Artist Spotlight - The Lily Dippers

  Hey Music Fans! Are you ready to be introduced to some of the amazing local talent we have here, and to be reacquainted with some of your favourites? We have such an incredible music scene here in the GVA, and there are so many amazing artists just waiting for you to check them out.

As we roll into the increasingly darker months of the year, we hope you'll find a ray of sunshine amongst some of the artists we're going to introduce you too. Sit down, pour yourself a cup of your favorite hot beverage, and check out our next spotlighted artist:

The Lily Dippers

Here's what they had to say... 

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        Q: For those who don’t know you, can you please introduce yourself and describe your sound?

Hello! My name is Brooks Garrett and I have a band called The Lily Dippers. I am the lead vocalist, guitarist and main songwriter of the group which roughly started back at the end of 2019 with our drummer Shaughn and a couple other close friends. Over time we’ve developed the band’s sound, originally with an emphasis on my love for surf rock music but eventually mixing in elements from genres like folk, blues, and alternative rock. A lot of our recorded material has been typically more laid back, while at our live shows we try to make everything a bit heavier and rockier.

        Q: What’s one of the biggest successes you’ve had as a musician?

As a musician, some of what I consider my biggest successes have been being able to play some of the venues which I always personally loved seeing other bands play at, such as the Fox Cabaret, as well as being the recipient of one of the FACTOR Artist Development Grants. It had always felt like writing and recording music was an uphill battle, and receiving that grant really helped put wind in our sails to be able to finish recording our first full length album, Immobilized (released November 1).

        Q: What’s your favourite venue to play?

My personal favourite venue to play would probably be the Fox Cabaret. Over the years I’ve been able to see some of my favourite bands who have toured through Vancouver and stopped here, which made it a very sentimental spot for me. When we were first offered a slot to open up for another group there it felt like a dream come true, then not long after we had our first headlining slot there. It was very special to me.

        Q: What do you think was the best Medium for music to be on? (Vinyl, Tape, CD, Digital)?

I personally love listening to music from a physical source, although I will admit I spend a lot of time now streaming. When I was younger I was always interested in collecting CD’s because I loved flipping through the booklets that would come with the discs, and then as I got older and started collecting vinyl I switched over completely. I believe that vinyl is definitely the best sound overall. There is something really nice in the process of getting it ready for the turntable and the warmth and crackling that comes from playing it. There is something quite relaxing about it. I also feel like there’s always so much time put into the artwork and other details, that it’s a great way to expand on the context of what the album is trying to present. I know that most of the albums in my collection are things that I revere and take great care of, and have often framed as art on my walls. I’m sure most people would agree that getting your music through a streaming service is nice for accessibility, but it’s so easy for everything to start blending together and lose the general context of what you’re listening to.

        Q: Who is your favourite local band to see perform around town?

Through Vancouver there are so many amazing groups to watch live. One of my personal favourites have always been the powerhouse group Uncle Strut, where you can’t leave one of their shows without feeling inspired. They’re fun to see and their personalities immediately make you feel disarmed and engaged in the show. Another favourite for me is Nick Stone (and his backing group the Gems), who has proven time and time again that he knows how to write catchy memorable hits. Both of these groups are great to see live.

        Q: What’s coming up next for your music?



For The Lily Dippers, we finally released our first full length album at the beginning of November. This project has been a great way to close the first chapter of the band when it comes to the released music. Right now we are also part way through recording our second album, which I personally believe is the best music I’ve ever written and have been a part of. It’s got a great mix of styles so far, but is generally a bit heavier than most of our earlier material. Our current lineup featuring Mack (of I Am Creature) on piano and Kirsten (of Strange Tides) on bass has been really enjoyable and we’ve been able to do so much all together, as opposed to the past where I’ve taken a lot of the songwriting responsibility on myself. We’ve been able to tease a few of these tracks at our last few shows which have been a great way to road test this new direction. I can’t wait until we are able to start releasing some of these songs properly!

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To learn more about The Lily Dippers, listen to some of their music, and to find out about their upcoming shows, head on over to their Linktree! 

 

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