Lily Franc – The Fitting Room – out now!
There is something immediately appealing about Lily Franc’s The Fitting Room. The Dutch singer-songwriter takes the familiar anxieties of early adulthood and turns them into six interconnected character studies, each examining a different pressure, fantasy or relationship that can shape a young person’s sense of self. The central metaphor is simple but effective. Like clothes in a fitting room, the identities we inherit can be tried on, rejected or taken home. Franc’s songs understand that deciding what fits can be harder than it sounds.
Her musical palette makes the EP particularly engaging. Indie pop provides the foundation, while country and folk influences bring warmth to the songwriting. Franc’s classical violin training adds another dimension, giving the arrangements a cinematic quality that distinguishes her from more conventional acoustic pop. She is equally comfortable with playful funk on fun sponge and the more reflective textures of under the weather, demonstrating a willingness to let each song develop its own personality.
burnt out gifted kids club is perhaps the clearest statement of Franc’s songwriting ambitions. Rather than simply describing exhaustion, the song explores the deeper problem of allowing achievement to become an identity. fun sponge approaches a similar issue from a more mischievous angle, questioning the social pressure to appear unaffected. Franc’s ability to make these observations feel conversational rather than preachy is one of the EP’s biggest strengths.
The emotional arc becomes increasingly compelling as the record progresses. under the weather captures the awkward distance of unresolved heartbreak, while old leather jacket turns rejection into an opportunity for self-recognition. soldier is particularly perceptive in its treatment of relationships, arguing for mutual support without suggesting that love requires self-erasure. By the time for old times sake arrives, the EP has earned its sense of closure.
Franc’s background helps explain the confidence behind the performances. A violinist since childhood, she has developed a musical identity that combines classical discipline with the immediacy of contemporary pop songwriting. Her recognition through Dutch talent programmes and institutions suggests that others have noticed the potential too. The Fitting Room is not flawless, nor does it need to be. Its appeal lies in the feeling that Franc is genuinely figuring things out in real time, and inviting the listener to do the same.
