Meet Lilia Rose of San Diego

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilia Rose.

Lilia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My musical journey started in middle school, when my sister first started singing and playing guitar at family gatherings. Every time she would sing for our family, I would sing along to myself with the music. She performed songs like “Breathe” by Anna Nalick and “Heart Like Mine” by Miranda Lambert, and I’d quietly sing along. Eventually, I memorized each song by heart and realized I might actually have a voice of my own. Before long, we were duetting together at family events and at the occasional bar gig.

In high school, I signed up for guitar class and met Mr. C—a rocker with Rod Stewart hair who owned a local business called StudioRock. He brought students together to form bands, learn instruments, and perform. That, paired with my sister’s influence, sparked something in me. I started learning how to sing and play guitar at the same time, began reading tabs, and covering modern songs I loved. My first real performance was my senior year of high school, when I sang Jason Mraz’s “93 Million Miles” at a graduation program for my junior and senior class.

Music followed me into college at James Madison University, where I DJ’d at 88.7 WXJM and was a chair member in Spotlight Sounds for University Program Board. I helped plan underground shows with bands that we had like Lake Street Dive, X Ambassadors, and MisterWives. I played open mics throughout college and even opened for a band named Prinze George my senior year. After that show, my dad told me he’d help me record an album- but told me he wasn’t sure I took it as seriously as my sister had. That was the moment I decided to really commit to practicing and taking performing more seriously.

From there, I started gigging around Harrisonburg, VA in 2016 and then continued playing local shows in Richmond, VA where I moved after college. One of my first consistent gigs was at Potbelly Sandwich Shop. I’ve been playing local gigs ever since, playing my music the past nine years up to present day. I have been lucky enough to perform at hundreds of different venues, hotels, and restaurants over the years in Virginia, Colorado, and now California.

Living in San Diego has allowed me to find a wonderful music community and support that is very special. This is the first time I have truly felt part of a community and that has made me lean into music even more, especially my original music. I play many cover gigs here in San Diego which I really enjoy and have done for many years. However, I am very excited to release more music and play even more original gigs this year.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have been booking myself at local venues for the past nine years. Overall it has gone pretty smoothly, but when gigging this long, there are bound to be a few bumps in the road. Recently I had an experience that was definitely a life lesson with booking. My schedule has been very busy and my days have been tetris’d into one another. I had been reached out to by a company to play a show called “miniFEST”. Of course knowing it was a festival made me excited and I knew I wanted to play it. It was going to be an original music show, so I was even more excited for that aspect. I spoke to the guy doing the booking and giving me information about the show. He was making selling points like how he can get me on a bill in my hometown on the east coast and that they put on shows all around the globe so I could play more shows even in places like Australia. They had quite a pitch and before I knew it, he was having me sign the contract.

The show was in a week and I needed to have 15 people attend and 5 people buy live stream tickets (a deal they said) otherwise I would owe $250. Since I had to sign the contract on the spot and didn’t have much time to process everything (how they get you), I was stuck in the contract. Luckily by the day of the show, I met the quota. Once I met the quota, they said I still owed money because some of my tickets were discounted and I had to reach a minimum. Overall, this was quite a lessoned learned. The main takeaway I have is that when something seems too good to be true it usually is, and to never sign a contract on the spot. This is probably one of the biggest bumps I’ve hit being a musician. The show did go well, but I think as an artist you should definitely stick up for what you deserve with pay and treatment from companies. In the end, you learn from these experiences and I took away the positives like the support that I do have and the connections I made at the show.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a local musician who’s been performing at restaurants, hotels, and venues since 2016. I sing, play guitar, and have a deep love for songwriting. While I often perform cover gigs, I find playing original sets to be especially fulfilling—they allow me to share a more personal side of myself. I also love collaborating and connecting with other songwriters.

At my core, I’m a singer-songwriter, deeply drawn to lyricism and the emotional depth of storytelling through music. I’m often curating playlists for every mood, and lately, I’ve noticed that the artists I listen to and cover are shaping my own writing style. Some of my biggest influences right now include timeless voices like Fleetwood Mac and Alanis Morissette, alongside modern artists like Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter.

My songwriting is rooted in personal experience, particularly the relationships that have had an impact on me. Writing has definitely been a form of therapy for me. And when a song finally comes together, it is so rewarding to share that music with others and know you have a beautiful piece of art as a result of an experience.

What I’m most proud of is my work ethic and adaptability over the years. No matter where life has taken me, Virginia, Thailand, Colorado, or now California, I’ve brought my music with me and performed whenever I’ve had the chance.

I am also proud that this past year I played my first show in 6 years with a full band as the headliner at Soda Bar. I also released my first single in 8 years called “Thoughts”. Streaming on all platforms!

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my journey is to keep going—no matter what. Hard work really does pay off, and with enough determination, you can create your own path. I’ve learned how to navigate the booking process and find performance opportunities in every place I’ve lived, from small towns to major cities. Putting yourself out there, asking questions, and staying open can lead to meaningful connections and unexpected doors opening.

Even in the most unlikely places, you never know who might be listening. When I was living in a small mountain town in Colorado, I reminded myself that anyone could walk into a hotel lounge or restaurant—and they might just have industry connections.

On Valentine’s Day this year, I was performing at a private dinner at The Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort, and one of Stevie Nicks’ longtime roadies happened to be at the private dinner. I played “Landslide,” and he recorded a video and told me that Stevie would be proud. He’d worked with her and other well known bands for years. Moments like these remind me that even if you’re playing to five people you never know who could be there.

My advice is to always keep going, work hard, show up, and be consistent. You never know where it may lead!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.liliarosemusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liliarosemusic/?hl=en

Image Credits
Nashelle Brown
Paloma Louise