Liz Gillies, known for her roles in shows like Dynasty and Victorious, is finally ready to share her music after years of waiting.
After nearly a decade without a solo performance, the 31-year-old singer-actress is set to take the stage at Café Carlyle in New York City from November 6 to 9, marking a significant moment in her artistic journey.
“This is a lifelong dream of mine,” Gillies shared. “When they reached out to me, I was so excited. I’m in a place now where I can really focus on music, and I’ve made that choice.”
Gillies began her career as a teenager, starring in the Broadway show 13: The Musical. She quickly gained attention for her strong voice and talent, later appearing in Victorious alongside Ariana Grande.
In the Nickelodeon series, she became a fan favorite as Jade West, singing popular songs like “Give It Up” and “Take a Hint.” Although she enjoyed performing these pop tunes, she often felt a disconnect with the music.
“My goal was always to get to Broadway,” she reflected. Her early experiences included performing at the American Girl Store in Manhattan, which introduced her to the spotlight.
After Victorious ended in 2013, Gillies signed with Columbia Records and began working on music that didn’t align with her true artistic vision. “I wanted to create singer-songwriter folk music, not the pop music I was expected to make,” she explained.
Despite her record deal, Gillies found herself primarily releasing music to accompany her acting projects, rather than exploring her solo career.
Her marriage to music producer Michael Corcoran in 2020 inspired her to write music together, but their collaborations didn’t lead to her own solo work.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillies teamed up with Seth MacFarlane for an album of jazz standards called Songs from Home, followed by a holiday collection in 2023.
Although she loved performing these projects, she did not consider them her debut albums. “It was exciting, but I wanted my own music,” she said.
Recently, Gillies has been working on new music and collaborating with fellow artist Ferry Townes, also known as Julia Gargano. Their partnership resulted in the release of “What You’ve Done,” an acoustic duet that reflects Gillies’ personal style.
“I’m so happy to finally have original material out in the world,” she said. “I’ve opened the floodgates to releasing music, and I’m not afraid to do so anymore.”
Now, Gillies feels ready to share her music authentically. Her upcoming shows at Café Carlyle will feature a mix of her original songs, musical theater pieces, and covers from artists like Joni Mitchell and Julie London.
“The setlist keeps evolving,” she noted, sharing that her recent experience seeing Joni Mitchell perform inspired her to add more of Mitchell’s songs to her lineup.
Looking back on her journey, Gillies believes her teenage self would be proud of where she is today. “It took a while, but I think she would be happy that it’s finally happening,” she said, adding, “I don’t think she’d have any notes, actually.”
With her new music and performances on the horizon, Liz Gillies is ready to embrace her long-awaited career as a solo artist.
