UK-based singer/songwriter Loulita Gill brings a whole new perspective to a familiar phrase with her single “Walls”.
The soft-spoken yet powerful tune repeats the lyric, “if the walls could speak” followed by the singer’s desperate plea to be freed from the harrowing, complex emotions she’s facing due to intense trauma.
The fluttery vocals meshed with airy beats create a haunting yet uplifting atmosphere as we sympathize with our solemn vocalist.
The passion in Gill’s voice illustrates the various struggles she’s faced yet creates an overwhelming sense of hope as the harmonies throughout the chorus grow stronger as the song progresses, reminding listeners that they are not alone.
Gill reflects on the making of the poignant song, writing,
“I wrote Walls one night when I was putting my three boys to bed. I contemplated what the walls would say having observed my life and complex trauma. It was initially a poem of which I added music later.”
-LG
The roots in poetry shine through seamlessly in the lyrics “Was I never meant to be? Was I just someone’s tragedy,” speaking to the nature of the victimization many women encounter after a traumatic event rather than the empathy they deserve.
We’ve all wondered what maybe our walls would say and Gill perfectly captures that longing to be vindicated by an outside presence, looking out for us in the face of adversity.
The song behaves as a healing process as the first verse serves as a recognition of the vocalist’s misfortunes while the second verse understands that she has begun her journey of recovery with the lyrics, “If the walls could speak, they’d praise the way I’ve changed, and tell you how I’ve healed.”
This casts a hopeful light over a looming shadow, proving to listeners that there are better days ahead no matter the hardships they’ve experienced. “Writing about [my complex trauma] has been very therapeutic for me,” says Gill.
“But I also wanted to write in a way that gave people hope for their lives. I know how challenging it is to go through therapy and confront pain, and even the healing journey is not easy.”
Gill also discusses how music, art, and other forms of expression can act as a coping mechanism for those who are in the process of overcoming a difficult challenge.
“Music has helped me come to terms with what I’ve been through and [has given] me the strength to move forward with my life. I wanted it to do the same for others as I have a big heart for people.”
-LG
Gill’s self-proclaimed big heart is absolutely embedded in her lyrics as she extends kindness not just to herself but also to others as she reminds everyone that we’re “taking steps ahead each day” to become our best selves despite what we’ve been through.
