Lily Seabird’s embraces profound grace and openness on ‘Trash Mountain’

Words by Matt Keenan

Photo Credit: Evan Loigon

What does it mean to lose someone you love? You might not know how to feel at first, staring into the great endless chasm of sadness and grief, trying desperately to make sense of it all. You might even just feel as though your heart has broken into a million different pieces, and like your world will never be quite the same as it once was. However with grief and loss comes healing, and a sense of recollection that brings comfort that the memory of a lost loved one will always be with you, and nothing can destroy or diminish those stories as long as you keep telling them. 

These are questions and themes Lily Seabird bravely faces on her newest record, “Trash Mountain” which is due out tomorrow, April 4th, via Lame-O Records. While she thrives in transit, back home she is anchored by the titular “Trash Mountain,” which is a pink house situated on a decommissioned landfill site at the back of Burlington’s Old North End. The house is surrounded by other artists and creatives and hosts shows, and gatherings, bringing together a community in a way very few places can. It’s here that Seabird has found belonging, friendship, and inspiration and has been passed along in her friend group for the better part of the decade. It’s a symbol of transition and stability: something always evolving and growing but never losing its soul. 

Throughout the nine track record, Seabird emphasizes an intent to keep the record as natural as possible with honest and profound lyricism that exudes more heart than most things you’ll hear this year. The record confidently masters folk rock, and as a body of work continues to develop a soul all its own the longer you listen. It’s the type of record you can’t help but fall in love with, one where you sink back into your chair a bit more and just think about your own life and what it means to you. 

The latest addition to Seabird’s blossoming discography also explores her disillusionment with systemic change, as well as the transition of music from being a casual hobby to a full time career. “Trash Mountain” inspires hope, it represents a record of love and affection towards the experiences that make you a person. It’s a record that reflects on sturdiness through uncertain times, and reminds you that even if you’re not sure if you’re going to make it, you just might after all. 

I had the chance to chat with Lily Seabird about the upcoming record, and how its emotional significance is embodied between meaningful lyricism and a lifetime of musicianship. Check out the highlights from our conversation below!

Best Left Magazine: Hi Lily, first of all thank you so much for taking the time to chat about the record. I had the chance to listen and I absolutely love it. I feel like it’s a record of purpose, that also portrays its emotional significance well. Did you wanna start by telling us a bit of what it was like to make it? 

This record sees a bit of a transition from “Alas,” straying into themes of acceptance and healing, how do you think this tonal shift affected your songwriting as this record was coming to life? 

Lily Seabird: The last couple years I have been writing more frequently than when Alas was written. When I wrote Trash Mountain I was writing everyday and wrote the record within a few months. I think the tonal shift is just a reflection of where I was at. 

Being that this record is also one of community and friendship, did you get the chance to work with any friends from your own community while you were writing or recording the record? Was there anyone who was particularly influential throughout the process? 

Lily Seabird: I showed a lot of the songs to my friends Jackie and Ecca who I live with. Burlington music scene is always inspiring to me and my friends are making some of my favorite music coming out. Everyone who plays on my record (Zack James, Nina Cates, Greg Freeman, Will Seeders, Sam Atallah, Kevin Copeland, Rick Soszynski) really inspires me. Zack, Nina, Greg and Kevin are all amazing songwriters with their own projects, Will and Rick and Sam are all amazing players. Everyone who plays on this record lives here in my community of Vermont. It was great to work with Kevin producing this record because I really love his music The Big Net, the record they put out a few years ago has been on heavy rotation. He also made my friend Hannah Frances' last record which sounds really awesome. All my friends are always influencing me all the time. 

Being that we know “Trash Mountain” is a place of creativity, and gathering, and has sort of a unifying nature, what do you think that means to the people in the area? What do you think the cultural significance is of that site? 

Lily Seabird: It's just a co op house. I don't think theres cultural significance, but there is significance to me and my housemates and people who have lived there. There are 'Trash Mountains' everywhere. 

There’s a lot through this record that is incredibly personal and intimate which brings it to this space of vulnerability that makes it unique and is something I personally love about it. There’s also no doubt you’re proud of a great many aspects of the record. Is there anything in particular you’re most proud of throughout the making of this record? 

Lily Seabird: I think that it is not missing anything. The songs have everything they need to support them and I am happy to have fulfilled the vision of making something that was of the moment and sparse. I told Kevin and the folks who played on the record that I wanted to make something that sounded natural but that was the only goal. I think we accomplished that! 

Lily Seabird finds folk rock heart in ‘Trash Mountain’, which will be available everywhere tomorrow via Lame-O records. A grounded, down to earth project, that embraces love and community and kinship, the latest addition to Seabird’s discography is one you won’t want to miss. 

Trash Mountain Tracklist:

01 Harmonoia

02 Trash Mountain (1pm)

03 Sweepstake

04 Arrow

05 How far away

06 It was like you were coming to wake us back up

07 Albany

08 Trash Mountain (1am)

09 The Fight