In a world increasingly obsessed with soundbites and algorithms, there is something remarkably refreshing about the new collaboration between Lilies on Mars and composer-sound designer Stefano Guzzetti. The trio’s latest album, Shine, is a meditation on the power of emotion, crafted through a wall of sound that merges the ethereal and the tangible. Fuzz guitars, pulsing bass, space echoes, and sinuous harmonies blend with delicate electronics to create a haunting yet mesmerizing atmosphere. It is a sonic journey—sometimes introspective, sometimes expansive—that feels timeless, yet wholly of the moment.

At the heart of this collaboration is an undeniable chemistry. Born and raised on the magical island of Sardinia, Lilies on Mars (Lisa and Marina) and Guzzetti share not only a geographical origin but a love for the warm, blurry sounds of the '80s and '90s. The album’s lush arrangements echo the dreamscapes of bands like My Bloody Valentine and the Cocteau Twins while embracing the textural complexity of modern ambient music. But what truly sets Shine apart is its emotional core, woven into every track with an honesty and purity that transcends genre.

For Lilies on Mars, the creative process is rooted in a deep, personal connection to their music. “Be true,” Lisa insists, when asked what makes a good songwriter. “It’s the only way to engage with the listener.” Marina echoes this sentiment: “Do what you love. If you like it, it’s more likely that people will connect to it.” This sense of authenticity runs through Shine like a pulse, especially in its lyrics, which draw from the duo’s own experiences of love, self-discovery, and the natural world. “We believe in this,” Lisa explains. “There’s a shining bit in everything.” In that simple phrase, the album's title—and its central theme—becomes clear: Shine is about searching for beauty and light, even in the darkest corners.

The album is also a testament to the power of collaboration, despite its remote nature. Lilies on Mars and Guzzetti never once recorded together in the same room. Instead, the music was assembled piece by piece, each artist adding their contributions from their own isolated spaces. This sense of individual solitude—each musician deeply immersed in their own world—paradoxically gives the record a feeling of shared warmth. As Marina puts it, “It’s like cooking. Sound, words, emotions are the ingredients. Nothing is thrown away.” Each track on Shine is the result of this collective, but deeply personal, creative energy.

The results are stunning. The album’s sonic palette spans dreamy shoegaze landscapes to glitchy, experimental textures, with moments of pure, crystalline pop beauty. While Guzzetti is known for his experimental approach to sound design, Lilies on Mars brings a pop sensibility that keeps the songs grounded in something more accessible. Guzzetti’s love of short, concise pop songs (he’s a self-professed “sucker” for the three-minute track) fuses seamlessly with the duo’s ethereal compositions, resulting in an album that is both challenging and immediately gratifying.

It’s no surprise, then, that the making of Shine was an enriching experience for all involved. For Guzzetti, it was an opportunity to push boundaries while still drawing from the deep well of inspiration provided by the music of his youth: “I’m a sucker for short songs,” he says, citing influences like New Order, The Pixies, and The Shamen. For Lisa and Marina, the process reaffirmed their belief in the power of true emotional expression. “We insist as we give our feelings the chance to change and be modulated,” says Lisa. Shine is, in many ways, a reflection of that philosophy: a living, breathing document of musical exploration that thrives on honesty, experimentation, and collaboration.

As Lilies on Mars and Stefano Guzzetti continue to explore new sonic territories, Shine stands as a bold and inspiring statement. It is an album that encourages the listener to find beauty in the complexity, to embrace the warmth in solitude, and above all, to shine. In a world full of noise, their music speaks volumes. The first single from Shine is now available, the song "Wax" and today RebelNoise.com is proud to present the exclusive premiere for the "Wax" Video.