“In the past, I used to come to songwriting when I was in crisis,” says Lily Seabird. “Only recently have I come to songwriting when I am feeling other things beyond emergency and disruption…I’ve finally accepted that I’m a singer-songwriter. Not everything has to be some big rock song.”
Tragedy surrounded the release of Seabird’s last album, 2024’s Alas., all relating to the death of a close friend, but her new album, Trash Mountain, feels like it offers her a way to process that suffering and find ways to remember her friend while not allowing her to wallow in unhealthy mental states. The songs are stripped down, piercing to the heart of her lyrical insights, giving her room to acknowledge the pain but also moving her forward without the unnecessary weight of those feelings. She cites Elliott Smith, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen as influences on her new approach, as well as the various musical dialects she explores on her new record.
Trash Mountain is a statement of recovery and resilience, a collection of songs that speak to the broken bits in all of us, offering us ways to cope during times that trouble our hearts. Death is unpredictable and shows itself whenever it wants, but Seabird approaches this understanding with humor, grace, and open arms. Despite the hurt that fueled the album’s creation, these tracks are founded on an inherent optimism, a reflective light that seems intent on illuminating all the dark corners of our subconscious. We exist in an inescapable tidal system of high and lows, sadness and euphoria, and Trash Mountain asks that we just let go and ride the waves for as long as we can.
“I don’t have hope for the oppressive systems that abandon us, but I do have hope in people,” she says. “Sure, the world is really messed up, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make something beautiful out of the garbage. We might as well make something beautiful out of what we have got.”
For our latest In Rotation feature, Seabird has curated a playlist that reveals the melancholy nature of winter, a selection of songs which cause us to more carefully analyze and examine the bits of the world that directly effect our own personal perspective. Listen to the playlist below and then check out her reasoning behind each songs’ inclusion.
Originally this was a playlist I called ‘never ending road’. Songs I’ve had on repeat that I’ve just become obsessed with, in the car, at home in solitude. Definitely has a melancholy, questioning energy, but isn’t that at least what winter is for? If I had to make this playlist in the summer though it would probably have the same feel.
1. Elyse Weinberg – “Last Ditch Protocol”
I just discovered Elyse Weinberg recently when my pal Russell (who has an awesome project called Golden Apples) told me to check her out. She only has two records out and never became super known but the songwriting is amazing. Theres something about her that feels really before her time. I am pretty sure Neil Young plays on some of her songs. I really like this song though. I originally made a playlist back in November called ‘songs to forget everything to’ but when I went to look this was the only song on the playlist.
2. Sparklehorse & PJ Harvey – “Paino Fire”
I love the title of this song. I also love this song. But every time I go to put this song on I can never remember how it sounds, I just know I want to listen to it because of the idea of a piano fire. I feel like you can’t go wrong with anything by Sparklehorse or PJ Harvey, and their voices together is just so good to me.
3. Elias Ronnefelt & FAUZIA – “Close”
I recently was on a long, long drive by myself and a friend of mine sent me this record. This song has such an air of desperation to me. I couldn’t stop listening to it. Something almost primal about it.
4. Songs: Ohia – “Just Be Simple”
This is a song I just keep coming back to in the last 6 months. I honestly had dug deep into Jason Molina until this fall. This song just hits so hard for me, I could listen to it over and over again. Right out the gates that first verse just hits like a thousand knives in the heart (in a good way) and when it goes to the ‘everything you hated me for, honey there was so much more, I just didn’t get busted’ – it just gets me every time. It’s almost too relatable.
5. Arthur Russell – “Love Comes Back”
This is the last track on the record Love is Overtaking Me. Which has been in my top 5 for many, many years. I always think of it as the song where he says ‘being sad is not a crime’. My best friend pointed that lyric out to me once and said it in a really sweet voice when we were really sad listening to the record in deep deep winter here in Vermont, and we live in the basement. It was a cozy sad vibe and I feel like whenever I am sad I can hear his voice saying ‘being sad is not a crime’.
6. Judee Sill – “There’s a Rugged Road”
I feel like every fan of Judee Sill says this, but more people need to listen to Judee Sill. I could listen to the record this song is on over and over again. I mean it’s called Heart Food, and that’s exactly what it is. I feel like this song still has the feel of the others, but there’s also hope to it. Really trying to leave things on a more hopeful note these days.
Trash Mountain is out now on Lame-O Records. You can order the album here. Follow her on Instagram.
