Alumni Case study Lily Knott
Lily Knott is an independent artist, songwriter, and content creator making waves in modern pop. From sold-out shows to BBC Radio 1 sessions, she combines performance, songwriting, and digital storytelling. Discover how WaterBear helped her turn creative passion into a professional, sustainable music career.
From Brighton to BBC Radio 1: Lily Knott Shaping the Modern Pop Artist
Lily Knott is a force to be reckoned with in the modern pop landscape. Since graduating from WaterBear Brighton, she has evolved into a multi-faceted artist who does it all: world-building for her fans, creating viral content, and writing hit tracks for herself and other artists. Lily’s DIY spirit and professional polish have seen her music travel from sold-out headline shows to the national airwaves, proving that with the right foundation, there are no limits to what an independent artist can achieve.
Why Waterbear
For Lily, the decision to join WaterBear was about finding a community where she could truly stand out.
“What I loved about it was the smaller class size… the idea that all your lecturers would know your name and your goals,” she explains.
After exploring other music universities, the “big fish in a small pond” mentality at WaterBear resonated with her, offering a personal touch that larger institutions often lack. She was also drawn to the well-rounded nature of the curriculum, which balanced the “fun parts” like performance and songwriting with the essential business and production skills.
Experience During the Course
While Lily entered the course with a passion for songwriting, she found her most significant growth in an unexpected area: performance confidence. Before WaterBear, she had never performed live and felt unsure about how to even begin assembling a band or managing a stage.
Through the degree, she not only found her feet on stage but also built her professional network; her entire current band consists of fellow WaterBear alumni who have become life-long collaborators. Beyond the stage, Lily found immense value in the music business modules. Diving deep into the “fine print” of contracts, royalties, and splits gave her the confidence to navigate the industry as a savvy professional—a skill her music lawyer has since praised.
Career Impact and highlights
Since 2022, Lily’s career has been a whirlwind of milestones. Her resilience and strategic release plans have led to some truly enviable achievements:
- Festival Main Stages: Supporting Noel Gallagher at On The Beach and Sam Tompkins at Brighton Dome.
- Radio Success: Every track from her 6-track EP received airplay on BBC Radio 1, with her being named “Bop of the Week” and invited for a Maida Vale session.
- Streaming Milestones: Featured as Spotify’s ‘RADAR First Listen’ artist and gracing the covers of ‘New Pop UK’ and ‘Fresh Finds’.
- TV Syncs: Her music has been featured multiple times on Love Island, helping her double her streaming stats between 2024 and 2025.
Despite the glamour of these highlights, Lily is honest about the challenges of the “hustle,” from initially having to balance a day job to resisting the trap of social media comparison. Her ability to budget and strategically choose the right opportunities has been key to her sustainable growth.
Advice for future students
“Make the most of all the opportunities WaterBear provides. Go to all the masterclasses, don’t skip the lessons, use the free studios and the 1-1s. You don’t realise how much you have access to until you leave, so don’t waste it!”
Skills and Tools Gained
Stage Craft & Live Performance
Music Business Mastery (Contracts, Splits, Royalties)
Content Creation & World Building
Songwriting & Production
Strategic Release Planning
Professional Networking & Collaboration