Tillie

tiLLie has carved out a daring presence in pop through infectious tracks and an unrestrained approach that sets her apart. While sharing traits with many leading Gen Z female vocalists in the mainstream, she injects greater disorder and pointed attitude, evident in signature cuts such as “Peachie” and “bLeSs uR hEaRt.”

Originally named Grace Allison Kelly and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she performed with punk groups during her teenage years, pursued brief music studies at New York University, and then relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an independent route. In 2016 a single live performance drew the attention of both Machine Gun Kelly, who enlisted her for a stripped-down live cover of Foo Fighters' “Everlong,” and Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, who placed her on the festival’s 2017 edition. Her eclectic sound had already taken shape across releases, beginning with the 2015 EP Lost Boy, continuing through a hip 2016 cover of Cyndi Lauper's “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and extending to the 2017 alt-rock anthem “Save Yourself.”

The 2019 EP Loud Mouth refined her focus on perseverance and emotional honesty within a male-dominated sphere. After largely stepping back during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, her 2021 and 2022 singles—including “Peachie” and “the me u kno”—intensified and blended the sonic palette she had cultivated, pairing fuzzy, riotous guitars with electronic beats and a touch of hyperpop. The 2023 single “bLeSs uR hEaRt” confronted inconsistencies within church communities, while the 2024 mini-album tiLLieverse gathered additional recent material such as “jeLLiefish aPocaLypsE” and “pray t0 god.”