Lucy McWilliams remembers the first time she saw a recording of Amy Winehouse performing. She was 11 years old, and her muse was performing at Other Voices, one of Ireland’s most prestigious festivals. “I was like… ‘what is this?! Why do I feel sad?’ and that was when I was like: ‘I want to do this.’” She reflects on that moment as the first time she fell in love with music — and clearly, a lot has changed from then until now, as she puts out her debut EP, “Third Second Chance”. But McWilliams’ sensibility to an emotionally-drenched sound hasn’t — even though now, she’s the one behind the mic.

Part of an incredibly talented roster of Irish creatives migrating to London, Lucy McWilliams’ debut EP is a pop masterpiece and one that definitely firms the singer-songwriter as a name to watch in the coming years. Her sounds are edgy, layered and catchy, flexing a natural commanding presence of her voice and robust instrumental palettes.

The EP features work from Zach Dawes, known for his collaborations with the likes of Lana Del Rey and The Last Shadow Puppets, a collaboration McWilliams describes as an outlet for her to explore her sharper edges. “I was actually going through a break-up at the time, and it was the first time I approached writing in a less apologetic way,” she says, “It’s easy to play into this feminine role of people-pleasing, being caring, letting people off where I shouldn’t. But this is the first time I’ve allowed myself to be angry; I still am open to being loved and being hurt, but I am angry, and I’m allowed to be. And I think Zach got that straight away: I always thought I had to be timid and not take up too much space, but he showed me I could be confident and embody being both soft and hard, quiet and loud.”

Here, we caught up with McWilliams to discuss the big release, her artistic upbringing, and what’s next in her surely promising career ladder. Keep scrolling…

And listen to “Third Second Chance”…

Read the interview…

Hi Lucy! Thanks for chatting with us. How are you feeling? What have you been up to lately?
Hey! I’m good thank you! Woke up today with lots of emotions but overall feeling excited. I’ve been getting ready for release, which always seems so far away but really creeps up on you.

Congrats on your debut EP! Tell us a bit about the tracks and your inspirations behind the project.
Thank you so much. It all came together fully in about 2 weeks last June, which feels like a lifetime ago. I think because it’s my first record it really draws from so many different places, it feels like everything I’ve done before leading up to here. But we made the record over in LA and that was inspirational, just walking down the streets, and living in the city, it has a dramatically different feel to London or Dublin – that’s a huge driver, everything’s go go go.

Can you take us through your upbringing? What initially led you to a career in music, and which artists or experiences have influenced your musical journey?
Music has always been something swerving in and out of my life, I guess starting with church and school choirs, but nothing too serious. Then I started struggling a lot at school, so my focus became music, singing and writing. I’ve always wanted to sing, it felt like my own little safe world.

Amy Winehouse was my first love and her voice in particular. I remember listening to her and getting goosebumps from music for the first time.

Talk me through your creative process, and what part of the process you enjoy most.
It’s so different each time. Sometimes it’s when I’m alone, and the music comes to me, probably in my parents’ home writing at the piano. But maybe if you caught me on another day I’d say 100% when I’m in the room with someone else and we’re bouncing off each other- there is really no other feeling like it , when you’re writing with someone and you both know you have found that missing link.

As a songwriter, how do you draw inspiration for your lyrics, and what themes do you find yourself exploring most often?
The lyrics come from many different places. Sometimes it’s from a movie I’m watching, or something a friend said , but usually, I like to sit down with my notebook and read and listen to music and just start off a flow of thoughts. It usually tends to go back to a longing for life and love. Love within the people around me or my own emotional state at the time. You know how it is? I guess trying to understand the reasons we are how we are, and a longing for connection comes back around almost every time.

Do you remember some of your earliest influences?
I had a piano teacher, Dawn, and I only saw her for a few months, but she entirely changed the way I thought about music. Over the years, I had some incredible teachers who definitely inspired me. I remember loving The Cardigans so much growing up from when I was really little and I always wanted to “be like them when I grow up”.

How do you see this project reflecting your artistic evolution?
My sound has changed a lot. I think this reflects where I am, musically and personally, and I am also trying to have more fun with the music. It’s a lot bolder and louder, which I think I was shying away from for a while.

What are some other artists you’re loving to hear at the moment? And do you have any dream collaborations?
I love Samia, she’s incredible. Also slow pulp, Newdad, and Etta Marcus. There’s so much amazing music out now.

What else excites you about 2024? Any projects in the pipeline you’d like to share with us?
I definitely want to go back to LA at some point, but for the moment I’m in London, writing new music and staying put for a while!