Lily Kershaw — - Now & Then

Kershaw told American Songwriter that she was suffering from "tremendous heartache" during the writing process.

While the album as a whole features "sleeker pop production" than her debut, "Now & Then" serves as a bridge back to her earlier, more intimate acoustic style.

"Now & Then" is noted for its , intentionally designed to sound honest and visceral. Lily Kershaw - Now & Then

Kershaw considers Arcadia a meant to be heard as a "journey and an infinite loop".

The track is primarily built on delicate fingerpicking on an acoustic guitar. Some critics noted atmospheric additions, such as a rich, husky organ or accordion, which add a "melancholic autumn" feel. Kershaw told American Songwriter that she was suffering

Lines like "we’ll never know if our love could have grown" highlight the tragedy of a love lost to circumstance or internal struggles, such as the subject being "scared and alone" or "longing to feel but nothing that's real".

Lily Kershaw’s is a poignant folk-pop ballad released in 2019 as a lead single from her sophomore album, Arcadia . Described by Kershaw as the most "stripped" and intimate track on the record, the song explores the irreconcilable rift between past affection and present reality. Thematic Core: Unfulfilled Potential Kershaw considers Arcadia a meant to be heard

The song functions as a "wistful appeal" to a former lover, centering on the concept of . Kershaw examines a relationship that ended not necessarily because of a lack of love, but because it was never allowed to fully bloom. Key themes include: