Kilmore Primary School’s Tilly Bosworth has a powerful message to share in her debut single ‘Backup Dancers’, which was released on Friday.
Known as ‘Tilly Rose’, the grade six student has taken to the music scene with a song she wrote about her own life, her friendships and hardships, hoping to reassure other young people to stay true to themselves even when they face challenges.
Beginning her music career at a young age, Tilly said finding songs to sing at performances that were reflective of her own life at 12 years old had become challenging.
While popular songs often delve into love, relationships and mature themes, Tilly was eager to write a new song that those her age could relate to, shifting the focus to friendships, school-yard troubles and growing up.
“I became inspired to write the song after going through some rough times with so-called friends who became jealous and mean,” she said.
“It’s a song to let you know that you are not alone and you have true friends and people you can trust around you who will always be there and support you – your backup dancers.
“It’s about being strong and brave and staying true to yourself as you follow your own path and dreams.”
The song opens with the depiction of primary school blues, ‘you sat alone in the schoolyard, thinking to yourself ‘is it all too hard?’.
Tilly takes to the chorus with strength and courage to stand against bullies and praise true friendship.
“Tryna be the queen, you’ll never get there being really mean,” she sings.
“I believe in second chances, it’s my team, it’s my backup dancers.”
The track was built upon Tilly’s love for contemporary country music and its focus on storytelling, which she incorporated into her lyrics.
Whittlesea-based musician Paul Ray produced the track for Tilly and helped her finalise the song’s structure, hook lines, melodies, and harmonies.
The release encapsulates Tilly’s passion for music, having spent her younger years dancing before taking up singing lessons with Wallan singer Kaitlyn Thomas.
Tilly regularly performs throughout the Mitchell Shire, including most recently at the Seymour and Whittlesea shows.
She has written several additional original songs and is eager for more releases next year, including an ‘exciting’ collaboration.
and can keep up to date by following her on Instagram, @tilly_rosemusic.
