Davis: Coming up on "Studio 3 Live", we welcome Lily DeTaeye.

♪ Just the buzz ♪ I was just really kind of blown away with, like, the conspiracy theories and these, like, Internet rabbit holes we all go down and, like, how it just feels so, like, buzzy and, like, overwhelming and scary.

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Good evening, and welcome to "Studio 3 Live."

I'm your host, Mickey Davis.

Tonight's guest is New York singer/songwriter Lily DeTaeye.

An Iowa native, Lily has been performing, writing, and recording for over a decade, cutting her teeth at events like the Des Moines Farmers' Market before graduating to clubs and festivals across the Midwest and beyond.

Splitting her creative time between New York and Des Moines, Lily most recently released the album Hive Mind, recorded at Golden Bear studios in Des Moines.

With a foundation in folk and rock music, Lily's emotional honesty and captivating songwriting has brought audiences together across the country.

Please help me welcome to the stage Lily DeTaeye.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Sleep all day, and I run all night ♪ ♪ And I catch the train when the train feels right ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Metal, metal, iron, steel ♪ ♪ Steal away till it all feels real ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ When I'm walking right beside my home ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When I'm taking from a pack ♪ ♪ I'm always putting something back ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll push myself, but I won't push fate ♪ ♪ The righteous hand that plays it straight ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ When I'm walking right beside my home ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ When I'm walking right beside my home ♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mother Nature push you down and put you out ♪ ♪ And all around ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And Uncle Sam will sit and stare ♪ ♪ At your empty bowl and your matted hair ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ When I'm walking right beside my home ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But I'll never walk alone ♪ ♪ When I'm walking right beside my home ♪ [ Harmonica playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica stops ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Lily, thanks so much for being here.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in music?

I started playing music when I was 13, so the story goes, and I started at, like, the Des Moines Farmers' Market and was busking, and I'd always sort of written songs and really liked playing music.

And so, it was kind of pushed by my family, was like, "You can do this, and this can be, like, a job if you want it to be," um, which is really cool.

I'm really thankful for that.

And so, as I kept playing around farmers' markets and festivals, it sort of grew into playing venues.

And I was starting to go to open mics, and I was starting to make inroads in, like, the community here.

I just kind of kept -- kept going, and it just kept building and it kept being more fun.

And the people that I met kept helping me learn the business as a young person.

And so, that's sort of how it started.

It was very home-grown, and I feel really happy that it was in a place like Des Moines, where there were people that were willing to help me up.

How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard it before?

I hate this question, Mickey.

[ Both laugh ] I don't know.

It's changed a lot.

I -- I think I default to, like, folk Americana, but there's a lot of pop influence.

There's some blues influence in some older stuff.

And then I'm a songwriter first, so it's all kind of very songwriter -- singer/songwriter-esque, as well.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Something I think is unique about your performance is that you play guitar, you sing, and you play the harmonica.

When did you start playing harmonica?

What kind of prompted you to take up that instrument, as well?

Yeah.

I started playing it pretty early.

I think I was like 15 when I picked it up, and it was a suggestion by my family.

My dad specifically really likes harmonica, and he will never admit that he plays harmonica, but he does.

And now I'm outing it on TV.

But, so he was very much, like, the one to, like, show me all of these musicians that did it and, like, how cool would it be.

And, um, I really, like, disliked it at first.

I really didn't want to do it.

And then I kind of kept doing it.

And when -- when he, like, kind of stopped pushing it, then that was like, "Okay, now I'll do it."

"Now it's my idea."

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, "Now I think it's good."

And now I love it.

And I have been trying to make an effort recently to incorporate it more, because I kind of took a little bit of a break there.

But I think that it has so many possibilities and is really cool.

This is an oldie.

This is called "Bullheads."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I only fish with compliments ♪ ♪ Havent hooked a worm since I was young ♪ ♪ I never pulled anything sea-shanty worth ♪ ♪ By tearing up bread till its crumbs ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Daddy said your catch will be ♪ As good as the bait you use.

♪ ♪ Figured sugar and honey ♪ ♪ Would guarantee I'd never lose ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Peaches in place of a leach... ♪ Try to practice what he preach ♪ ♪ But I keep catching bullheads ♪ They're the only ones that bite ♪ ♪ And I don't know how I do it ♪ ♪ I've done everything right ♪ ♪ So I'll throw them back ♪ ♪ I'm done fishing for the night ♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I've always loved their little game ♪ ♪ Ive always loved their myster ♪ I'm too sick of standing here ♪ ♪ Find the one who's meant for me ♪ ♪ Ee-ee-ee ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Peaches in place of... ♪ ♪ To try to practice what you preach ♪ ♪ And argue catching bullheads ♪ ♪ They're the only ones that bite ♪ ♪ And I don't know how I do it ♪ ♪ I've done everything right ♪ ♪ So I throw them back ♪ ♪ I throw them back ♪ ♪ I'm done fishing for the night ♪ [ Harmonica playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica stops ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] The title track from your album Hive Mind, can you talk about that song a little bit and kind of the story behind it?

Yeah, totally.

So, "Hive Mind," I don't think I would have ever thought would have been the title track, and it was kind of a song -- It was kind of not a throwaway song, because clearly it's not, but it was a song I wrote for New Song November, which is a songwriting challenge that I do every November.

During the month of November, I write a song every day, and I live stream it at the end of the day.

And this is going to be the eighth year, which is crazy.

Wow.

Makes me feel so old.

That's a lot of songs, too.

Wow.

It's a lot of songs.

And a lot of them are so terrible.

Um, "Hive Mind" was one of these songs, and it was written in 2020.

And I was thinking a lot about, like, the state of the world, like we all were.

And I was working -- I was doing a temporary position with Iowa Public Radio, and so I was really into the news cycle, and I was just really kind of blown away with, like, the conspiracy theories and these, like, Internet rabbit holes we all go down, like, myself included, everybody, and how it just feels so, like, buzzy and, like, overwhelming and scary and, like, real-life consequences come from those things.

And so, "Hive Mind" was kind of a way to, like, think through that.

And I think -- I mean, I was thinking about it at the time of writing, but kind of, like, looking back at it, I realized, like, how actually, um, pertinent that was.

Yeah.

And so, it felt right.

Not all of the songs were written in that time period, but most of them were, and it was recorded during that time period.

We started recording the album December 2020.

We ended in 2023, um, where, like, this stuff was very relevant.

And so, it felt like a good way to, like, unify everything.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ The dome ♪ ♪ It's gray, it's black, it's navy ♪ ♪ But I'll settle on blue ♪ ♪ The cat's ♪ ♪ The one who told me maybe ♪ ♪ That the bag came unglued ♪ ♪ We're a hive mind, ain't got my wits about me ♪ ♪ My guard ran off without me ♪ ♪ And all I hear is just the buzz ♪ ♪ But I'm fine ♪ ♪ The company, it suits me ♪ ♪ If someone were to use me ♪ ♪ I'm glad that I am not the only one ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ The men ♪ ♪ I thought I saw them falter ♪ ♪ But I didn't hear it right ♪ ♪ And even when I find the water ♪ ♪ I can't dampen out their gaslight ♪ ♪ We're a hive mind ♪ ♪ Ain't got my wits about me ♪ ♪ My guard ran off without me ♪ ♪ And all I hear is just the buzz ♪ ♪ But I'm fine ♪ ♪ The company, it suits me ♪ ♪ If someone were to use me ♪ ♪ Glad that I am not the only one ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Hive mind, ain't got my wits about me ♪ ♪ Hive mind, ain't got my wits about me ♪ ♪ My guard ran off without me ♪ ♪ All I hear is just the buzz ♪ ♪ But I'm fine ♪ ♪ The company, it suits me ♪ ♪ If someone were to use me ♪ ♪ I'm glad that I'm not the only one ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] This is called "100 Cuts."

It's on that, um, same record, the Hive Mind record.

[ Strums guitar ] ♪♪ [ Humming ] ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ I think it's in the way you talk to me ♪ ♪ It's that holy voice you use ♪ ♪ And while I craft the words I think you'll like ♪ ♪ They are not the ones I choose ♪ ♪ And all I have are 100 cuts ♪ ♪ Not near enough to go ♪ ♪ I promise when I've had enough ♪ ♪ You will never know ♪ ♪ I think it's in the way I toe the line ♪ ♪ Every hour I spend with you ♪ ♪ Even when we laugh, I hear the scream ♪ ♪ Eggshells beneath my shoes ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I have are 1,000 cuts ♪ ♪ Not near enough to go ♪ ♪ I promise when I've had enough ♪ ♪ You will never know ♪ ♪ You will never ♪ ♪ You will never know ♪ ♪ Oh, oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh-oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I don't know when ♪ ♪ It's just too far gone ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ I think it's in the way it's been so long ♪ ♪ And I've toughened up my skin ♪ ♪ And every time I feel it start to hurt ♪ ♪ I just think I'm sensitive ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I have are a million cuts ♪ ♪ Not near enough to go ♪ ♪ I promise when I've had enough ♪ ♪ You will never know ♪ ♪ You will never ♪ ♪ You will never know ♪ ♪ Oh, oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ You will never ♪ ♪ You will never know ♪ ♪ You will never ♪ ♪ You will never know ♪ ♪♪ The songs you're performing tonight, what comes first for you?

Is it music or lyrics, or does it depend?

Um, I think more and more it depends.

But previously, it was always lyrics.

And I think that's the thing that I spend the most time on.

And it's also the part that I've never really collaborated with anybody else on.

Um, so, like, be that what it may, I think that that's, like, the most personal thing for me, and it's the thing that I've strived to be better and better and better at.

And then I have, like, a really great team that helps me with music, and, um, so that's helped me in that realm.

But I think the personal stuff is definitely in the songwriting for me.

Um, this one, this is called "The Great Breakthrough."

And, um, it's a song that I love, but it means so much more to you when a song that you love is also a song that a person that you really look up to loves.

And, um, Tobi Parks is in the audience tonight.

Tobi is the owner of xBk, if you've been there.

Tobi's also one of my best friends and just one of the best champions that I've ever had.

So thank you for being here, for everything you do.

And, um, this is for you, Tobi.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm waiting for my great breakthrough ♪ ♪ Which love is true and which is strong ♪ ♪ They say ♪ ♪ You just waste your time ♪ ♪ Too much lying will mess you up ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I kept them on my back too long ♪ ♪ Hope they'd write a song and counted thread ♪ ♪ But still they only spell your name ♪ ♪ Tore them from the frame ♪ ♪ And they stopped dead ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh ♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna go ♪ ♪ Don't wanna go now ♪ ♪ I'm too tired from just laying here ♪ ♪ When you come ♪ ♪ When you come around ♪ ♪ Please be gentle, my dear ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When you ♪ ♪ Come back ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Words just play like violins ♪ ♪ And violins is romance, too ♪ ♪ Tried to stop, you took me in ♪ ♪ Baby, are you in?

♪ ♪ I'm still on you ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna go ♪ ♪ Don't wanna go now ♪ ♪ I'm too tired from just laying here ♪ ♪ When you come ♪ ♪ When you come around ♪ ♪ Please be gentle, my dear ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When you ♪ ♪ Come back ♪ ♪ When you ♪ ♪ Come back ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Which is love, which is drunk ♪ ♪ Nothing left to say ♪ ♪ Words are violence, words are violence ♪ ♪ Nothing left to say ♪ ♪ Which is love, which is drunk ♪ ♪ Nothing left to say ♪ ♪ Words are violence, words are violence ♪ ♪ Nothing left to say ♪ ♪ Nothing left to say ♪ [ Applause ] [ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Kids are out there getting high ♪ ♪ I'm the lonesome neighbor ligh ♪ That ain't out yet...

I know what they do ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I see to see , if they see me ♪ ♪ I whisper loud, my mouth to screen ♪ ♪ Let me join ya ♪ ♪ I've been out there, too ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When my wolf had his fill ♪ ♪ I always took his steering wheel ♪ ♪ Peppermint put me to sleep, I'm lonesome ♪ ♪ Spread it thick, and breathe it deep ♪ ♪ To fold ‘em ♪ ♪ Those hands have taught me how to fight ♪ ♪ I never missed my mister before tonight ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Strangely, I remember now ♪ ♪ With fondness, not a bitter scowl ♪ ♪ How the parking lot was bleachers for stars ♪ ♪ I think I miss him, but I'm not sure ♪ ♪ I haven't missed him since before ♪ ♪ He taught me who the real-life villains are ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When my wolf had his fill ♪ ♪ Barely gave up his steering wheel ♪ ♪ Pepper man, put me to sleep ♪ ♪ I'm lonesome ♪ ♪ Spread you thick and breathe you deep ♪ ♪ To fold ‘em ♪ ♪ Mr. Wolf put me to sleep ♪ ♪ I'm lonesome ♪ ♪ Haven't had my thoughts free since you stole them ♪ ♪ Burn them with that pocket lighter ♪ ♪ I never missed my mister before tonight ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ [ Harmonica plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] You're playing a new song tonight -- "Maybe it's November."

Can you tell us the inspiration behind that song?

Yeah.

Also written in November.

I don't remember the year.

I think it was 2021.

And I was -- I came home from work.

I was working somewhere, I came home and I was so tired.

And I did not want to write a song at all.

But the challenge exists for those nights to just, like, make me put something down.

And so I did, and it turned out to be my favorite song of the whole month.

To this day, I think it might be the favorite song that I've recorded.

Wow.

And it's just sort of about, like -- Again, it's, like, these mundane days that you don't feel like doing anything, you don't even feel like doing the thing that you love the most, and, like, maybe it's -- you know, maybe it's, like, your mental health.

Maybe it's because it's November.

Maybe it's because it's the time just changed because it's, you know...

So it's, like, all of -- all of these things, but it's kind of about just, like, the small things that you do to, like, get through your day when you're having a day like that.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm waking up every day in a fog ♪ ♪ Wondering where my last hour's gone ♪ ♪ Parsin through what you said in my dream ♪ ♪ Which words did you mean?

♪ ♪ I only have so much time to kill these days ♪ ♪ I've gotten good at p------ it away ♪ ♪ I save it all for the end of the wire ♪ ♪ And wonder why, I'm tired ♪ ♪ Maybe it's November ♪ ♪ Maybe it's my head ♪ ♪ But I can't help but think ♪ ♪ That if we instead spend a bit more time in bed ♪ ♪ I'd be on the mend ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I've taken up eating breakfast at 2:00 ♪ ♪ Coffee and thinking too much to let you do ♪ ♪ Dinner is romance ♪ ♪ I sit on the floor ♪ ♪ And wish I'd eaten more ♪ ♪ Maybe it's November ♪ ♪ Maybe it's my head ♪ ♪ But I can't help but think ♪ ♪ That if we instead spent a bit more time in bed ♪ ♪ I'd be on the mend ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'd be on the mend ♪ ♪ I'd be on the mend ♪ ♪ I'd be on the mend ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Davis: You got your start, like you said, Davis: You got your start, like you said, performing in farmers' markets and coffee shops and open mics, situations where maybe you performing isn't the only thing that's going on, right?

You have to kind of compete for attention, or you might, for better or worse, be a little bit of background music to whatever's going on.

How did that shape how you perform and then, you know, transitioning into a club environment or a studio environment where people are there to watch you?

How did you kind of handle that transition, where people are -- you're not just there to kind of make music and be part of the atmosphere but people are there to see you and listen to you?

Um, it made me get a tough skin, which I'm thankful for it was that order and not the opposite.

Because I think, now playing shows, that people do come to see me.

It -- I -- It's the best.

Like, it just feels so nice to have people that care about what you're playing.

So, starting out and also people not knowing, like, at all what I was doing, I think that helped me focus on myself and play music that I wanted to play.

And so, I wasn't really worried about what people wanted.

And then over time, like, as I started learning the rules of different places that you go to play, I started adapting my set a little bit and learned that, like, it's nice to play what your audience wants to hear, even if they don't know you or care about you.

And so, I think now I sit in a really nice space where I can take from, like, both of those experiences and make sets that are for me but also for people that are coming to see me, whether they have seen me before or not.

This is a song called "Hostess."

And, um, in 2021, I went up to Door County, Wisconsin, for about six months, and I was, uh, working at a restaurant up there and, um, doing these sunset tour boats.

I was, like, a musician on them, which was pretty cool.

The whole reason I went is because I didn't have a job at that time besides music, and I was hoping to, like, write some more.

I wanted to go somewhere that I didn't really know anybody and make some money and, like, write, uh, an album.

And so, I went up there to do that, and, um, I wrote half of this song in six months.

That's it.

Um, and if you're not a songwriter, you might -- I mean, it's, like, just not the best track record.

You know what I mean?

Not, like, the best.

But anyway, it worked out a little bit.

This is a song called "Hostess," that song.

And it's a love letter to service industry professionals because it's tough out there.

Um... And I always dedicate this one to those who have cried in a walk-in cooler... sweet potato fries in your mouth, ranch dripping down onto your company shirt, crying.

You're like, "Yep, I've been there."

This is for you.

♪♪ ♪ Welcome in ♪ ♪ How are we this morning?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Take your pick ♪ ♪ The tables are clean ♪ ♪♪ ♪ June will be with you in a moment ♪ ♪ I'll grab your mugs ♪ ♪ And fill them with tea ♪ ♪♪ ♪ A big wooden room with a draft you don't notice ♪ ♪ A table for two, and I am your hostess ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I can't thank you enough for your patience ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This is my first week on the job ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I think June is down in the basement ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She'll be with you when she comes back up ♪ ♪ Thank you for dealing with all of the slowness ♪ ♪ The kitchen is drowning, and I'm just a hostess ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And all this has been here way longer than me ♪ ♪ I'm actually from out of town ♪ ♪ Sir, do you need a little more tea?

♪ ♪ I'll go make sure June's still around ♪ ♪ I apologize ♪ ♪ For your lack of service ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This isn't how ♪ ♪ We do things around here ♪ ♪♪ ♪ We hope ♪ ♪ You still plan on returning ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When you come back ♪ ♪ To the city next year ♪ ♪ 'Cause we've got the makings of someplace like home is ♪ ♪ A table for two ♪ ♪ And I am your hostess ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You've been here before, babe ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You know the specs of the room ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The barback pours your Bombay ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And you know she'll pour ya two ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You've got a bone to pick ♪ ♪ And you'll pick it clean ♪ ♪ There's no one in this city quite like you, baby ♪ ♪ You've been here before, babe ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Took a cab down Locust Street ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Straight into your hotel ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You know there's nothing else to see ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You're feeling underwhelmed ♪ ♪ You've been overused ♪ ♪ There's no one in this city quite like ♪ ♪ East Coast dreamboat, welcome home ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Come raise the bar a notch or two ♪ ♪ East Coast dreamboat, break my heart ♪ ♪ There's no one else here quite like ♪ ♪ You've been here before, babe ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The people always ask ♪ ♪♪ ♪ "What brought you out here, boy?"

♪ ♪♪ ♪ And you try not to react ♪ ♪ And you try not to react ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Thought you were the man ♪ ♪ But you just wear the suit ♪ ♪ There's no one in this city quite like ♪ ♪ East Coast dreamboat, welcome home ♪ ♪ Come raise the bar a notch or two ♪ ♪ East Coast dreamboat, break my heart ♪ ♪ There's no one else here quite like ♪ ♪ There's no one else here quite like ♪ ♪ Yo-o-o-o-o-o-u ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Yo-o-o-o-o-o-u ♪ ♪ Yo-o-o-o-o-o-u ♪ ♪ Yo-o-o-o-o-o-u ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You've been here before, babe ♪ ♪ You've been here before ♪ ♪ You've been here before, babe ♪ ♪ You've been here before ♪ ♪ You've been here before ♪ ♪ You've been here before, babe ♪ ♪ You've been here before ♪ ♪ You've been here before ♪ ♪ You've been here before, babe ♪ ♪ You've been here before ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] So you kind of built up that community in Des Moines that you talked about, whether it's through the farmers' market or festivals or clubs, working with a record label here in Des Moines.

And now you've moved to the Big Apple.

What has that process been like for you in kind of building community, and how has it kind of affected your creative output, as well?

and how has it kind of affected your creative output, as well?

Yeah.

I forgot how long it took me to build a community here, because it has been so strong for so long, and I just have kind of always had folks around.

Um, so going to New York and not really having any creative folks there.

I have a few, but not -- We don't really run in the same circles, honestly, so it was hard, and it was kind of isolating a little bit, but it was also the, like, push I needed to get out and start, like, kind of hustling again and going to open mics and doing all of the stuff that I did here when I was 14, you know?

So, it's been good for me, and it's an ongoing process that will probably take, who knows... Yeah, yeah.

...years.

Lily, thank you so much for being here on "Studio 3 Live."

Yeah.

Thank you for having me.

So I am born and raised here in Des Moines, and I went to Iowa City for school at the University of Iowa.

And anybody went to Iowa?

[ Crowd cheers ] Yes, yes.

If you remember the lay of the land there, you might remember that there was this really wonderful little bar there was this really wonderful little bar right there on Clinton Street called The Mill.

And it was -- Man: Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

And, um, it was just this really wonderful place for live music, like, mediocre Greek salads, Karaoke.

Um, I had my first date with my partner there.

We have spent a lot of nights I don't remember there.

Wonderful time.

Unfortunately, The Mill was a victim of the pandemic.

We no longer have The Mill.

Quite literally was turned into a parking lot.

But before The Mill closed, before I realized it would be my last time at The Mill, I was there with some friends, and that's, like, pretty much all I remember, besides I went to the bathroom, and in the bathroom on the stall, um, middle stall, there was this little graffiti on the door, and it said, "Lil Roach Hearts Nasty."

And I thought that it was profound.

I thought that was, like, a really nice thing.

So I took a picture of it, and then -- and then whatever.

And then -- So then we're all locked up in the pandemic, and I am going through my pictures, and I find this "Lil Roach and Nasty."

And I'm like, "I'm gonna write the love story of Lil Roach and Nasty."

"And I'm gonna go across America, and I'm gonna sing it until I find Lil Roach or Nasty."

I haven't yet, but maybe we will soon.

So if you know Lil Roach or Nasty, come see me afterwards.

Tell them to call me.

I want to see how close I got.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I can see it now, both the flame and the starter ♪ ♪ One bought the drinks, and the other brought a marker ♪ ♪ To take their place by a Bible verse and Freud ♪ ♪ A footsie game underneath the table ♪ ♪ Makes its way to the stall in the middle ♪ ♪ We write our names 'cause we love to fill up voids ♪ ♪ Little Roach and Nasty ♪ ♪ First date on Tuesday ♪ ♪ Sipping IPA's and giggling through the entire show ♪ ♪ Oh, Little Roach hearts Nasty, twice in the bathroom ♪ ♪ But no one says a word ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's Nasty and her girlfriend, Little Roach ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ When the bill comes out, there's an ask for a number ♪ ♪ A vague opportunity to hang this summer ♪ ♪ But Nasty stops the digits after six ♪ ♪ One wears plaid, and the other wears leather ♪ ♪ It's clear that this was never 'bout forever ♪ ♪ Just a Tuesday night, that's all it is ♪ ♪ Little Roach and Nasty ♪ ♪ Last date on Tuesday ♪ ♪ Sometimes lovely things begin ♪ ♪ Just to teach us why they end ♪ ♪ Still, Little Roach hearts Nasty ♪ ♪ Even as she's leavin' ♪ ♪ And the only consolation ♪ ♪ Is maybe someday they can still be friends ♪ Well, thank you for coming out.

[ Cheers and applause ] Once again, we've got the dream team up here tonight.

This is Bryan Vanderpool on guitar.

[ Cheers and applause ] We've got Chris Hansen on the drums.

[ Cheers and applause ] We've got Steph Graham on the bass tonight.

[ Cheers and applause ] My name is Lily DeTaeye.

Thank you so much.

It's so fun to be back in Iowa.

Thank you for coming out.

Here's an instrumental for the outro.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ba ba ba, da ba ba, da ba ba, da ba ba, da ba ba, de do ♪ ♪ Ba ba di dum, ba ba di di di do ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba, da ba ba, da ba ba, da ba ba ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Who-o-o-o-o-a ♪ Davis: "Studio 3 Live" is also available as a podcast.

Get it wherever you get your podcasts.

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