The best art almost seems to create itself, and it is my belief that true legends are those who have mastered the most important art of all: vulnerability. The openness to inspiration when it hits.
When I was running late to my interview with Lily Bethke at Irrational Kitchen, she assured me that my tardiness was actually a good thing. Inspiration was hitting hard, and she was in the middle of writing a song. If you’re reading this as a creative, you might understand the sense of urgency that arrives with inspiration. An idea demands our full attention through a combination of curiosity—as if the created thing already exists and we are simply following its lead—a bit of FOMO, like it might run faster than we can catch it, and a kind of high. It demands vulnerability.
I asked Lily about her creative process. “When it feels right in your soul when you’re singing, you don’t have to sit there and be like, ‘Oh, we’re doing this song again,’” she said. “I want to sing it with my soul and everything in me.”
For years, Lily chased those open moments of inspiration with the band we all know and love, The Smoky Nights. She says she will always be grateful for the knowledge and experience she gained from playing in the group, but something was missing. “It became not fun anymore, and it was just a job,” she explained. “And music should never be a job.”
It’s safe to say that if Cookeville had music ratings, The Smoky Nights would be at the top. They are interwoven into the fabric of our community and have played an integral role in shaping the local music scene. So while the announcement of their disbanding came as a shock, it was no surprise when half of Cookeville showed up to say goodbye at 37 Cedar Restaurant & Bar.
While Cookeville won’t be the same without Lily’s vocals and Anthony’s harmonies echoing down Broad and Cedar, a familiar voice will still be heard around the WestSide. “This girl isn’t giving up!” Lily exclaimed. And with Nashville so close, our star is staying right here in Cookeville.
With a home base established, Lily and former Smoky Nights band member Stephanie plan to tour the country, testing new sounds on fresh audiences. “I don’t want to say, ‘Oh, I did this many shows or that many shows in a year,’” she shared. “But were they great shows? Were they my best performances? Did you love doing it every single time?” As an advocate for authenticity, this made me smile.
Lily intends to lean fully into her own sound. “I have so many songs that I’ve written personally that just didn’t fit The Smoky Nights,” she said. “I want to be as creative with my music as possible and put my heart and soul into it. When I’m forced into writing for an upbeat, high-energy band, I don’t always want to write songs like that. I love upbeat songs, but I also love writing slow songs like ‘Power.’ That song was very vulnerable to write.”
As her tour begins, Lily is also developing a new brand for herself. If you’re already following The Smoky Nights on social media, don’t go anywhere. The name and face may change, but Lily plans to rebrand the page to match her new musical identity.
She admits she will feel more unguarded writing and singing on her own, but she’s also excited. “People haven’t really heard Lily,” she said. “They’ve heard The Smoky Nights. I’m so excited to show everyone my true ability—to just sing by myself.”
While exploring genre, Lily says she’s leaning toward country, but she’s not promising anything. Interestingly, the iconic Stevie Nicks—whom Lily is often compared to—once said that if she weren’t a rock singer, she would be a country singer. Personally, I would love a fresh sound like Lily’s in what feels like an increasingly over-commercialized genre. Lily also shared that she will continue playing the mandolin, but wants to focus more on her vocals.
Pursuing a career in music often doesn’t feel like a choice. It’s who you are, and it’s clear who Lily Bethke is. When I asked her why she writes, she recalled being 16 years old, overwhelmed with emotion and searching for a healthy outlet. Writing was the only way. “They didn’t even have to be my emotions,” she said. “They could have been my friend’s emotions. That’s how I write some of my songs—from someone else’s point of view. I feel for them, so then I write about it.”
She continued, “But there are songs like ‘Power’ and ‘Supernova.’ Those came with the lyrics. Those were my personal feelings. I don’t always want to tap into that, but when I allow myself to be vulnerable and aware—when I say, ‘Hey, listen to yourself, listen to your feelings, and just let it out’—it just comes out.”
Lily Bethke is a go-getter. And she’s going to get it. She has proven herself as a vocalist and songwriter within a band, but now she’s writing for one person—herself. I don’t know about you, but that’s something I can lean into.
Written by Jill Stalnaker | Photos by Joseph Wilson & Hailey Allen
