Following her recent sonic explorations in richly textured folk and indie soundscapes, our beloved Lila Tristram releases today her most intimate recording to date with new single Hey, Mother. A trained pianist, Tristram rarely shares piano-led compositions, making this release all the more poignant and revealing. Hey, Mother marks a return to her earliest musical language, making it a rare and deeply personal offering. Recorded live in one take at Gus White’s studio (Maddie Ashman, Edward Cross), mixed by White and mastered by Tim Debney (Sufjan Stevens, Thom Yorke), Hey, Mother is a testament to the power of vulnerability, and a celebration of maternal love in its purest form.
While we are still waiting for the new album announcement, Lila released some singles which may be on it: Sounds Like Easter, and Baby were both premiered here, and Closer was also presented on TRISTE©. In 2025 Promising and Matha May came out and Overtake was, once again, premiered here.
Hey, Mother is out today on all major streaming platforms.

What She Says: “Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you a song that is incredibly close to my heart. Hey, Mother is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever recorded ~ a testament to my mother and to all mothers. When Gus and I were recording this song, we were expecting to spend all day doing takes and overdubs, but as it turned out we captured this performance live that morning, and something about it just felt perfect.“

Centred around a single live take of voice and piano, the track captures a moment of raw, unguarded connection – both to the music and to the subject at its heart. Built around a simple, haunting piano performance, the recording captures a rare, unfiltered honesty. Every detail is preserved – the grain of the vocal, the air in the room, the quiet resolve behind each lyric. There are no added layers, no post-production flourishes – just Tristram, present and unguarded. This sense of immediacy lends the song an almost sacred quality: a confessional space between artist and listener. “Any only daughter raised by a single mother will tell you, it’s a relationship like no other,” Tristram says. “It’s a really special and unique bond. I feel so lucky to have that depth of connection to my mum.” Despite its quiet delivery, Hey, Mother resonates with emotional intensity. The lyrics read like a letter, each line starting with an address Hey, Mother / You stand on the heath / You bore a rose / A picture so heavenly. It is a song about love that endures, about trust and devotion between two people who have stood side by side through everything. At its heart, Hey, Mother is a tribute to the kind of family bond that shapes you – the strength and power that runs through a matriarchal line.

“Hey, Mother
You stand on the heath
You bore a rose
A picture so heavenly

Hey, Mother
In delicate harmony
You stand with me
We stand on the heath

Hey, Mother
You sing a melody
In the summer
They love one another
They love one another

Hey, Mother
Trust in my loyalty
You bore a rose
A picture so heavenly“

Hey, Mother is out now on all major streaming platforms. Look HERE for more information on Lila Tristram.