Ballymena-based singer-songwriter Lilla Vargen first made a splash in 2015 with her single ‘This Is Love’. Subsequently, she retreated into the wilderness for two years in order to finesse her delicate style. “Then, I was nervous and anxious,” reflects Vargen. “It was hard to know how the music would be received, so over the past couple of years I’ve been working in preparation for this moment.”

Vargen has now resurfaced with ‘Hold On’, taken from her October 27-released EP. The beautifully vulnerable track is indicative of her overall approach to songwriting, in which she explores personal experiences. “It was about a friend who was let down in love,” explains the singer, “who I was concerned about greatly. She was always on my mind, and then one day, I was sitting in my parents’ house when I picked up a guitar and wrote it in maybe 30 minutes.”

“I’d say most of my tracks are really personal and hard-hitting in various ways. It’s hard to write about things that I don’t connect with in a highly emotional way. It’s a therapeutic process and I think people can relate to these real feelings.”

Influenced by the likes of Roy Orbison and Lisa Hannigan, Vargen will be supporting the latter at St. Luke’s, Cork on November 11. Indeed, it’s set to be a brilliant couple of months for the singer as she embarks on her exciting comeback.