From viral sketch videos to late-night television, Lilly Singh is used to making people laugh. The Canadian entertainer, writer, and advocate has made her mark in the entertainment world. And while she's still busy creating content and working on a number of projects, she's also bringing a new focus to a different, more personal format: books.
Lilly is no stranger to the written word-she's the New York Times Best-Selling author of How to Be a Bawse and Be a Triangle. But over the past few years, her love for reading has grown as she's immersed herself in valuable self-help books, powerful intergenerational dramas, and lighthearted romantic comedies. I used to read a lot when I was younger, and then there was a period of my life where I stopped reading because I convinced myself that it was too time-consuming and that I could watch things, said Lilly. And then I started my own book club called Lilly's Library in an effort to not only highlight South Asian authors, but also to help get myself back into reading.
Lilly's Library, which started in 2021, is genre-diverse and aims to provide readers with new stories they can relate to or learn from.
In honor of our Audiobooks offering for Spotify Premium users debuting in the U.S. today, we spoke to Lilly about the medium, its capacity for representation, and why she's so excited for more listeners to join in on the audiobooks journey.
What prompted you to start Lilly's Library? One reason was to shine a light on South Asian authors because I feel like they don't get the spotlight they deserve. But also, so much of my life is about representation and I've mostly focused on the screen for that. I've always been an advocate of seeing characters and stories that are diverse onscreen. And sometimes I get frustrated at the lack of that.
I came across this book Tell Me How to Be and it became the first Lilly's Library book. It's a queer story, and the perspective is from a mother and a son. And me being a queer brown person, I'm always like, Where are the queer brown people? When I read that book, I was like, Oh my God, this is so in-depth. And the thoughts of these characters and the struggles that this family is going through, I've never seen on the screen. It was so real and it was so honest. And I realized that maybe the South Asian community, like me, don't realize that their experiences-and what we've been waiting to see onscreen-are captured in books.
But another big part of it is I think there's this misconception that people have to be South Asian in order to enjoy South Asian stories, and that is just not true. I grew up watching a whole bunch of content that didn't have South Asians. I was still able to relate to it, or at the very least, learn something new. One in four people on this planet are South Asian, and I want to normalize that our stories can be relatable for you. And if they're not, they will teach you something new. Either way, that's a win-win situation.
With so much social, video, and audio content out there to consume, when do you instead turn to books? I have been so pleasantly surprised-and punched by the reality-that books actually have phenomenal representation. Things I'm always wishing I saw onscreen, on social media, and other places, I'm finding in books. And that's been really refreshing. The types of stories, characters, and problems that Lilly's Library features are all so much more advanced than the ones I see onscreen.
And so I pick up a book when I want to relate to something. I want to be seen. I want to kind of escape into a story that feels safe. It's also when I'm stressed, lonely, or feeling like my real life is a little too overwhelming and I want to dive into a different story.
You're a published author. What made you want to write? I got to a place where I wanted to tell a deeper story that was very detailed, and literature-for me-feels like a safer space to share some of those stories. I can talk about things in as much detail as I want. And I'll just be completely honest: Some stories feel safer writing it. When your face is in a video, it can be tough to talk about things, but sometimes when you're using words, you can hide in the beauty and safety of the pages. I feel writing allows you to go a little bit more vulnerable and deeper than you otherwise might.
You also narrated both audiobooks. What was it like to read your stories aloud? I won't lie, recording both of my audiobooks was one of the tougher experiences of my life because you are forced to read your writing out loud-and multiple times-when you're recording. I was like, Who wrote this? Who wrote it like this?
But. . . it was also very therapeutic to actually hear my thoughts out loud and be forced to read it when I wasn't in the editing process anymore. You can kind of get to relive your own story as an audience member when you're doing that, and can disconnect in a way that lets you be more forgiving. I feel like, for the most part, I was able to have a level of compassion when listening to my story out loud that I probably didn't have while I was writing and editing it.
Is there a book that's had a big impact on you? A book that really resonated with me is The Four Agreements. I love this book. It's a very, very simple and practical guide to personal freedom. And it's just well written and easy to understand. It was actually the inspiration for my second book, Be a Triangle. Anytime I'm struggling, I open that book and read a section of it. It's been like a life resource for me.
What are some elements about audiobooks that you especially enjoy? I really love holding a physical book, but I realized that I wasn't always able to read as much as I wa
More from Spotify
04/09/2024
From sunup to sundown, Spotify's daylist serves up an ever-changing playlist...
30/08/2024
In 2017, Imani Ellis revealed CultureCon to the world, a first-of-its-kind confe...
29/08/2024
Bells are ringing-school bells, that is-as kids across the U.S. start the new school year. In addition to fresh fits and the right supplies, kids might also nee...
28/08/2024
Every summer, as people across the Northern Hemisphere seek out the perfect song...
27/08/2024
C mo ser el futuro cuando la IA interact e con los humanos? Esta y otras comple...
27/08/2024
What does the future look like when it comes to AI personalities interacting wit...
22/08/2024
Laughter, energy, camaraderie-these are just a few of the elements that come to life when a podcast is recorded in front of an audience, rather than in a sound-...
21/08/2024
Just like its fashion and food trends, Japan's music scene is constantly evolving, all while captivating a growing global audience. From J-Pop (Japanese pop...
21/08/2024
On August 25 and 26, an estimated 2 million attendees will flock to London for N...
19/08/2024
The world of anime is rapidly expanding, finding fans all over. On Spotify, global streams of anime music have surged by 395% since 2021, and there are 6.7 mill...
15/08/2024
Recent years have seen the emergence of groundbreaking talent from cultural hot ...
15/08/2024
En los ltimos a os hemos sido testigos del surgimiento de talentos innovadores ...
13/08/2024
No es ning n secreto que la vibrante escena musical mexicana ha trascendido fron...
13/08/2024
It's no secret that Mexico's vibrant music scene has transcended borders...
13/08/2024
Con sus diversos sonidos, la m sica de Colombia ha logrado conectar con una amplia gama de audiencias de todo el mundo, y el pop colombiano no es una excepci n....
13/08/2024
With its diverse sounds, music from Colombia has connected with a range of audiences from all around the world-and Colombian pop is no exception. This genre has...
09/08/2024
Humans are complex creatures, capable of experiencing joy, sorrow, and everythin...
09/08/2024
El aclamado colombiano J Balvin ha conquistado al mundo con su m sica durante m s de una d cada. Fans desde Latinoam rica hasta Europa est n cautivados por la e...
09/08/2024
Colombian hitmaker J Balvin has captivated the world with his music for more than a decade. Fans from Latin America to Europe can't get enough of The Boy F...
07/08/2024
Women have been integral to hip-hop from the beginning, contributing to its grow...
07/08/2024
Last week, Spotify and FC Barcelona brought the worlds of music and football together once again to kick off the club's preseason tour in the U.S. To celebr...
07/08/2024
It's official: Spotify is declaring 2024 the Year of the Cowgirl. In culture, we are seeing celebs, influencers, and others don western boots and flat, wide...
05/08/2024
As one of the fastest-growing genres worldwide, M sica Mexicana has emerged as a...
01/08/2024
It's been eight years since BLACKPINK captivated the K-Pop scene and transcended to global superstardom. Since then, they've racked up billions of strea...
01/08/2024
Youth spaces are crucial for the well-being of children and young people, as they instill a deep sense of belonging and ignite creativity. But in the U.K., thes...
01/08/2024
July 18 marked the start of South Asian Heritage Month, which celebrates the ric...
31/07/2024
We're halfway through the year and at a perfect moment to consider which humorous, intriguing, and entertaining audiotales have captivated readers thus far ...
30/07/2024
As the most-listened-to Brazilian artist ever on Spotify, and the first to reach...
30/07/2024
Como a artista brasileira mais ouvida de todos os tempos no Spotify e a primeira...
26/07/2024
Last month, Spotify's annual Songs of Summer predictions made their return, ...
26/07/2024
Summer is peak season for some of our favorite sports and events. Whether you're rooting for the home team at the ballpark or cheering for your country as i...
25/07/2024
At Spotify, we aim to bring great audiobooks to as many listeners as possible, i...
24/07/2024
Building anticipation ahead of a new album release is one of the most important ways for artists to ensure its success. But in today's music landscape, gain...
23/07/2024
Today, we announced our second quarter 2024 earnings. Led by healthy subscriber gains, improved monetization, and record profitability, Spotify reported
Month...
23/07/2024
Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r andra kvartalet 2024. Med stark kning av antalet premiumanv ndare, f rb ttrad int ktsgenerering och rekor...
19/07/2024
By Marcelina Slota - Head of Platform Integrity, Spotify
Safety is a top priority for Spotify, which is why we want to make it easier for young people and pare...
18/07/2024
Summer is officially in full swing, and that means it's time to chill out. Whether you're heading out on vacation or hoping to make the most of Summer F...
17/07/2024
When we launched our AI DJ in English last year, it gave listeners a new way to connect with and discover music on Spotify. DJ is a personalized AI guide that k...
17/07/2024
Cuando lanzamos AI DJ en ingl s el a o pasado, ofrecimos a los usuarios una nueva forma de conectar y descubrir m sica en Spotify. DJ es una gu a de IA personal...
11/07/2024
Around the world, the shift toward streaming has completely transformed the musi...
09/07/2024
For podcast creators who want to grow their audiences, building a stronger relationship with their listeners and fans goes a long way. And in order to amplify t...
03/07/2024
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Just ask Emma Roberts, star of t...
28/06/2024
As one of the most powerful forms of human expression today, video is becoming...
27/06/2024
Since 2020, RADAR has served as Spotify's program to spotlight rising talent...
27/06/2024
Summer 2024 is officially underway, and with it comes our possibilities for personalizing the soundtrack that'll have you grooving through August. For examp...
25/06/2024
June is Pride Month, a time to honor and celebrate the vibrant LGBTQIA community and its rich history, culture, and achievements. It's also a time to eleva...
24/06/2024
Peso Pluma-aka La Doble P -is one of the fastest-growing Latin artists in Spotify's history and the first to go from 2 million monthly listeners to 50 mill...
21/06/2024
On Spotify, users discover and enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks, with various plans that meet our listeners' needs. We offer subscriptions for every st...
21/06/2024
This week, Spotify returned to the South of France for the 2024 Cannes Lions Int...
From viral sketch videos to late-night television, Lilly Singh is used to making people laugh. The Canadian entertainer, writer, and advocate has made her mark in the entertainment world. And while she's still busy creating content and working on a number of projects, she's also bringing a new focus to a different, more personal format: books.
