TRENDING

Lily Brooks O'Briant is back, and she's here to heal your broken heart.  

The actress/singer/songwriter—whose latest EP, Hopeless Romantic, is streaming today—says she wants listeners to feel what she learned while writing it: That it's ok to feel every emotion that comes with love. Even the sad ones.

“I’ve always been a hopeless romantic and this EP really reflects that," she tells us. "It’s a story of heartbreak and a right-person-wrong-time situation but also realizing I want that love story happy ending that I have read about."

The EP, which features six new songs, is inspired by Lily's own experiences, from love at first sight (peep Track 3, "Romeo and Juliet"), to betrayal between baes (queue "One More", pls).

Naturally, we had to know more (and by more, we mean *everything*) about Lily's own journey through heartbreak, so we sat down to talk all things Hopeless Romantic, self-care and entering her single-girl era.

@lilybrooksobriant

Girls' Life: First things first: Tell us the story behind Hopeless Romantic.

Lily Brooks O'Briant: This EP is a very personal look into what it's like to go through heartbreak but still have hope for the future. Each song reflects a different part of that journey—starting with the initial pain and sadness, moving through anger and the push-and-pull of wanting that love back, and then the confusion that comes with blurred lines, followed by more sadness once you realize the love is truly over.

GL: Which song on Hopeless Romantic did you write first? 

Lily: The first song I wrote for the EP was "Romeo and Juliet" in April 2023, just two days after going through a painful breakup. The idea for the song came out of nowhere. Even though the experience was heartbreaking and sad, we're still friends and he's been really supportive. Writing that song felt like a way to process all those emotions and set the tone for the rest of the EP. 

GL: Is there a song that you're most excited for fans to hear?

Lily: I'm really excited for fans to hear "But I Don't Know". It's a song we wrote during the winter, and it tells the story of what happened last Halloween. We filmed the music video for it and made the whole thing a Halloween party theme, which fits the vibe perfectly. The video is releasing on October 2, and I can't wait for everyone to see it!

GL: What lesson do you want listeners to take away from Hopeless Romantic?

Lily: The EP is about finding strength in vulnerability and realizing that even though relationships can be messy, they help you grow and learn more about yourself. I want people to feel like it's okay to still have hope, even after heartbreak, and that those experiences can help shape who you are. 

@lilybrooksobriant

GL: It sounds like Hopeless Romantic is really personal for you.

Lily: It's entirely based on my own experiences, and my co-writer Ethan has been a huge part of that process. "Romeo and Juliet" came from a real-life heartbreak in April, and "How Pathetic" was written in June when I was feeling confused about the situation. Each song just reflects a different phase that I was going through emotionally. Every song is a piece of my story. 

GL: What about the production process? Any memorable moments? 

Lily: The Halloween party theme for the "But I Don't Know" video was so much fun. My co-star, Gavin White, and I met a couple of years ago at a movie premiere in NYC. He was so sweet to play the male lead for me and totally nailed it! My younger sister, Hannah, directed the video and did such an incredible job. Her friends who were on the tech crew at her high school helped with roles like set design, assistant director, production assistant and lighting crew. My mom was in charge of the snacks!

GL: We have to ask—what's next for you?

Lily:  I've been living in and loving my single-girl era, and I'm proud of the young woman I'm becoming. The music I've written in 2024 has an edge, and the songs are stronger and more confident. While I still lean into my singer-songwriter vibe, expect a sassier sound from me early next year! I could end up releasing a couple of songs later this fall, so stay tuned!

GL: Any parting thoughts for your fans?

Lily: I just want to say how grateful I am for all the love and support I've received in my music and acting, too. Creating Hopeless Romantic was such a personal and emotional process, and I hope that listeners can feel the honesty and vulnerability in the songs. And don't forget to check out my music video for "But I Don't Know", which drops the first week of October!

Follow Lily on IG @lilybrooksobriant and stream Hopeless Romantic here! 

Check out more GL EXCLUSIVE interviews: 
✨ Descendants' Morgan Dudley is *literally* in her pop princess era
✨ Actress Kennedy Garcia is making her wildest dreams come true 
✨ Rachel Grae is giving us one big therapy sesh with her new single "The Best"

Slider image: @lilybrooksobriant
Additional photos by Lauren Eve Parker.

by Erin Sargent and Lila Walter | 9/27/2024