey vibe, but with a modern twist. This is a style of singing that has been lacking in recent years, and I’m so glad she’s representing it.
All in all, I was very impressed with this piece of work. Lily Forte is definitely someone who will be on my radar from now on. “Out of the Blue” is out this Friday, November 14th, so be sure to tune in if you miss this style of music just as much as I have.
Listen below:
