I first encountered Lili Trifilio, the lead singer and songwriter of Beach Bunny, when her band opened at a show I was attending a couple of years ago (for anyone curious, we were there to see Remo Drive). She and a friend of mine knew each other, so we got to talk with her before she went inside the venue to prepare. Amongst me and my friends in the music scene, it was a unanimous thought that if any local band made it big, it would be Beach Bunny.
Trifilio’s introduction to performing was in high school when she covered E.T. by Katy Perry for a variety show. The praise she received led her to pursue music as a hobby through the remainder of high school and into college, with Trifilio attending DePaul University to study journalism. She was part of a duo called Fingers Crossed for a short while before beginning a solo project on Bandcamp as Beach Bunny. She met the future members of her band, who were also students at DePaul, and they joined her. Beach Bunny was no longer a solo act.
Their big break came with the single Prom Queen, which went viral on TikTok. They were signed to a record label immediately after graduating, fulfilling the prophecy amongst local music fans that Beach Bunny was slated for success. Since then, the band has released the album Honeymoon, which Trifilio describes as a deeply personal project.
Trifilio describes her creative process as channeling her life experiences and emotions, along with other sources that she encounters over time. She describes using colors, non-music media, and overheard conversations as inspiration. She collects these experiences and channels them into lyrics, writing her feelings down and then shaping them into songs. Trifilio never wants to lose the magic of her perspective, and this is made clear in her lyrics. Below is a snippet of one of my favorite Beach Bunny songs that I feel encompasses the emotionality of her work.
“Let's break up, make out, make up
Just pretend we're fine
'Cause I know you miss me
And I'm always on your mind, mind
But if you want me, why can't we still be together?
You've got problems, but I promise they'll get better
We both know that I can't wait on you forever
I still wonder if we're meant to be together”
Little c creativity refers to problem-solving and personal discovery. I believe that Trifilio’s work is a perfect example of how little c creativity can still be on a large scale. In working through her personal struggles, she creates art that is widely enjoyed by millions. Her use of music as a personal diary has allowed her a platform to share her experiences and views of the world. Although she is still new to the international music scene, I am bursting with anticipation about what Beach Bunny will create next.
Sources:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/beach-bunny-honeymoon-interview-951999/
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/beach-bunny-interview/
https://www.nylon.com/beach-bunny-interview-honeymoon
I agree that this is little c creativity, and it is a really interesting instance of it! I do not generally think of little c creativity being on a bigger scale, so it was intriguing to read about how this is the case for Trifilio and Beach Bunny. I think it is awesome that one person’s personal creative developments can resonate with millions of people. I also like that Trifilio uses the process of collecting in everyday life and that this has such a large impact on her music. The idea that anything has the potential to inspire her to write something new is amazing. I look forward to listening to Beach Bunny’s music for the first time!
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