James Vella returns as his musical alias A Lily with the new album ‘Saru l-Qamar’ (‘They Became The Moon’) – setting archival Maltese home recordings to new music for an album of trademark nostalgic quasi-ambiance.

From the 60’s until the modern era, it was common for Maltese families to receive reel tapes from relatives abroad. Maltese emigrés resettled in Australia, the UK, Canada etc. would record their news onto cassette – often in the form of għana, traditional Maltese song – and mail the tapes back home. Through the superlative archival work of Malta’s nonprofit heritage foundation Magna Żmien, many of these tapes still exist.

A Lily (Phantom Limb boss and musician James Vella) – who is Maltese – was allowed access to Magna Żmien’s collection and in late 2022 began creating new musical works responding to these recordings. These works take up the oneiric bliss of new album Saru l-Qamar [Eng: They Became The Moon], his first release on his own label, and released in Malta under Kewn Records.

Learn more: https://kewnrecords.com/2024/04/05/a-lily-releases-saru-l-qamar