Lily Vakili to release ‘Live Wire’ EP May 8
Following the success of her 2025 album Oceans of Kansas, singer-songwriter Lily Vakili has announced the release of her first live EP, Live Wire, arriving May 8.
The six-song collection, produced by Grammy-winner Reed Turchi at Second Take Sound, captures Vakili alongside her touring band: Eric Burns, Joseph Yount, and Drew Hart. The project is a stripped-down, “live in-studio” recording that mirrors the raw energy of her recent East Coast tour.
“I’ve finally understood that what makes my music most compelling is when I perform it live with a band,” Vakili said. “It is an intense, collaborative experience that is a bit of a gamble, a risk—and requires a lot of logistical and mental preparation.”
The EP features reimagined versions of fan favorites and two new tracks, including the focus single “Anybody Knows,” which Vakili describes as a “crush song” born from the memory of waiting for a new lover. The tracklist also includes “Lake City Blues,” written after her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and the gritty rock track “Had A Penny,” which reflects on the 1970 Kent State tragedy.
Vakili’s path to music has been diverse, spanning a childhood in Honduras, Thailand, and Puerto Rico, and careers in dance, theater, and law. She continues to advise biotechnology companies, a role she says helps maintain her creative independence.
“Intellectual inquiry of all kinds influences my music,” Vakili noted. “Law and science are very stimulating subjects.”
East Coast Full Band Tour
Wednesday, May 6 in New York, NY at Francis Kite Club (EP Release Show)
Wednesday, May 13 in Atlanta, GA at Smith’s Atlanta Room
Thursday, May 14 in Charleston, SC at Tin Roof
Friday, May 15 in Asheville, NC at MayDay Music Festival at Sly Grog (8:30pm)
Saturday, May 16 in Charlotte, NC at Starlight on 22
Sunday, May 17 in Greensboro, NC at Borough Coffee at Double Oaks (3pm)
Tuesday, May 19 in Washington, DC at Pie Shop DC
Wednesday, May 20 in Philadelphia, PA at Nikki Lopez
West Coast Duo shows with guitarist Eric Burns
Wednesday, June 10 in Phoenix, AZ at Thunderbird Lounge
Friday, June 12 in Los Angeles, CA at Kulak’s Woodshed
Sunday, June 14 in San Francisco at Lost Church
Tuesday, June 16 in Portland, OR at White Eagle Saloon
