Lily Vakili – “Oceans of Kansas”

Lily Vakili’s Oceans of Kansas feels like her most personal release yet, and this time, she’s using her own name again instead of Vakili Band, and it really fits where she’s at creatively. The album came together after a road trip across the U.S. with her brother, where an unexpected visit to a museum in Kansas led to a kind of breakthrough. That moment sparked something, and it runs through the whole record. You can hear her looking inward and pulling from real experiences.

The sound is varied. Some songs come in loud and gritty with bluesy guitar riffs, while others are stripped down and more reflective. There’s even some Bossa Nova thrown in, which is a cool shift. It’s not slick or overly produced. It feels real and a bit unpredictable, like someone figuring things out in real time. To be honest, my favorite track that I played many times is “Photograph”.

What really comes through is her honesty. It doesn’t sound like she’s trying to check any boxes. It sounds like someone who’s lived through a lot and decided to be all in. She’s taking creative chances and making space for things to be raw, messy, and fully present. Lily is touring this fall, so it’s a great time to catch a show. Follow her on social media to stay updated on what’s coming next in 2025.