With a voice like honey and a sound she calls “Americana soul,” Seattle-born singer-songwriter Lila Forde carries a timeless musical lineage into the now. Drawing from deep wells of jazz, folk, and R&B, Forde’s debut album VESSEL is both a confident introduction and a soulful statement of purpose — one that honors the past while boldly forging her own path.
Raised in a spiritual household without a TV, Forde grew up grounded — literally — with her feet in the dirt and her ears tuned to the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nancy Wilson. “There’s nothing else in this world I could possibly do,” she says. “I’ve known that from an early age; this is what I was put on this earth to do.”
That calling rings true across VESSEL, a cathartic coming-of-age album that highlights her improvisational roots, jazz-trained phrasing, and lyrical vulnerability. But Forde’s musical journey wasn’t linear. After college, she played anywhere she could around Los Angeles — from moody jazz sets in restaurants to makeshift stages in malls. A chance encounter on New Year’s Day led to a standout run on The Voice Season 24, where she reached the Top 5 under John Legend’s mentorship. The experience, she says, “didn’t define me, but it did affirm me.”
Affirmation soon turned into action. Forde crowdfunded her debut through a Kickstarter campaign, raising over $16,000 from early fans and recording the entire album in just three days with producer Aidan Carroll and a handpicked group of players. “It was all vibes,” she says. “The right players, the right space, and the right emotional dynamic.”
The record opens with today’s single, “Temptation”, a flirty, retro-fueled track dripping with ‘70s soul-pop swagger. It’s followed by the smoky, jazz-saturated “All I Expected”, the Americana-anchored anthem “Brick by Brick”, and the album’s emotional and spiritual centerpiece, “Vessel.” That meditative title track features a stirring orchestral arrangement from viola virtuoso Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, turning what started as a mantra into something cosmic.
Forde’s range is equally evident on the tender ballad “Honesty,” the Bill Withers–inspired “‘Til You Melt,” and the closing track “The Masquerade Is Over,” captured live during a background jazz gig — ambient clinking and all. “It’s so real and raw and in the moment,” she says. “That song is such a big part of who I am. It had to be on the record.”
More than just a debut, VESSEL is a musical autobiography — unpolished, genre-fluid, and full of grace. It’s about presence, purpose, and being open enough to let the music move through you. “I want to be a timeless artist,” Forde says. “I want the songs to last.”
With VESSEL, she’s well on her way.
Vessel encompasses everything I want to be as an artist—open, receptive, and in flow. It’s about getting out of my own way so the music can move through me, like a download from the universe.
You grew up in a home without a TV, surrounded by music and meditation. How do you think that upbringing shaped your artistry—and the kind of artist you are now?
Being immersed in music from a young age made it feel like something that’s in my DNA—not something I chose, but something I am. The same goes for meditation. I was surrounded by adults practicing mindfulness, and that became my baseline. Those were my role models, and I think that early grounding shaped both the way I create and the way I move through the world.
Many of your songs feel like they come from a deeply intuitive place. Do you find songwriting to be more of a craft or a channeling process?
Both! Some songs arrive fully formed, like a lightning bolt. Others take months of chiseling, slowly revealing themselves like a sculpture. It’s part magic, part discipline.
“Brick by Brick” is such a powerful metaphor for building something meaningful over time. How do you stay patient and intentional in an industry that often rewards speed and spectacle?
That song is my own reminder to stay the course—one foot in front of the other. Don’t get distracted by what others are doing. Keep your eyes on the vision, stay steady, and trust that you’ll get there.
“All I Expected” started with a single overheard line. Do you often pull inspiration from conversations or moments like that? What’s your process for capturing those sparks?
Absolutely. That little snippet snapped me out of a deep writer’s block. Sometimes my own life feels too overwhelming to write about in real time, so channeling someone else’s story helps me reenter the creative flow.
You’ve cited everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Nancy Wilson as influences. How do those legends echo through your music, and how do you keep their spirit alive while staying true to your own voice?
I see all my influences as colors on a palette. I might dip into a little Bonnie here, a touch of Nancy there—but in the end, they blend into a spectrum that’s uniquely mine.
Your run on The Voice was a catalyst, but it’s clear you were already on your path. What did that experience teach you about trust—both in yourself and in your vision?
I’ll never forget heading into my first live round and John Legend telling me, “Don’t try to out-sing or out-perform anyone. Just go out there and be Lila, and the world will be convinced.” That was such a powerful affirmation, from someone I look up to so much! It taught me to trust that being fully myself is enough.
There’s a sense of balance in VESSEL—between light and dark, groove and stillness. Was that intentional, or did the songs naturally fall into place that way?
That balance happened naturally. I love to dance, to move to a funky bass line—but there’s also a deep, reflective side of me. I hadn’t consciously noticed the duality until now, but I’m glad both parts of me show up on this album.
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson’s surprise orchestral arrangement on “Vessel” sounds like a magical moment. What was it like hearing your song transformed like that for the first time?
There was barely any discussion beforehand. When he sent me the arrangement, I didn’t give a single note—it was just exactly how the song was meant to exist. It felt like we were communicating on a different plane, beyond words. I was completely blown away.
You describe this album as a “well-balanced meal.” What do you hope listeners walk away with after they’ve had their first full listen?
I hope they feel satisfied—like they’ve had just enough of everything. A little sweet, a little salty, something crunchy, something rich. A full emotional and sonic meal… but nothing overdone.
Listen to the new album here:
Spotify
