After Growing Up, Lillix Releases New Album

(andPOP) - Louise Burns of Lillix says the band's second album, "Inside the Hollow," feels like it should be considered the band's debut album, since they have grown up a lot since their real first album was released in 2003.

"We're so much older now and we have much better understanding of who we are now and we wanted to make sure the songs represented where we are at right now," says Burns, the band's bassist, explaining why the band chose the songs they did for their latest CD, which was released in stores this week.

"We were so young when we recorded the first one. Everything has changed, so we're really proud of this record and we're hoping people will see this as our debut as well and forget what's in the past."

Burns says that a lot of the songs chosen for the new album were songs the band played on their tours that seemed to go over well with the crowds. Their debut album, "Falling Uphill," received two nominations at the 2004 Juno Awards. Burns says that the nominations came as a shock to the band, who were happy just to be four girls from Cranbrook, B.C. recording an album.

"But to get a Juno nomination, it was such a big honour to be recognized by your own country. It means so much more than anything else. We were shocked. We knew we wouldn't win because we were up against some of the biggest bands in Canada," Burns laughs, saying the group thought it was great and was excited to be able to go to the awards show.

Lillix will hit the road in September opening for Yellowcard in Canada. The band also hopes to perform some all-ages shows throughout Vancouver and the rest of Canada.

Burns says the group is proud to be a Canadian band. Their first CD was released in the U.S. to moderate success (the band was featured on MTV's Total Request Live, and played a few radio stations across the country). Their second CD probably won't be released in the U.S. until next year, and Burns seems content with that.

"We're happy being a Canadian band. We love Canada and we love touring across the country and our Canadian fans are so great. There's such a great music scene happening across the country right now and we're proud to be a part of that, so we're happy," she says.

Lillix also has a huge following in Japan, and that the girls hope to tour Europe with this record.

Burns again points out that the girls have done a lot of growing up in the past three years, and that this record really reflects that. She also says it is heavily influenced by the 1980s, partly because the girls were born in that decade.

"The Cure, The Cars and Blondie, there are so many bands in the '80s and late '70s that were just a huge influence on us and they had more of an impact than any other decade for this record," she says.

Burns also mentions that she believes Lillix has gotten as far as they have because they always believed that one day they would be here. She says the band often says not "if" but "when," and that is why they have achieved the success they always dreamed about. That mantra, she stresses, is important for anyone who has a dream they want to follow.

"It's the right attitude," she says with conviction.

After all, it's the mantra that has gotten the girls in Lillix this far.