At the beginning of 2023, amid the myriad of misses in Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlist, I stumbled upon a track that shockingly aligned with my taste in music. This song was the perfect combination of angsty introspection and nostalgia, all wrapped up in a leisurely-paced rock-and-roll rhythm. At first listen, I was addicted.
The song “Reminisce on Innocence” by Lily Forte went on to characterize my next year, fitting like the crown jewel in my playlists with the likes of Paramore and Avril Lavigne. Naturally, as I overcame my initial hyperfixation, I dove deeper into Forte’s expanding discography.
In late 2024, four years after her debut single “I Was Wearing Green,” Forte released her first album, Can’t Handle Hollywood. From its eight tracks to the cursive calligraphy on its cover, the album radiates a vintage West Coast air.
“I have always been inspired by Hollywood, rock and roll, and icons from the past,” Forte said. “A few years ago I wrote in my notebook: ‘Baby, I need you, I love you so much but if you can’t handle Hollywood then I’m giving up.’ After that, I decided to run with that idea and base my project around it.”
All the tracks on the album are in accordance with Forte’s vision, as they sound like they could’ve been written many years past. Most of the songs fall within the grunge category and include strong use of drums and guitar. However, Forte’s emotion is what turns them from catchy to gut-wrenchingly alluring. You can simply feel the raw emotion Forte weaves into her work.
The title track—where the lyrics that set the album in motion are placed—is perhaps the best example of this. Starting the release off on a strong note, the song establishes the emotional, rock-and-roll feeling of the overall work.
On the album’s second track, “Lifeline,” Forte transitions from whimsical somberness to electrified disorder. Similar to “Reminisce on Innocence,” the track has a powerful conclusion, with the beginning serving as a gradual lead-up to the bridge.
As she sings about being “all alone” throughout the track, the ending serves as a resolution of sorts. She concludes with the lyrics, “I do it for the thrill, for the risk / For the tattoos on my wrist / For the ones who tried, the ones who never said goodbye / They came before me / They’ve done this before / I’m not alone anymore.” Understandably, these are Forte’s favorite lines of the album.
“I feel as though these lyrics encompass a huge meaning behind the album for me: leaning on the shoulders of those who came before me and paved the way in music,” Forte said. “I have a tattoo on my left wrist that says ‘grace’ in honor of Jeff Buckley, one of my favorite musicians.”
Even though Can’t Handle Hollywood maintains an overall air of grunge, the release includes softer songs. For example, in “Bottle Blondes,” Forte channels a sound similar to the more R&B tracks of cross-genre artist Amy Winehouse. She sings about how the “bottle blondes get what they want,” but, in contrast, she will stick to dying her “hair black for forever.” In contrast to her songs like “Say A Prayer,” Forte draws her voice out, taking time to display the soulfulness of her vocals. Like a blues anthem, the song has a slow, melancholic pace.
Similarly, the songwriter ends the album with “California Avenue.” The track is full circle as Forte closes the release on the same California note she began with.
“I really love ‘California Avenue,’” Forte said. “I feel especially drawn to this one because of the way the song came to me. We were doing a photoshoot a year or two ago on these beautiful church steps in Santa Monica, and there was this basketball court across the street. Then the lyrics to the song started brewing in my head: ‘Sitting on the church steps, watch the boys play basketball…’. Once I sat down at the piano to finish the song, it was clear this might be my favorite track on the record.”
Being that the movie is about a 1970s rock band, Forte understandably cites Almost Famous as the film to represent the release. And, while obviously not feature-length, the singer has created magical cinematography of her own through the album’s five music videos.
Although they are all exquisitely produced, “Can’t Handle Hollywood” earns the award for most majestic. The visuals showcase the quintessential Los Angeles aesthetic through a grainy style of film. Half-pixelated-color and half-black-and-white, the video features the singer frolicking in a field with the Hollywood sign behind her.
While Forte takes immense influence from those who’ve come before her, she hopes that fans will also look to and be inspired for the future when listening to her music.
“When people listen to my music, I want them to feel connected to my love for the past while still longing for a brighter tomorrow,” Forte said.“Just say what you want to say. Even if only one person feels the same way, it’s worth it to write it down.”
