Dublin-born artist Lily McMahon’s latest single, Not a Want, pairs piano-led soulful pop with a personal account of finding security after unhealthy relationships.
The song began with a piano introduction written by Angelo Presta, McMahon’s boyfriend and the track’s producer. His playing gave her the starting point for lyrics about how their relationship challenged habits she had borne forward from previous experiences.
McMahon explains:
When I met Angelo, I was at a stage in my life where I was used to dealing with toxic men. I had built up this expectation that I would have to deal with that kind of behaviour forever. Meeting him made me realise that I was willing to change the habits and toxic patterns that past relationships had taught me.
Not a Want explores the difference between wanting someone and needing them, pairing stripped-back piano and warm instrumentation with McMahon’s soulful vocal.
McMahon draws from pop, soul, jazz, R&B and indie, citing Imelda May, Billie Eilish and Amy Winehouse among her influences. Here, the collaboration is particularly personal: Presta contributes production and guitar, with Ernest Sirins on bass and Liam Berry on drums, while McMahon writes the lyrics.
She says:
Angelo had written the piano introduction and I sensed a connection to it as soon as he played it for me. The rest is history.