{"id":92798,"date":"2025-05-22T16:36:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/?p=92798"},"modified":"2025-05-22T16:36:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:36:35","slug":"rising-songstress-lillie-jo-talks-the-creative-process-inspiration-behind-latest-release-tequila-ft-da-nino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/2025\/05\/rising-songstress-lillie-jo-talks-the-creative-process-inspiration-behind-latest-release-tequila-ft-da-nino\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising Songstress Lillie-Jo talks the creative process &#038; inspiration behind latest release &#8216;Tequila&#8217; ft Da Ni\u00f1o"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-92814\" src=\"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"866\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-2-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-2-1-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-2-1-390x520.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Get ready for a musical revolution with <a href=\"https:\/\/ditto.fm\/tequila-lillie-jo-featdanino\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8216;Tequila&#8217;<\/a>, the new UK garage track by Lillie-Jo featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/danino_uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Da Ni\u00f1o<\/a>. The track, which dropped on Friday, 16th May, is a dynamic fusion of UK garage and Latin rhythms, creating a genre that Lillie-Jo has coined &#8216;Latin Garage&#8217;\u2014blending the electrifying energy of UK garage with the infectious beats of reggaeton and Latin influences.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who or what ignited your passion for music and drove you to pursue it as a career?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been surrounded by music for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a pub \u2014 my parents were publicans \u2014 and there was always music playing, always energy and emotion in the air. Then I went to a music and arts-focused school in Camden, which only deepened that connection. From a really young age, I knew I wanted to be a singer. It was never a phase \u2014 it\u2019s always been the goal, and I\u2019ve never given up on it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How would you describe your sound in a way that sets you apart from the crowd, and why do you think it resonates with listeners?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My sound is unapologetically British \u2014 it\u2019s nostalgic, familiar, and distinctive. I have one of those voices that people tend to recognise instantly, and I take pride in that. I started in the R&amp;B and pop space, but over time, I carved out my own lane, blending genres and drawing from my roots. I think what makes it connect is that it taps into something real and sentimental for UK listeners \u2014 it feels like a modern take on a sound they grew up with.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Your latest release \u2018Tequila\u2019, featuring Da Ni\u00f1o, is making waves across all major platforms! Can you take us behind the scenes of its creation and share the story or inspiration behind it?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Da Ni\u00f1o and I have been friends since we were 13, and we\u2019ve always talked about making music together. One day we were chatting about the word \u201cSpanglish\u201d \u2014 how it\u2019s actually in the dictionary \u2014 and it sparked this idea of blending cultures, genres, and languages into one track. That\u2019s how Tequilawas born: a fusion of UK garage and Reggaeton that truly embodies both of us.<\/p>\n<p>The journey wasn\u2019t easy \u2014 we took it to a few producers who didn\u2019t quite get the vision, until we brought it to Dukus, who absolutely nailed it. Our first live performance was at DJ AG\u2019s setup in King\u2019s Cross \u2014 a stage shared by the likes of Ed Sheeran and Jessie J \u2014 and the crowd\u2019s reaction was unforgettable. Garage legends even came up to me afterward and said the track felt nostalgic, like something that would help keep the genre alive. That meant the world to me.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LZ9x_ZlbUtw?si=nQeEoS-fcQDIHp1e\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Out of all the songs you\u2019ve written, which one holds the deepest meaning for you, and what\u2019s the story behind its emotional connection?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a song I haven\u2019t released yet called Bye Bye Baby that holds the deepest meaning for me. I wrote it during one of the hardest times in my life \u2014 going through a huge breakup and carrying what felt like the weight of the world. The lyrics are so raw and vulnerable that I\u2019ve honestly questioned whether I\u2019ll ever release it. But I know it\u2019ll resonate with people. It\u2019s just scary letting the world in on that level of personal pain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Striking a chord with your audience while staying true to your artistry can be tricky\u2014how do you navigate that balance?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Being independent my whole career has given me the freedom to stay true to myself. I\u2019ve always made the music I want to make, without compromise. I think my fans respect that \u2014 they know I\u2019m real and that I show up as my full self. I love bringing them into my process, especially through TikTok Live. That connection is powerful, and it helps me stay grounded in what matters most: authenticity.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-92811\" src=\"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lillie-Jo-Da-Nino-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lillie-Jo-Da-Nino-1-1.jpg 650w, https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lillie-Jo-Da-Nino-1-1-355x400.jpg 355w, https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lillie-Jo-Da-Nino-1-1-461x520.jpg 461w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>What has been the most unforgettable or career-defining moment for you so far, and how did it shape you as an artist?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Filming the Tequila music video, without a doubt. I\u2019ve done some amazing things \u2014 been on TV, worked with artists like Jason Derulo and Becky Hill \u2014 but nothing compares to the last day of shooting that video. My videographer Shan and I literally burst into tears because everything we\u2019d worked so hard for came together perfectly. I poured my heart into the song and the visuals \u2014 it feels like my baby. We even got Calum Best to star in it, which added that extra bit of star power and helped the track reach audiences I wouldn\u2019t have otherwise.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you could pass on a single piece of wisdom to aspiring artists, what would it be, and why is it so important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t give up. It sounds simple, but it\u2019s the hardest thing to do when things feel stuck or slow. Turning a dream into reality means turning it into a plan, then showing up for that plan every single day. It takes time \u2014 sometimes a lot of it \u2014 but if you truly love what you do, time becomes part of the process, not a barrier. If you want it badly enough, no amount of time or setback can stop you.<\/p>\n<p><strong> What exciting projects or goals do you have on the horizon, and how are you preparing to level up your artistry?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been writing my garage album for a couple of years now. It\u2019s something I\u2019m really passionate about. I started going live on TikTok to fund my music and connect with my audience, and it honestly changed my life. I decided to focus on Tequila as a single first because I knew how much my fans loved it \u2014 they\u2019d been begging for it for over a year!<\/p>\n<p>Now the plan is to finish the album by the end of this year, ready for release in the new year. I know that sounds like a wait, but I want to get it just right. And as always, I\u2019ll keep everyone updated with the journey through my live streams!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-92816\" src=\"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-1-1.jpg 700w, https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-1-1-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-1-1-390x520.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lastly, is there anything you\u2019d love to share with your supporters or something on your heart that we haven\u2019t touched on?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I want to shout out TikTok Live because it genuinely changed the game for me. I started using it just over a year ago to promote my song No Rules with no budget \u2014 I\u2019d hop into people\u2019s livestreams and ask them to check it out! Through that, I met some amazing people who introduced me to Hannah Honey, the founder of HeyHoney, Europe\u2019s biggest TikTok Live agency. She gave me a job streaming five nights a week for three hours a night, and within months, I\u2019d broken the women\u2019s weekly leaderboard record with 11.4 million diamonds.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, I\u2019ve built my brand, my name, and my audience through the app. It\u2019s been a huge part of my journey and I\u2019d honestly recommend it to any artist trying to break through. You\u2019ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Tequila&#8217; is available now <a href=\"https:\/\/ditto.fm\/tequila-lillie-jo-featdanino\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">via all major platforms<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/1qHIAOFqUtgVQ6QNh8RMAo?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Connect with Lillie-Jo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lilliej0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@lilliej0x?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafH2AeKhsGV25tZPkEZ_QvDo1hZNxyIg4JO86q4TpEPtdVpWoqU1z9Gs8-iCQ_aem_wdI50gY0LjMmXmS3dXhl8g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tikok<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/058ajia4Rfr3PncbOKX8p6?si=BPlNogafRA281fD8nk4HNg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spotify<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@lilliejo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Credits:<\/strong> All photography and videography by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/shanonthegram\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@shanonthegram<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get ready for a musical revolution with &#8216;Tequila&#8217;, the new UK garage track by Lillie-Jo featuring Da Ni\u00f1o. The track, which dropped on Friday, 16th May, is a dynamic fusion of UK garage and Latin rhythms, creating a genre that Lillie-Jo has coined &#8216;Latin Garage&#8217;\u2014blending the electrifying energy of UK garage with the infectious beats [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":92808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1,4081],"tags":[1394,190,853,854,11643,3697],"class_list":{"0":"post-92798","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"category-music-interviews","9":"tag-interview","10":"tag-new-music","11":"tag-singer","12":"tag-songwriter","13":"tag-tequila","14":"tag-uk-garage"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Performance-shot-outfit-35.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92798"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92823,"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92798\/revisions\/92823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nijimagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}