With two stunning alt-country / indie rock EPs (2022’s Sleep Country and 2023’s I Don’t Like My Chances On The Outside), childhood friends Christie Gardner and Helen Dixon proved themselves a new duo with something special going on. As lilo, their songs reflected the life of twenty-somethings in and out of love and luck, with this human element perfectly weighted alongside their arresting harmonies and rich instrumentation.
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With two stunning alt-country / indie rock EPs (2022’s Sleep Country and 2023’s I Don’t Like My Chances On The Outside), childhood friends Christie Gardner and Helen Dixon proved themselves a new duo with something special going on. As lilo, their songs reflected the life of twenty-somethings in and out of love and luck, with this human element perfectly weighted alongside their arresting harmonies and rich instrumentation.
While informed by a deep understanding and love of folk music, with references to Karen Dalton and Julie Collins a regular occurrence, their music is also modern, in line with the likes of Julia Jacklin, Laura Marling and Mitski. They say they like to give their songs “a poppier lean” because “We want to have fun and try not to think too much about genre. We just write what we feel makes sense for the sentiment of each song.” Signed to Dalliance Recordings (Francis of Delirium, HighSchool, Gia Margaret, Rowena Wise), 2025 will finally see the release of their brilliant debut album, Blood Ties’. A title that reflects the pair’s enduring bond after years spent together, the inspiration for its making came after a turbulent summer they both endured;“At the time, it felt like we just couldn’t catch a break, it was just one disaster after another,” Helen says.
As is often the way, their pain is our gain with the resultant set of songs feeling fully fleshed out and their best yet, a benefit from them not rushing the process. With its understated beauty, the band explore highs and lows across Blood Ties - feelings of numbness, break-ups and hardship mesh with day dreams, an open heart and moments of happiness. You start to understand the significance more when hearing Christie describe it as “a little window into our lives that we get to keep forever.
” Such is their symbiosis that it is at times difficult to separate one voice fromanother;“We live intertwined lives and as a result, we write about each others’ experiences as much as our own, ” Helen explains. An emotional journey and truly rewarding listen, ‘Blood Ties’ is released on March 28th 2025. lilo will follow up its release with a UK headline tour that takes in record stores and concert halls, culminating in a headline show at The George T avern in London on the 10th of April.
