Lily Brooks O'Briant on Balancing Life as Lucy Romalotti and Her New EP 'Hopeless Romantic': A Journey Through Acting and Songwriting

Singer-Songwriter and actress Lily Brooks O’Briant is preparing for the release of her latest EP, Hopeless Romantic, on September 27th. Known for her role as Lucy Romalotti on The Young and The Restless, O’Briant seamlessly blends her talents for acting and music to deliver powerful stories in both arenas. In this exclusive Q&A, she discusses how playing Lucy has influenced her songwriting, the crossover between acting and music, and how she manages the challenge of balancing her dual careers. With her EP on the horizon, O’Briant offers a behind-the-scenes look at how her creative worlds intersect.

1. How has your role as Lucy Romalotti on The Young and The Restless influenced your music, if at all? Do you find any crossover between acting and songwriting?

Playing Lucy has definitely influenced my music in ways I didn’t expect. Lucy started off hurt and betrayed last winter which brought some of those emotions into my songwriting. Acting and songwriting are both about storytelling, and stepping into a character’s shoes has helped me understand how to convey emotions more deeply. In acting, I’m portraying someone else’s story, but in music, I get to tell my own. Still, there’s this crossover where both crafts require vulnerability and connection. When I’m writing songs, I think about how I would feel in a scene or what emotions I need to tap into. Lucy’s journey has made me more thoughtful about how I express emotions, whether in a song or on-screen. Viewers are still seeing Lucy’s story unfold. At the moment she is pretty lost, hurt, angry and lonely. You will have to keep watching, but there is a big twist to her story that will cause a lot of drama.

2. As someone who wears many hats—actor, singer, and songwriter—how do you manage balancing your music career with your acting projects?

It’s definitely a challenge, but I’ve always been passionate about both acting and music, so finding that balance is really important to me. Time management is key. When I’m on set, I’m fully immersed in acting, but I always make time to write and work on my music whenever I can. Attending LAAMP (LA Academy for Artists and Music Production) helped me focus my energy and time on songwriting and being an artist. I am so grateful I get to go back this year for another year immersed in songwriting and growing as an artist. There’s something about having different creative outlets that keeps me grounded. They feed into each other—acting inspires my songwriting, and music gives me an emotional release in my personal life. I think when you love what you do, you find ways to make it all work.

3. With Hopeless Romantic releasing soon, what do you hope this EP will add to your overall music career? Is there a larger message or journey you want your listeners to experience?

I hope Hopeless Romantic shows more of who I am as an artist and as a person. This EP is incredibly personal to me, and I want listeners to feel like they’re experiencing the emotional highs and lows of love right alongside me. The larger message is about embracing all sides of love—the joy, the heartbreak, the uncertainty—and realizing that it’s all part of growing up and discovering yourself. In terms of my career, I hope this EP allows people to connect with me on a deeper level and sets the tone for more authentic music in the future.

4. You’ve mentioned that you plan to release more music soon—what can fans expect from your future projects? Will you continue to explore these themes of love and vulnerability?

Yes, absolutely! Love and vulnerability will always be central themes in my music because they’re such a big part of who I am. But with my future projects, I also want to dive into other emotions and experiences—whether it’s empowerment, self-discovery, or even moments of doubt and uncertainty. My music is evolving as I grow, and I’m excited to share those new sides of myself with my fans. Expect a sassier side that I have embraced in 2024. I will still be raw and honest in my storytelling, but also some sassier, bolder tracks that reflect where I am now emotionally. I have grown as a person & artist

5. Where do you see yourself evolving as an artist in the next few years? Do you have any dream collaborations or genres you’d like to experiment with?

In the next few years, I see myself pushing my boundaries even further, both as a songwriter and as a performer. I’d love to explore different genres—maybe some more indie-pop or even a bit of country, since I love storytelling & am originally from Tennessee. I have had three writing trips to Nashville this year too. As for dream collaborations, there are so many artists I admire! The DREAM would be Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter or Kelsea Ballarini. They are all incredible songwriters and such an inspiration. Ultimately, I just want to keep growing and experimenting with my sound.