Raquel Lily
Birmingham, Alabama, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2015
Music
Press
“New to the Birmingham music scene is Raquel Lily; equipped with her green guitar and an eclectic vocal timbre, she has been hitting the local scene with her trio. They have been performing original songs that can be described as “Indie-Pop with a Retro flair.” Raquel’s musical roots began in the Philippines, singing as early as 3 years old and writing simple pop/rock songs at 11. Growing up in New York, she began her musical pursuit as front woman of multiple bands. While continuing her musical development, she began college in Miami, but moved to California to finish her Neurobiology degree. There, she met Fred Mohns at a local music studio, whom she began to record her original material with. After graduation in 2013, she moved to Birmingham and now works at UAB as a Neurophysiology Technologist, in addition to a full time musician.” - Tracy Wright
"New to Birmingham, but already scratching a place in the local live music circus is this winning world citizen, with her notebook of indie-pop hooks and handles-- Raquel's life-track reflects the exotic experiences that stream into her sunny song file; she's lived in the Philippines, was raised in New York, studied in Florida and Michigan. graduated school in California. A career in Neurobiology has her currently in the 'Ham,where she's fronting a trio at a growing number of this area's late-night hotpots--" - Keith Thomas Harrelson
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Hello! My name is Raquel Lily. I’ve been singing as early as I can remember. I’m well on my way to becoming a crazy cat lady (two Maine coons and counting!). My favorite color is green. In fact, I own a green guitar, who I named Gretschen.
Born in the Philippines, I’ve grown up in a very musical family. I started performing in front of people as soon as I could formulate words. My parents would take me to these lounges full of grown-ups, and little ol’ me would perform “Wooden Heart,” by Elvis Presley. When I was 7, we moved to New York.
Growing up, I loved listening to Classic Rock. I am absolutely obsessed with The Beatles. I was that weird kid in school that listened to their “Mom and Dad’s music,” but I embraced the fact that I was unique. At age 12, the Beatles inspired me to play the guitar and ultimately write my own songs.
You’ll probably never guess this about me, but I was really into heavy metal. Like the angsty-teen I was, I “sang” in my first metal band when I was 14, then another when I was 17. This really forced me out of my awkward, introverted shell, and allowed me to be confident in my individuality.
I didn’t play much guitar again until college, bringing my acoustic with me when I moved to Miami. When I wasn’t in class, I was singing and writing. My friends and I frequented this dive bar, “Churchill’s Pub,” for weekly open mics, where I was really able to cultivate a passion for performing songs. It was then that I realized this is what I wanted to do; I needed to pursue a career in music.
At 21, I drove across the country to California to gain perspective on West Coast music and, of course, to finish my degree. After changing my major about a dozen times (shift happens), I graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior.
As life pulled me through another trip across the country, I fell in love with a little-big city in Alabama called Birmingham. So, I ended up moving there, and now work as a Neurophysiology Technologist at the UAB Hospital.
When I get home every day, I kick off my shoes and work on music; I write and record all of my songs in my bedroom, where I feel like I can really be myself. I continue to write and play because it has always been my dream as a young girl to do what I am doing now. Most of all, I have fun writing songs and performing them for people. It allows me to connect to people I’ve never even spoke to, which in itself is what it’s all about.
I hope you enjoy my songs and thank you so much for listening!
Band Members
Links
