Lilith Czar: A Voice Sharpened by Fire

When Lilith Czar reemerged earlier this year with “POPSICLE,” her first single as an independent artist, the move felt like a deliberate break from the past. Instead of chasing the algorithm with a high-tempo anthem, she opted for a mid-tempo, haunting track that resonates deeply with its vocal delivery and lyrical impact. “It’s not your typical comeback banger,” she explains. “But I wanted something that hits you right in the face from the first second, it's something you can’t ignore.” For Czar, this new era is about more than sound; it’s about reclaiming her narrative.

“POPSICLE” sets the tone for a body of work that finally explains why she became Lilith Czar in the first place. Her 2021 album, Created From Filth and Dust, introduced her as a powerful warrior figure but left unanswered questions about her journey. Now, she’s revealing more about her story. “That record was about storming in and saying, ‘I’m here to fuck shit up,’” she recalls. “But it never really explained how I got there or why I had to take on this persona. That’s what I’m writing about now.” “POPSICLE” visually draws inspiration from literature and classic horror. The music video references Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Oval Portrait" and incorporates imagery from "Bride of Frankenstein." Czar explains, “The Bride was literally created to submit and serve man’s needs. That story parallels Lilith herself; created as an equal but cast out when she refused to conform. I’ve felt that way in the music industry more times than I can count, as if I was made to please rather than to create.”

By layering this history with Poe’s tale of obsession, Czar finds a sharp metaphor. “In 'The Oval Portrait,' the painter becomes so focused on details that he fails to notice his subject is dying. That’s how it feels when you’re forced into someone else’s vision of beauty—hair, clothes, nails—until the actual artist inside you is suffocating.” She adds that horror has always been her second love after music. “If all I did were watch horror movies forever, I’d be happy. So, incorporating that into my art makes perfect sense. Her decision to eliminate the Juliet Simms persona and fully embrace the Lilith Czar identity was solidified during a particularly absurd meeting with her record label. After presenting empowering songs like “King” and “Anarchy,” she was told that the key to a successful career would be to have an album cover featuring her in an American flag bikini, straddling a giant popsicle. “I laughed at first, thinking it was a joke,” she recalls. “Then I realized he was dead serious. At that moment, I decided that it had to stop. I’m going harder, darker, I’m dying my hair black, and I’m becoming Lilith Czar.” The irony? The very song they dismissed as “boring” later climbed to number one on the rock recurrent charts. “You have to trust yourself,” she asserts firmly. “If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to any woman entering this industry, it’s to listen to that inner voice, because everyone will try to tell you what’s best for you.”

Her defiance has positioned her alongside some of rock's most formidable women. Touring with Evanescence, Halestorm, and The Pretty Reckless provided her with invaluable experience. “Those women are at the top of their game,” she says with admiration. “Seeing Amy Lee sing live is like a religious experience. Lizzy Hale’s stamina is unreal, and Taylor Momsen’s voice is simply iconic. Watching them every night felt like being back in school, with a notebook in hand, taking notes.” It also heightened her sense of solidarity. “We need more tours like that,” she adds. “Let’s bring back Lilith Fair—no pun intended. The impact of seeing women command a stage is significant.” Czar is open about the progress the industry has made and the challenges that persist. “There’s more control now; artists can make more personal choices. But the stereotypes still exist. Women continue to be judged constantly,” she explains. Her goal is to create art that is more than just a spectacle. “I love embracing sexuality, but when I do, I want it to have meaning. I want it to convey a message. Music should evoke change in you, even make you smarter. That’s the kind of art I aspire to create.”

Independence has given Czar a new rhythm. “You’re no longer on anyone else’s schedule,” she explains. “That’s liberating. There’s no invisible presence breathing down your neck.” Her creative circle has become small and focused, comprising her husband, Andy Black, a few close friends, and longtime collaborators such as Scott Stevens and Eric Ron. Recently, she teamed up with producer Code Blooded and songwriter Curtis Peoples on her upcoming single, “Edge of Madness,” a track inspired by the challenges of navigating judgment and pressure. The music video, shot guerrilla-style over Labor Day weekend in locations like a cemetery, underpasses, and an airport hangar, may be her most visceral work yet. “We rewrote the concept in 16 hours and just ran with it. Honestly, it was the most fun I’ve ever had on a shoot. You can feel that energy in the footage.”

 Czar frames her journey through the lens of mythology. “We all have a story arc—the rise, the fall, the call to adventure,” she notes. For her, that call involves refusing to be defined by obstacles. “You can either wilt under pressure, or you can say, ‘Forget that, I’m going to make something happen.’ That’s the call to adventure. Be the cause, not the effect.” Her upcoming music is expected to incorporate a diverse range of genres, including rock, metal, pop, rap, and emo. “I’m not playing by anyone’s rules anymore,” she insists. “It’s necessary for my sanity.” If her independence feels like standing on the edge of chaos, that’s intentional. “The next song is literally called ‘Edge of Madness,’” she says with a grin. “You either break, or you become the monster that stands on top of it. That’s where I’m at.”

IMAGES PROVIDED BY: Josh Shultz

Interview By: Heather Koepp