By Kara Kokinos

Photo courtesy of artist.

Setting boundaries is an ever-evolving process, though it seems to come more naturally to some. Carol’s debut single, ‘Lilies’ is a testament to that process, and the song itself has evolved as much as the person behind it. Despite being one of the songwriter’s first attempts, the message of ‘Lilies’ has remained the same, despite a clear maturation. The song was first written at the age of 16, followed by another version concocted in the singer’s bedroom two years ago, and the most recent coming out as a goodbye to her past songwriting style and to usher in new levels of artistry.

Defining her artistic direction meant the stated objectives of “honesty, emotion, and vulnerability” but Carol is not limited to that in a musical setting; journaling and writing poetry are a daily practice that bleeds into her songwriting. The processes overlap immensely and she often uses excerpts from her journals as inspiration; Carol’s poetry will even find its way onto her forthcoming EP in the form of two spoken word pieces. It’s a time consuming process but one she’s happy to put energy into, as evidenced by her constant reworking of ‘Lilies.’ The song has become a theme, revisited because of the message’s applicability. The metaphor was written before it was experienced fully and she has aimed to bring maturity to a sentiment she still holds true.

‘Lilies’ was never written about a certain person, rather an energy that Carol had found herself engulfed by. It evokes protection and self preservation, setting boundaries between a person and the growth they nurture. Carol skims over the incredible amounts of inner strength and self-knowledge this takes while we talk, stating, “I think the song was very naïve,” quickly clarifying, “It’s not a bad thing but it is nostalgic.” The now-20 year-old music student likes looking at how her perspective has changed since she first began writing and on the processes of giving, taking, and contributing. In the description of the song, she recounts how “in the past four years this song has been sung sweetly and angrily, it has been passive and passionate.” This progression has been echoed in her own evolution; abandoning pleas and sweetness while learning to assert oneself. Exercising her voice while centering the inclusive and vulnerable is Carol’s end goal as a writer, woman, and person. She hopes people will take that same self-possession away from the song, taking care of themselves in all their relationships, realizing their own boundaries, and allowing for self reflection.

Listen to the song below and be sure to follow Carol on socials for forthcoming releases.

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