Liya Shapiro

This song is really special to me because it brings two different versions of myself together. The verses and pre-chorus were written six years ago – when I was heartbroken, still romanticising someone who didn't love me back. I was stuck in that heartbreak, unable to move on. The lyrics reflect that: "They say forget but I keep running back / No second thoughts to grace my heart…" I was pleading for love that was never going to come, trying to find freedom from it but unable to let go.  ...

words by Karla Pichardo, photos by Errin Yesilkaya This interview is available in print, you can order your copy of Hedonist Magazine here . When I meet up with singer-songwriter Liya Shapiro at her cosy Islington pad, she’s wearing a vintage Yale jumper and faded floral trousers. She greets me with a warm hug – briefly interrupted by Shushu, her portly black cat who treads at her ankles.   Her apartment is a sensory wonderland; she’s laid out a gorgeous dinner of Waldorf salad, braised pak...

A deep dive into Burning Bridges—a raw portrait of emotional collapse, self-sabotage, and the quiet aftermath of survival.