Salty's Live Music: Independent Artist Lily Vakili on Music-Life Balance, Album Release & Tour Plans

October 29, 2025

In this episode we sit down with independent artist Lily Vakili, who shares her multifaceted journey from being an attorney to pursuing her passion for music. Lily discusses the profound impact of her family on her songwriting and artistic expression.

We go deep into the challenges of balancing music with personal responsibilities, the release of her new album 'Oceans of Kansas', and the importance of live music experiences. Lily also reflects on her musical influences and her upcoming East Coast tour, emphasizing the need for genuine connections in the music industry.

About Lily Vakili:

Lily Vakili is an artist defined by her unrelenting curiosity and devotion to storytelling. Born in Honduras and raised across multiple continents, from Thailand to Puerto Rico to Iowa, Vakili has lived a life steeped in diverse cultural textures and human experience. Her journey to music has been unconventional: before taking the stage, she was a dancer, actor, lawyer, and mother. That personal complexity now fuels her art, giving rise to songs that pulse with authenticity and emotional intensity. Over the past decade, Vakili has released five studio albums, each one expanding her boundary-pushing approach to rock and roots music, earning her recognition as a fiercely original voice in the independent music scene.

Her latest album, Oceans of Kansas, marks the most intimate and adventurous chapter of her career. The record unfolds like an emotional map, blending blues, balladry, and rock with poetic vulnerability. Inspired by a visit to Kansas’s prehistoric fossil beds, Vakili uses the metaphor of an ancient inland sea to explore memory, transformation, and resilience. Songs like “Okoboji,” “Hold On They Say,” and “One Human Being” showcase her gift for balancing grit with grace, merging raw storytelling with a timeless, human touch.

This fall, Vakili brings Oceans of Kansas to life on tour, performing with an ensemble of seasoned musicians whose chemistry elevates her electrifying live shows. To our local Georgia folks- Lily takes the stage at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA, on November 16 2025.

With her new album Oceans of Kansas, and current tour Lily’s momentum is building towards a flourishing music career.

Check out her music, tour stops and show her some love at the links below!

Tour Dates: https://lilyvakili.com/shows/
Lily Vakili on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lily-vakili/1204275767
Lily Vakili on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2OOa7vr0q0sr4eBuujgNXa
Lily Vakili on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyvakili/

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