No Labels, No Limits: Lilly Yan

Photo by Ely Honkpo

When Lilly Yan released her debut EP, “Llorar a Gusto,” it was a declaration of identity, resilience, and artistic freedom. The six-track project, released in summer 2025, draws on everything from retro analog synths to bilingual R&B melodies, shaping what Yan describes as“a beautiful project about things that have happened in my life.” 

“I titled it Llorar a Gusto—which loosely means ‘a good cry’—because each song is like a different chapter,” she said. “It’s really an anthem for the ups and downs. I only write about things I’ve lived, and this project was really near and dear to me.” 

Born in Hollywood, Florida, and raised by Honduran parents, Yan moved to Atlanta as a teenager—a transition that exposed her to an even wider palette of cultures and sounds. 

While Yan’s Afro-Latina roots influence her artistry, her creative process has never followed a linear path or a single language. 

“When I first started releasing music, it was all in English. I didn’t really think about it,” she admitted. “But in 2020, I was literally in the shower, and this thought hit me: why not write it in Spanish instead? Why not embrace the other half of who I am?” 

That spark led to “Déjame,” her first fully Spanish-language single. This soulful R&B track gained traction on Spotify and opened the door for her bilingual style. “That was the song that started it all,” she said. “It hit playlists and people started reaching out. It made me realize, ‘Okay, maybe there’s something here.’” 

That mix of tenderness and edge defines “Llorar a Gusto.” From cinematic synth ballads to lyrics sprinkled with English and Spanish, the EP resists categorization—just like its creator. 

“I don't want to pigeonhole myself. I want to make things people haven’t heard before,” Yan said. “Whether it's an Afro influence, or 80s analog sounds, or a little acoustic guitar, it all comes from different places.” 

She credits producer Ivan Ruiz, her longtime collaborator, with helping bring that vision to life. 

“When we go into the studio, it’s super organic. Sometimes I’ll come in with a sentence, a theme, or a reference track, and we just build from there. We call them ‘musical babies,’” Yan said. 

“I saw that she knew what she wanted, so that made a clear path as a producer to know where to take that artist,” Ruiz said. Their creative partnership thrives on transparency, a dynamic he says has fueled their growth. 

He’s watched her blossom into an artist who no longer questions her lyrics, “When you put that girl in creative mode, she goes in,” Ruiz said. Ruiz said her pride in representing her Honduran roots is paving the way for future generations. “If a little girl or boy from Honduras says, ‘Lilly’s from my hometown, I can do the same thing,’ she’s doing an amazing job.” 

After the release of “Llorar a Gusto,” Yan is giving herself a break—performing live, co-writing with friends, and soaking up life—before diving into the next project. 

“You can’t write if you’re not living,” Yan said. “Music’s not going anywhere. I want to experience things and then pour that into whatever comes next.” 

Yan’s rise has also been shaped by her close creative relationship with Dante Alejandre Santos, CEO of La Maravilla Music, who discovered her through Instagram about two years ago. Since then, the two have developed an artistic bond, touring Mexico together and working closely on press, management, and creative projects. 

“We work together but not formal—just super close friends,” Santos said. He describes Yan as “super open—more open than in real life,” explaining that although she’s introverted, “when she’s composing, she’s super focused and has another type of personality.” For Santos, what makes her stand out is her versatility and authenticity. Confident in her future, he added, “I know Lily is gonna be huge. She’s addicted to work—it’s only a matter of time before she’s at more festivals. She has all the things to make it.” 

She hints at a fresh new concept for 2026, “It’s gonna be flavourful. It’s gonna be beautiful. I want to introduce something different to the world,” Yan said.

No matter where the music takes her, Yan is creating from the heart and for the people who haven’t always seen themselves represented. 

“Central Americans, we don’t see a lot of us in music—not like this. But we’re out here,” Yan said. “People who look like me can create this type of sound, too. I’m proud of who I am, where I come from and I want to show that through my music.”