Amelia Day: Independence, Honesty, and Finding Her Sound on Her Own Terms.

Amelia Day: Independence, Honesty, and Finding Her Sound on Her Own Terms.

Following an incredible performance at the Vera stage during Bumbershoot this past month, we had the opportunity to sit down with Amelia Day to talk not just about her exciting tour plans and upcoming music, but about her roots as a musician and what has inspired her to push through to get to the spot she is in now.

Amelia Day at Bumbershoot 2025

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Amelia Day has always known music was part of her story. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, she was surrounded by it from the start. Both of her parents played piano, and by the time she was four, she was sitting at the keys herself. What stood out wasn’t just the skill or learning songs, but her curiosity. She never liked playing the notes exactly as they were written. Instead, she leaned toward improvisation, inventing melodies of her own. By middle school, songwriting had become a natural extension of that impulse, shaped by early influences like The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons.

Back then, the idea of being a full-time musician seemed far-fetched. Writing felt more like a private calling than a feasible career path. Still, the pull never faded, and when the chance came to do college in Nashville, where music is everywhere, Amelia threw herself into it.

Learning in Music City

Moving to Nashville meant stepping into the thick of Music City’s nonstop creative churn. The experience gave her a front-row seat to what a career in music really was: constant connection, relentless work, and the ability to pair sound with vision. She began learning how to market herself, how to think about visuals as an extension of music, and how to share her work in ways that built connections with an audience and like-minded people. 

It wasn’t easy, though. Amelia notes that stage fright followed her into those first years of performing, strong enough to make her question whether she’d ever enjoy being on stage. But she kept pushing, forcing herself to get up in front of people again and again. Eventually, the nerves loosened their grip, replaced by the rush of performance and the satisfaction of growing as a live artist.

Building Independence

Like so many musicians starting out, Amelia’s journey has been fully DIY - though if you attend any of her performances, you would never know, with the artistry and energy she brings to the stage.

But like so many up and coming artists know, it takes grit and determination to break through on your own. With no label or management, she’s handled every piece of the process herself - booking, promotion, recording, visuals, and social media. Last September, she launched her first tour outside of her home and college states, hitting the road with a full band. The logistics weren’t glamorous: long drives, roughing it for places to stay, and exhausting schedules. But those challenges became part of the adventure, giving her both a deeper appreciation for live music and new creative space during the quiet hours on the road.

That independence has shaped her artistry in ways she values deeply. By doing everything on her own, she’s gained experience in nearly every corner of the industry, from producing and directing visuals to connecting with fans online. At the same time, she’s begun to realize the importance of collaboration.

Building a team has allowed her to prioritize the elements she cares most about, while trusting others to bring their own strengths into the mix. For Amelia, collaboration isn’t about letting go, it’s about sharpening the vision and making the music stronger.

Two Homes, One Artist

Amelia says she carries two homes with her: one in the PNW and one in Music City. 

The South Sound and PNW music community have given her a smaller, tightly knit scene where connections feel personal and collaborative - if you've ever immersed yourself in your city's local scene, you know exactly what she means here. Nashville, on the other hand, offers scale and momentum, an environment buzzing with opportunity.

Together, the two regions have shaped her identity as both a writer and a performer. 

The balance has allowed her to find comfort in the season of live performance she’s in now: Touring with a band, building her presence, and enjoying the rhythm of constant shows. 

Writing Through Change

The past year has brought both gratitude and struggle. Big, unexpected life changes left her starting fresh without the structure or support she once relied on. The adjustment took a toll, and for months, she couldn’t write. The first song she completed around that period marked a turning point, though, unlocking the ability to create again and reminding her that even frustration and catharsis can fuel music. 

Enter her latest single, born from that catharsis and hardship: Lady Los Angeles. A song about betrayal, lost love, and heartbreak with a bridge that belongs in a Hollywood blockbuster.

Amelia’s writing often starts with concepts rather than sounds. An idea or emotion anchors the song, whether it arrives as a line scribbled down, a melody hummed on a long drive, or a theme that won’t let go. The past year’s challenges deepened that approach, pushing her to write honestly about identity, queerness, and self-discovery. Embracing honesty and staying true to herself throughout these challenges has given her songs a rawness that resonates strongly with listeners - both lyrically and musically. 

Crafting Her Sound

Amelia’s music reflects the breadth of her influences. Classic folk and rock (sounds remnant of Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John, Mumford & Sons) laid the foundation. Over time, her palette expanded to include soul pop and funk pop, and more recently, the grit and experimentation of 90s alt-rock. Lately she has gravitated toward artists like Fiona Apple and Sheryl Crow, blending angst and vulnerability into a sound that is both experimental and grounded. Though she calls it folk rock, the genre feels uniquely her own, mixing storytelling roots with sharp edges and playful shifts (and boy is it so fun to listen to!).

If you love real stories, addicting melodies, and truly feeling through music, you will love what Amelia puts out. Every song feels like a breath of crisp PNW air, and transports you not just into her world, but into your own, with what your own experiences have led you to.

Looking Ahead

This fall marks the start of Amelia’s next chapter. She is preparing to release lots more new music, including an EP she considers her most cohesive project yet, built around themes of pride versus authenticity and ego versus vulnerability. The record has an old-Hollywood aesthetic that ties the songs together visually and sonically, and the music itself is fun, rock-driven, and full of hooks - ironically upbeat even as it wrestles with weighty ideas.

Her next single coming up is called Margie (coming out October 17) - a track that mixes Beatles-inspired arrangements with country undertones.

Alongside the music, Amelia has her busiest touring schedule yet: opening shows for Madilyn Mei on the East Coast before headlining her own West Coast run that you won't want to miss (she’s hitting Portland, Seattle, Spokane, and Olympia, find tickets here).

For Amelia Day, independence is more than a circumstance - it’s a foundation. From improvising at the piano as a child to steering her own career today, she has built a path defined by honesty, resilience, and creative freedom. With a remarkable discography already and a growing fanbase alongside her, she is stepping into the next season of her career with clarity, momentum, and a sound that’s entirely her own.

You can find more of Amelia’s music here and be sure to keep up with all the happenings -

from tour to new music, Amelia Day is just getting started!

Yel Menró Brings Ladies Night Home to Spokane

Spokane is about to experience Ladies Night live and in full color.

Fresh off the release of her new EP Ladies Night, Yel Menró is set to headline her first Spokane show with Ladies Night: After Dark on September 27.

This show is a milestone performance that blends celebration, collaboration, and a bold vision for what the city’s music scene can be.

The EP itself lays the groundwork: a collection of fun, sexy, vibey tracks inspired by the rituals of a night out, from getting ready with friends to hitting the dance floor. Translating that sound into a live setting, Yel aims to turn the stage into an immersive experience that mirrors those highs. Sometimes the best parts of the night are the moments you spend getting ready with your best friends, music blasting, and really celebrating what girlhood is. Everyone knows what a true ladies night feels like - and Yel hopes to bring that to life not just with her music but with the live show as well.

What makes the show stand out is its lineup. Ladies Night: After Dark is built around an all-female bill, a rarity in Spokane, and extends the collaborative spirit that shaped the EP’s creation. From the performers to the vendors, the night is designed to highlight women’s voices and presence in a scene where they are often underrepresented. The sheer power and creativity that lies within Spokane’s music scene should not go unnoticed, and Yel is creating a space where it will not only be recognized and celebrated, but to continue on with her music and shows, and anyone else that should find themselves inspired by it.

For Yel, the show is also a homecoming. After time spent out of state honing her craft and learning how to navigate the industry, returning to Spokane with her biggest project yet is a full-circle moment. It represents growth, resilience, and the chance to set a new bar for live music in the city. Though we are small on the map, music knows no bounds.

More than just a release show, Ladies Night: After Dark is positioned as a cultural marker. It’s an opportunity to create a night people will remember, to elevate the visibility of female artists, and to carve out space for collaboration and community within Spokane’s music scene. Yel is setting the bar for what live shows can be here in Spokane - no matter the venue, genre, or vibe, the connections we can make and collaborate on can create the best energy and have people wanting more when they head home after a night out.

With Ladies Night already out in the world and momentum building around this upcoming performance, Yel Menró is entering a new chapter. One defined by bigger stages, stronger collaborations, and a sound that continues to evolve.

For Spokane, September 27 is more than just a concert; it’s a statement about where the city’s scene is heading and who’s helping lead the way.

Get tickets for Ladies Night: After Dark here (September 27 at Placeholder Studios in Spokane, WA) featuring an all female lineup including: Jaeda, Dria the Gr8, DJ Lex, & more!

And stream her new EP Ladies Night!

Here’s to the nights we’ll always remember and the music that makes it.

The Stories We Carry: Vikki Gilmore on Family, Memory, and “Getting Old”

Independent since day one, Gilmore has been writing her life into music for nearly a decade. Her latest single captures both her growth as an artist and her roots in family storytelling.

In the indie folk world, some songs feel less like recordings and more like conversations you might have with an old friend: quiet, tender, and raw - reminders of humanity, and storytelling that moves. Montreal-based artist Vikki Gilmore writes songs that reflect that throughout. For nearly a decade, she’s been honing her craft as a storyteller, weaving together reflections on love, identity, and growth with the kind of lyrical impact that lingers long after the last note. 

The cover image to Getting Old, which features Vikki's grandmother in her youth

Her latest single, “Getting Old,” is one of those songs that makes you reflect, and feel the emotion throughout your body. Built on understated instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics, it captures a moment of realization that feels universal: the sudden awareness that the people who raised us, guided us, and grounded us were once young themselves.

For Gilmore, that realization came through her relationship with her grandmother, a figure of strength in her family, but also, as she came to see, a woman who once had the same wide-open dreams, friendships, and uncertainties as any of us. It’s hard to think about yourself and what you’ll be doing in 60 years, and it’s harder to reflect on the fact that the elders in our lives once thought similarly. We talked about the fact that our grandmothers were also just girls in their 20’s.

“I love my grandma. She’s the most incredible woman in the world,” Gilmore said during our conversation. That love radiates through “Getting Old,” which she describes as both a tribute and a meditation on the passage of time. It’s a song about family, yes,  but also about perspective, identity, and how we see ourselves at different stages of life. That signs of aging, the stories we gain, and the experiences we will pass down is never a burden, but a gift we carry with us each day. 

A Tribute in Song

Gilmore’s grandmother worked as a surgical nurse, raised six children, and built a lasting partnership with Vikki’s grandfather. To Vikki, she’s always been the family’s anchor. But in recent years, her grandmother began sharing more stories from her youth, often sparked by photos tucked away in old albums: snapshots of college roommates laughing, afternoons spent sunbathing on a dorm deck, and glimpses of a young woman navigating independence. Just like the experiences Vikki, and every other young woman can attest to. Things we often don’t reflect on enough. 

“You’re just like, awesome, grandma - you were just a girl,” Gilmore recalled with a laugh. That realization became the emotional seed for “Getting Old.” It’s not only a portrait of her grandmother, but a reminder that we all carry within us the different versions of who we’ve been.

Keeping It Simple

Musically, Gilmore chose to keep “Getting Old” as bare and honest as possible. She recorded with a longtime collaborator, who encouraged her to let the lyrics breathe. A friend added pedal steel to lend the track a nostalgic glow, while soft piano lines round out the sound. The result is something warm, intimate, and timeless, like sitting in the corner of a living room, listening to a story being passed down.

“It feels like you’re singing in your living room,” she said. “That’s what I wanted with the production.”

The feeling shines through in production and lyric, and it reaches deep into emotions and heart. It’s reminiscent of warm summer days, looking at old photos, taking in the life you hope to lead. The song’s theme is honest, and super important in today's day in age - we all can take a step back and reflect and slow down. 

An Artist in Motion

For Gilmore, songwriting has always been a way of journaling. A process of untangling complex emotions and turning them into something shareable. Independent since the beginning, she’s taught herself every piece of the artist puzzle: writing, recording, video editing, and marketing. Over the past year, her persistence has begun to pay off with festival slots, support opportunities, and a growing presence in the indie folk community.

Gilmore explains that writing to her is a way of making sense of what she’s feeling - and hoping that it resonates with people in some way. 

And with “Getting Old,” it certainly does.

A Universal Message

The song arrives at a time when conversations around age often skew toward fear. Especially in such a digital age, we get to see glimpses of everyone's lives, which in turn comes with the pressure to look younger, to meet milestones by a certain time, to measure worth against numbers. Gilmore’s music offers a counterpoint: an embrace of aging, memory, and the stories that connect us across generations.

“I can’t even imagine being in my 90s, looking back at my 20s,” she reflected. Yet through her grandmother’s lens, she caught a glimpse of how those decades fold into one another, how the joy and struggles of youth eventually turn into cherished stories.

That’s the message at the heart of “Getting Old.” It’s not about loss or struggle, it’s about recognition. About honoring the fact that we are all, at every stage, still in the process of becoming.

As Vikki Gilmore continues to shape her career, she seems intent on creating songs that don’t just fill the air but linger in the heart. With “Getting Old,” she offers a piece of her family’s story and in doing so, invites us to reflect on our own.

You can find Getting Old wherever you stream your music, and follow Vikki Gilmore on her socials to stay up to date on new music, shows, and more!