Vancouver Singer-Songwriter Jillian Lake Explores The Number 17 On New Single “XVII”
There is a fine line between connection and coincidence – the serendipity of a situation can often be perceived as either a stroke of luck, or something deeper and rooted in the universe. For Vancouver singer-songwriter Jillian Lake, the number 17 seems to follow her, at times calling on it herself by releasing music on the 17th of the month, or getting the number 17 tattooed as a reminder. But more often than not, it seems to have dug a more meaningful root in her life, playing equal parts a number of life as it is of loss and death.
“17 has always been a weirdly important number in my life”, she shares. “Everyone in my family was born of the 17th of different months – my brothers were even born 17 months apart. (Mum: December, Brother: March, Brother & Dad: August, Me: November). As well, I started pursuing music in 2017, playing my first ever show on May 17th. That was also the year I had two major heartbreaks.
It’s a day of birth but also of death, so I always considered it a prominent and powerful number. Our first cat Clovis dead at 17 on August 17th. Both my great grandmothers were buried on December 17th, my great grandpa died on May 17th. And I lost my brother when I was 17 years old”.
With “XVII” tattooed on her arm to bring her power and strength, and serve as a reminder of her family, her new single of the same markings is about identity and loss, topics that have been brought out my the number. Jillian continues, “XVII is a song about grief, and finding yourself all messed up in the aftermath just watching the world go on around you. A lot of floor-laying, a lot of driving down endless gravel roads, and a lot of shouting into the abyss. When you lose the sense of yourself and even breathing is hard. It’s a song about trying to find your footing again.”
With her velvety vocals at the forefront, she sings with hope and resilience on each passing chorus of “But I’m trying”. The song’s warm and patient composition highlight’s Jillian’s strength as a songwriter, creating art from deeply personal moments with an appealing and soothing presence.
Watch the accompanying music video below:
