Follow &Tilly
We’ve known about the project &Tilly (pronounced “andtilly”) for a few years now, as their songs have already been featured in Luna Keller’s podcast Why Doesn’t Everyone Know These Songs, which we proudly host.
This musical duo is made up of multi-instrumentalist V and poet-singer Tilly. What’s funny is how they describe themselves as two introverts who somehow crossed paths. And here at Indie Music Center, we’ve noticed something over time. Some of the most moving and unforgettable songs we’ve featured often come from the most introverted artists. Just think of The Satellite Station, Ben Greenberg, Specific Coast, to name just a few. Well, same here. Two introverts, one masterpiece.
Their new single At a Cost stands out for its minimalist atmosphere, even though it mixes a wide range of instruments: guitar, piano, banjo, pads, and even brass. But none of that would matter without Tilly’s voice. It’s fragile, always walking a tightrope, as if it could fall at any second. But it never does. And that vocal tone, so striking and unique, fits perfectly with the whole soundscape they create around it. Having a voice with such identity, something you recognize instantly, is a real gift for any artist.
The music video adds even more depth with its beautiful colors, shadows playing under the trees, and clever use of light. All of this highlights the contrast that makes this song so powerful. Because yes, behind the poetic, bright, and almost joyful surface, there’s something else. A love story falling apart. And we, the listeners, witness its very last day, helpless. So if you were ready to drop this into your springtime playlist full of blooming flowers, think again. This one belongs in your heartbreak collection!
On the production side, every choice feels right. The percussion that kicks in during the final chorus brings exactly what we’ve been waiting for since the beginning: that shiver down the spine. Then comes the ending. Tilly’s voice, even more exposed, almost entirely on its own, delivers the most powerful line of the song: “It’s the last day we have together / don’t be sad, nothing lasts forever”. Dang. What a slap!
Probably the most beautiful breakup song we’ve ever featured on IMC. One that leaves you with a small smile and makes you want to say, quietly to yourself, “Well… that’s life”.
&Tilly’s take on “At a Cost”
Road trips and broken hearts. At a Cost is about that last day before the other one moves out — the crushing, silent tears of an ending that couldn’t be prevented, the trying to make it lighter for the other person’s sake. And the parallel of traveling to new countries without a map, without directions… it might end up a catastrophe, and there’ll definitely be some homesickness, but ultimately, it’s an adventure. A new life, at the cost of the old one that was no longer sustainable. At a Cost is an indie folk song that’s as perfect for sad or brokenhearted playlists as it is for road trip ones, and as light as it is mellow.
IMC Listening Guide
Quick insights to help you connect with the song on your terms.
Best weather to enjoy this song
Sunny day
Best time to listen
Dusk reflections
Best place to listen
Out in nature
Does this song haunt the silence?
Impossible to forget
Goosebumps scale
Maximum goosebumps
