Lily Hain shines on the beautiful sophomore album Learning To Let Go, a blend of infectious alt-pop and heartfelt indie-folk.
Arriving after a run of five singles, the twelve-track record marks a new chapter for the New York-based singer-songwriter, following her first tour in January.
Learning To Let Go is a record of contrasts, balancing infectious choruses and wide-ranging harmonies with honest intimate songwriting and delicate indie-folk arrangements. Seven of its twelve tracks are previously unreleased, expanding on the story Hain has been telling through the singles that preceded the album.
Songs such as ‘Settle’ and ‘Noise Ordinance’ showcase Hain’s pop instincts, while ‘Dog To A Bone’, ‘Ecstasy & Hell’ and ‘The Wildest Flower’ take a more stripped-back approach, offering moments of respite before the record turns towards the grittier edges of ‘Bite The Bullet’ and ‘Functional Freeze’. The album closes with its title track, where anthemic chorus lines sit alongside acoustic guitars and intricate vocal melodies, bringing its themes of change and acceptance into focus.
Discussing the project, Lily explains:
“I wrote Learning To Let Go during a period of massive change. After losing my dad in 2024, it felt like everything I knew flew out the window, and I had to learn how to navigate this new reality. So much was going on around me: my relationships were changing, I went through heartbreak, and I was dealing with a lot of burnout after 4 years of back-to-back self-managed, Independent Releases. Even though the album is largely about loss, I don’t think it’s a sad album. It’s an album about healing, hope, growth, and life lessons. There’s something to be said about living through your worst nightmare and living to tell the tale. Learning To Let Go is the feeling of being in a dark tunnel and seeing the light at the end. I hope Learning To Let Go can give comfort to anyone going through something similar and serve as a reminder that no matter how hard it gets, there is always a silver lining.”
Hain’s story began in 2020 with the release of her debut single ‘Graveyard’, followed by her first EP, Drifted, in 2021. Her debut album, Fatal Flaws, subsequently earned acclaim and airplay from BBC Radio 1, establishing Hain as an independent artist capable of moving between grunge, pop and more intimate songwriting.
Further recognition followed when her single ‘OH GOD’ took first place in the AAA category of the International Songwriting Competition’s 2024 songwriting competition, while the grungy ‘Internalize’ featured in Dove’s ‘Most Likely To’ campaign.
Hain describes Learning To Let Go as the older sister of Fatal Flaws, and the comparison reflects the evolution of her songwriting. The new record is wiser, folkier and more reflective, while retaining the vulnerability and candour that have remained central to her work. Across the album, Hain’s writing carries the perspective of an artist looking back on periods of upheaval while still allowing herself to sit within the uncertainty of the present.
After five years immersed in New York City’s music scene, alongside a childhood in North Carolina, Hain has continued to build an audience both locally and internationally. ‘Learning To Let Go’ captures that progression without losing sight of the independent spirit that has shaped her career, turning deeply personal experiences into songs that leave room for connection and hope.
Hain will celebrate the release with a show at New York’s Mercury Lounge on September 22nd.
Listen below:
