IMC Listening guide

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

Our thoughts

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.

A bit more about &Tilly

We're &Tilly, an under-the-radar, international, genre-bending project that started with... an end. As two introverted individuals, we're nothing, just one or the other; we got connected through our own personal ends to create something more than ourselves. Over time, we also connected with various amazing artists all over the world, giving our music incredible new dimensions. The link, the base of it all would be the unique voice and the mellow style of the singer and songwriter, Tilly. In the &Tilly world, profound lyrics, powerful melodies, and haunting soundscapes take center stage. Through music, you can strongly feel the beauty of an inner sadness, the depth of an unanswered question, and a lot that feels heavy and unsolvable. Genre-wise, it's also not too easy – the &Tilly project blends alternative dream pop with folk, singer-songwriter, country, and even synthpop and electronic vibes. Each song is different from the other, taking you on a unique journey while making it hard to clearly class the music.

Reach out to &Tilly

Lyrics

It’s the last day we have together
Don’t be sad or take it bad
Let’s talk about the weather
We don’t have much to say now
And the past keeps calling on
I may not call – won’t know how
For a while

It’s the last conversation, I guess
I’m still glad for every single caress
We can celebrate a new night
Or wait hidden in the twilight
There’s nothing left to smile
About

We’re on the road again, there’s no map
Coordinates are lost
Run away and hide, or face the gap
Life will come at a cost
At a cost

At a cost

The dream we dreamt is gone now…

We’re on the road again, there’s no map
Coordinates are lost
Run away and hide, or face the gap
(Face the gap)
Life will come at a cost
Oh, at a cost

On the road again, there’s no map
Coordinates are lost
Run away and hide, or face the gap
Either way, love comes at a cost
At a cost

It’s the last day we have together
Don’t be sad, nothing lasts forever

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