Predstavljamo vam glasbenico Lilio Mai. Zanjo glasba ni le zvok, temveč prostor, kjer se razkrivajo najgloblji občutki, misli in resnice. Je dnevnik, izpoved in hkrati tiha terapija, skozi katero se bolečina preobraža v lepoto. V iskrenem pogovoru umetnica odpira vrata v svoj notranji svet – govori o glasbi kot daru in poklicu, o ranljivosti, ki zahteva pogum, ter o ljubezni, ki uči sprejemanja. To je zgodba o tem, kako notranji glas postane pesem in kako umetnost pomaga razumeti sebe ter svet okoli nas.
Je glasba zate poklic, dar ali stanje duše? Kako jo doživljaš osebno?
Glasba je zame vse. Je dar, stanje duha in hkrati poklic. Proces pisanja pesmi mi pomaga sprostiti čustva, ki so včasih globoko skrita. Pisanje o lastnih občutkih mi omogoča, da se bolje razumem in razvijam svojo čustveno inteligenco. Šele po tem glasba postane tudi poklic. Prava umetnost je podobna ljubezni – pogosto pomeni podariti del svoje duše in srca, ne da bi v zameno kaj pričakovali. Tako dojemam tudi svojo glasbo. Moje ustvarjanje sodi v neodvisno indie glasbo, kar mi daje svobodo, da ustvarjam iz čiste ljubezni in strasti, brez pritiska in komercialnih pričakovanj. Zaradi tega se počutim izjemno blagoslovljeno in hvaležno.
Večkrat si dejala, da glasba ves čas igra v tebi. Kako prepoznaš trenutek, ko se ta notranji zvok spremeni v bodočo pesem?
Ko se pojavi občutek, se pesem nekako naravno oblikuje v mojih mislih. Vse, kar moram storiti, je, da jo zapišem v dnevnik ali posnamem na diktafon. Ko imam dostop do klavirja, začnem pisati glasbo, ki ustreza čustvom, ki sem jih že oblikovala v poezijo. To je zares čaroben proces. Včasih se, ko sem pri klavirju, melodija in besede pojavijo hkrati. Igram melodijo, medtem ko se besedilo spontano razvija. Svoj notranji glas spremenim v pesem takrat, ko notranja glasba postane tako glasna, da je ne morem več zadržati samo zase. Želim jo deliti – to je moj način, da pokažem, da mi je še vedno mar. Življenje je prekratko, da bi čustva zadrževali zase.
Obleka: Nikolai Krasnikov
Obleka: Nikolai Krasnikov
Tvoj novi album je izšel 25. 12. 2025. Katera čustva, zgodbe ali ideje so bile njegovo izhodišče? Kaj si želela, da poslušalci občutijo
Vse zgodbe, ki jih izražam skozi glasbo, so osebne in resnične. Ta album je kot moj dnevnik, v katerem se odpiram ob najbolj dragocenih trenutkih svojega življenja. Preprosto sem izražala svoja čustva. Osrednja tema albuma je težavnost spuščanja nekoga, ki je bil zame izjemno pomemben. Če se kdo v teh občutkih prepozna, upam, da mu bodo pesmi pomagale, da se ne bo počutil sam – saj bo vedel, da nekdo drug doživlja podobno. Album Love Machine je govoril o zaljubljenosti, vzajemni ljubezni, sreči in radosti, zato je bil zelo lahkoten in vesel. Nato je sledil album Surreal, ki je bil predvsem o nezmožnosti, da bi se poslovila od ljubljene osebe. Ta aktualni album pa odraža mojo željo, da bi končno spustila – ter moje ponavljajoče se poskuse, ki se žal vedno znova izkažejo za neuspešne. Govori o boju in postopnem sprejemanju tega stanja. Kot nekdo, ki je pravkar zaključil študij psihologije, sem spoznala, kako pomembno je, da čustev ne skrivamo, temveč jih popolnoma in brezpogojno sprejmemo. Šele po sprejemanju je mogoče resnično spustiti.
Je na albumu skladba, ki ti je še posebej pri srcu?
Vse moje pesmi so mi zelo pomembne. Pesmi Hope You Are Happier Now Without Me, Unholy Wars in Lady in Blues sprva sploh nisem nameravala deliti z javnostjo – napisala sem jih izključno zase. Vendar me je moja ekipa spodbudila, da jih vključim na album. Te skladbe so izjemno iskrene in osebne. Deliti jih z drugimi je zahtevalo veliko poguma. V njih se kažem nepopolna, ranljiva – kot da sem podarila del svoje duše. Navdih vedno izhaja iz mojega čustvenega stanja. Vso svojo bolečino preoblikujem v umetnost. Glasba je edini način, da izrazim, kako se počutim; v resničnem življenju tega ne pokažem, le moje pesmi govorijo namesto mene. Pesem Unholy Wars je nastala pod vplivom skladbe Unholy War Amy Winehouse. Globoko je odmevala v meni – ne le na ravni ljubezni, temveč tudi v odnosu do moje domovine. Pesem je postala izjava brezpogojne zvestobe. Izdaja ljubezni ali lastne domovine zame pomeni izdajo lastne identitete. Naslov pesmi je zato zavestna referenca na Amyjino skladbo, prilagojena moji osebni zgodbi.
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I Am a Work of Art je moja najljubša pesem z albuma. Odraža to, kar sem, in našla je posebno mesto v srcih poslušalcev, na kar sem izjemno ponosna. Sama sebe vidim kot umetniško delo in želim, da bi se tako videli tudi drugi. Vsi smo umetniška dela. Zato ta pesem odpira in hkrati zaključuje album.
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Obleka: Nikolai Krasnikov, uhani: Lastoria
Obleka: Nikolai Krasnikov, uhani: Lastoria
Obleka: Nikolai Krasnikov, uhani: Lastoria
Prvi vrhunski producent, s katerim sem sodelovala, je bil Onree Gill (Alicia Keys) leta 2012. Ta izkušnja mi bo za vedno ostala v spominu – zdela se je kot sanje. V studiu me je povabil, naj sedem poleg njega in zapojem, kar koli čutim, ter pripovedujem zgodbo skozi glasbo. To mi je omogočilo, da sem se začela svobodno izražati; pred tem nisem nikoli nikomur pokazala svojih pesmi. Julian Shack (Lana Del Rey) me je naučil, da se ne smem bati glasbene nepopolnosti. Pokazal mi je, da so čustvene nepravilnosti v posnetkih pogosto tisto, kar pesmi daje življenje. Ranljivost je ključnega pomena. Sodelovanje z Nickom Ingmanom (Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, Björk) me je naučilo dela z orkestrom. Snemanje jazzovskega standarda v legendarnem studiu Abbey Road je bilo nepozabno doživetje. Spodbudil me je tudi, naj bom ponosna na svoj slovanski naglas, saj me prav ta dela edinstveno in nepozabno. Za vse te izkušnje in lekcije sem izjemno hvaležna.
Imela si čudovito fotografiranje za revijo Grazia Slovenija. Kakšno je bilo vzdušje in kateri videz ti je bil najbližji?
Izkušnja je bila čudovita. Čeprav je bila ekipa zame nova, je sodelovanje potekalo zelo lahkotno in prijetno. Vzdušje je bilo toplo, prijateljsko in navdihujoče. Vsi videzi so bili nekako povezani z mano – nežni, cvetlični in romantični. Zelo mi je bila všeč vintage obleka Valentino ter bela obleka oblikovalca Nikolaja Krasnikova z lilijo v laseh. Posebej pa sem vzljubila tudi zadnji videz, ki ga je posebej za to fotografiranje ustvarila moja stilistka Renata. Vsi outfiti so delovali romantično, elegantno in brezčasno. Iskrena hvala celotni ekipi.
Kaj te resnično osrečuje zunaj glasbe? Kaj te polni v vsakdanjem življenju?
Moja družina in moj sin mi prinašata neizmerno srečo. Materinstvo je ena najlepših izkušenj v življenju. Sinov nasmeh in smeh mi podvojita veselje – on je moj oksitocin. Obožujem živali – mačke, pse in konje, saj me izjemno osrečujejo. Rada plešem, preživljam čas v naravi in se sprehajam po čudovitih krajih, kot so Sankt Peterburg, obale, polja, gore in gozdovi. Opazovanje sončnih zahodov in zvezd je ena mojih najljubših dejavnosti. Rada se sončim, hodim v dežju ali snegu ter preživljam prijetne večere doma, ko kuham za svojo družino. Prijatelji, lepe duše, estetika in navdihujoči kraji me globoko polnijo. Navdušena sem tudi nad umetnostjo – rada slikam in obiskujem muzeje, kjer občudujem brezčasne mojstrovine. Literatura, film in fotografija me neskončno navdihujejo. Življenje imam resnično rada v vseh njegovih oblikah.
O čem sanjaš danes – ne kot umetnica, temveč kot ženska?
Sanjam o ljubezni kot varnem prostoru. Da bi to dosegla, delam na sebi – izobražujem se, spreminjam vzorce in se učim, kako najprej postanem varna sama zase. Želim izbrati prave ljudi, s katerimi bom obkrožena. Ljubezen in družina sta bili vedno moji najvišji vrednoti. Vedno sem sanjala o trajnem partnerskem odnosu, skupnem življenju, vzgoji otrok in vnukov ter deljenju radosti s svetom. Kasneje si želim izdati tudi knjigo, ki bo temeljila na resnični zgodbi.
Obleka Nikolai Krasnikov, pas:: Marina Getman, korzet: @dream_dress_for_dream_girls
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Sanjam o družini kot najvarnejšem zavetju, o miru v svetu ter o tem, da bi svoje dobrodelne projekte razvila v pravo dobrodelno organizacijo. Pred menoj je še veliko sanj, načrtov, idej in ciljev.
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Backstage video s snemanja naslovnice tukaj
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For her, music is not merely sound, but a space where emotions, thoughts, and truths unfold. It is a diary, a confession, and a quiet form of therapy through which pain transforms into beauty. In this intimate conversation, the artist opens the door to her inner world, speaking about music as both a gift and a calling, about vulnerability as an act of courage, and about love as a path toward acceptance. This is a story of how an inner voice becomes a song — and how art becomes a way of understanding oneself and the world.
Is music for you a profession, a gift, or a state of the soul? How do you personally feel about it?
It is everything. Music is a gift, a state of mind, and a profession, all at once. The process of songwriting helps me release emotions that are sometimes hidden deep within. Writing about my feelings allows me to understand myself better and to develop my emotional intelligence. Only after that does music become a profession.
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True art is like love, it often means giving a part of your soul and heart without expecting anything in return. That is exactly how I approach music.
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My work is considered independent indie music, which gives me the freedom to create purely out of love and passion, without pressure or commercial expectations. For that, I feel deeply blessed and grateful.
You’ve said that music is always playing inside you. How do you recognize the moment when that inner sound turns into a future song?
When a feeling arises, a song appears almost naturally in my mind. All I need to do is write it down—in my diary or record it on a dictaphone. When I have access to a piano, I begin composing music that reflects the emotions I’ve already shaped into poetry. It’s a truly magical process. Sometimes, when I’m at the piano, the music and the words come together at once. I play the melody while the lyrics unfold naturally. I know it’s time to turn my inner voice into a song when that inner music becomes so loud that I can no longer keep it to myself. I want to share it—because that’s my way of showing that I still care. Life is too short to keep feelings locked inside.
Obleka Nikolai Krasnikov, pas:: Marina Getman, korzet: @dream_dress_for_dream_girls
Your new album was released on December 25, 2025. What emotions, stories, or ideas became its starting point? What did you want listeners to feel?
All the stories I express in my music are deeply personal and true. This album feels like a diary in which I open up about my most meaningful moments. I was simply expressing my feelings. The central theme is how difficult it is to let go of someone who once meant everything to me. If listeners find themselves feeling the same way, I hope these songs help them feel less alone—knowing that someone else has experienced similar emotions. My previous album Love Machine was about falling in love, mutual feelings, happiness, and joy—that’s why it felt so cheerful. Then came Surreal, which focused on the inability to let go of a beloved person. This current album reflects my desire to finally let go—and my repeated attempts to do so, even though they fail. It is about struggle and, ultimately, acceptance.
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As someone who has recently earned a degree in psychology, I’ve realized how vital it is not to suppress emotions, but to acknowledge and accept them fully. Only through acceptance can true letting go occur.
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Is there a track on the album that feels especially meaningful to you?
All of my songs are meaningful to me. Tracks such as Hope You Are Happier Now Without Me, Unholy Wars, and Lady in Blues were originally written only for myself—I never intended to share them publicly. However, my team encouraged me to include them in the album. These songs are extremely sincere and personal. Sharing them required great courage.
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In them, I feel imperfect, vulnerable—as if I gave away a piece of my soul. The inspiration always comes from my emotional state. I transform my pain into art.
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Music is the only way I can truly express how I feel; in real life, I hide it well—only my songs speak for me. Unholy Wars was inspired by Amy Winehouse’s Unholy War. It resonated deeply with me—not only in terms of love, but also in relation to my homeland. The song became a statement of unconditional loyalty. Betraying love or one’s country is, to me, a betrayal of identity itself. The title is a direct reference to Amy’s song, adapted to my personal story. I Am a Work of Art is my favorite track on the album. It reflects who I am and has resonated deeply with listeners, which makes me incredibly proud. I see myself as a work of art—and I want others to feel the same about themselves. We all are. That’s why this song both opens and closes the album.
You’ve worked with world-class producers. How did these collaborations influence your sound and artistic vision?
The first world-class producer I worked with was Onree Gill (Alicia Keys) in 2012. I will cherish that experience forever—it felt like a dream. He encouraged me to sit beside him and sing whatever I felt, to tell a story through music. Thanks to him, I learned to express myself freely; before that, I had never shared my writing with anyone. Julian Shack (Lana Del Rey) taught me not to fear imperfection. He showed me that emotional flaws in recordings—moments I initially disliked—are often what make a song truly alive. Vulnerability, he said, is essential. Working with Nick Ingman (Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, Björk) taught me how to collaborate with an orchestra. Recording a jazz standard at the legendary Abbey Road Studios was unforgettable. He also encouraged me to embrace my Slavic accent instead of hiding it, reminding me that it makes me unique. I am deeply grateful for all these lessons and experiences.
You had a beautiful photoshoot for Grazia Slovenia. What was the atmosphere like, and which look felt closest to you?
The experience was absolutely delightful. Although the team was new to me, working together felt effortless and joyful. The atmosphere was warm, friendly, and inspiring. All the looks felt very personal: tender, floral, and romantic. I especially loved the vintage Valentino dress and the white dress designed by Nikolai Krasnikov, paired with a lily in my hair. I also adored the final look created by my stylist Renata especially for the shoot. Every outfit felt romantic, chic, and timeless. I’m deeply grateful to the entire team.
Obleka: Nikolai Krasnikov
Obleka_ Maison Valentino, nakit: @Graff, sandali: Red Valentino Stiliranje: @dream_dress_for_dream_girls Fotografija: Denisenko Viktor
What truly makes you happy outside of music?
My family and my son bring me immense happiness. Becoming a mother has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. My son’s smile and laughter double my joy—he is my oxytocin. I love animals: cats, dogs, and horses all fill me with happiness. I enjoy dancing, being in nature, walking through beautiful places such as Saint Petersburg, along beaches, fields, mountains, and forests. Watching sunsets and stars is one of my favorite activities. I love sunbathing, walking in the rain or snow, and cozy evenings at home cooking for my family. Friends, beautiful souls, aesthetics, and inspiring places nourish me deeply.
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gArt is another passion of mine—I love painting and spending time in museums, surrounded by timeless masterpieces. Literature, cinema, and photography inspire me endlessly. I truly love life in all its forms.
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What do you dream about now, not as an artist, but as a woman?
I dream of experiencing love as a safe space. To achieve that, I work on myself—educating myself, changing patterns, and learning to become safe for myself first. I want to choose the right people to surround me. Love and family have always been my highest priorities. I have always dreamed of building a lifelong partnership, raising children and grandchildren together, and sharing joy with the world. One day, I would also love to publish a book based on a true story. I dream of building a family as the safest place possible, of peace in the world, and of transforming my charity projects into a full charitable organization. I have many dreams, plans, and ideas ahead.
Backstage shooting of the cover here
Talent: Lilia Mai @liliamai Fotografije: Valeriya Fedotova @_vf_photo Stiliranje: Renata Vosfieva @renatavvv Ličenje in pričeska: Karina Markina @hz_karina Produkcija: Olga Ivanova @olgaivvanovva Lokacija: Pushkin Library @pushkinmos
