Lily Meola

Lily Meola just can’t stop thinking about the odds, from where she was born to the talent she’s been gifted. On her debut album Lucky to Be, the singer-songwriter celebrates all the universal dots connected to make her who she is: a Hawaii native, a beloved daughter, a friend of Willie Nelson, and one of the most stunning vocalists you’ll ever hear in country music and beyond.

The odds of encountering someone like Meola are fantastical. A true bohemian artist shaped by Maui's verdant, ancient nature and eclectic people—from her free-spirited mom to a country music legend—she is both a hippie and a fashion plate who even has a pet deer named "Doenut." All of these facets inform Lucky to Be, an album of smart indie-country with a discernible Western flair. As a native, she embraces Hawaii's huge ranching scene and the paniolo, the Hawaiian cowboys.

Summoning a dream-folk mood alongside primary producer Nick Lobel, Steve Solomon, and Hunter Metts, the East Nashville-recorded album was deeply influenced by Meola’s mother Nancy, her north star, who died after a battle with cancer in 2020. Having released music since her teens, Meola initially sang jazz standards—an easier path for someone who struggled with dyslexia. However, after meeting music publisher Leslie DiPiero, she threw herself into developing her own unique songwriting approach. Ultimately, the heart of the album is captured in its title track: "Despite all the good and bad things I’ve had thrown my way, I’m lucky to be experiencing it. We all are.