With just two singles to her name, Melbourne singer-songwriter Tilly Fenton is already making a striking impression.
Her sophomore release, Valentine, is a shimmering slice of dream-pop that wears both its heart and its hooks on its sleeve.
It’s confident, playful, and gently devastating; a clear step forward from her intimate debut The Secret, and one that marks Fenton as a serious contender in Australia’s rising alt-pop scene.
Tilly Fenton – Valentine
- When: out today!
- Where: stream it here
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Fenton began her musical journey at the small age of seven. Classical piano at school was the start, before she went on to spend time during the COVID lockdowns teaching herself guitar and writing songs. This became a safe space for the blooming artist.
After keeping her creative pursuits largely private, it was after finishing school that Tilly went on to study music. Before too long, this gave way to unlocking the pathway to the release of two sparkling singles to date in 2025; and,
Fenton says it’s via her latest track, Valentine, that her artistic vision takes full flight.
Valentine
From the opening seconds, Valentine unfurls with a kind of soft, intentional grace.
Acoustic strums and airy textures swirl around Fenton’s buttery vocals, before the track lifts off into an upbeat, glittering dreamscape powered by crisp drums and plucky guitar lines.
There’s a compelling contrast at work here; the production is all radiant polish, while the lyrics dig into the ache of unreciprocated emotional effort.
What sets Valentine apart is its emotional clarity. Fenton navigates the universal longing for simple, honest love with disarming ease, capturing the ache of small moments, the kind that mean everything when you’re not being seen. It’s this balance between breezy charm and quiet vulnerability that gives Valentine its lasting glow.
Sonically, there are echoes of Lizzy McAlpine’s intimacy, Lexi Jayde’s charisma, and even a flash of boygenius intensity in the bridge, but Fenton’s voice, both literal and lyrical, is unmistakably her own. Working alongside producer Michael Belsar and drummer Ben Ellingworth, the team finds a sparkling synergy that elevates the track’s lush textures and rhythmic punch.
For an artist who only recently stepped into the spotlight, Tilly Fenton sounds remarkably assured.
Valentine isn’t just a love song, it’s a statement of intent. And if this is her poppiest, cheekiest work yet, we can’t wait to hear what comes next.
You can find Tilly’s latest release here.
