Pilley was born in Memphis, Tennessee where her family has lived for 3 generations. Her father a preacher, her mother a nurse. She began playing piano at age 5. They later moved to South Carolina where she began winning piano competitions at age 12, (including the prestigious Mozart Competition) and had her debut with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as a solo artist at 16. She graduated with a degree in piano performance from The EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC, with studies in jazz composition. She also studied privately with Lee Luvisi at The Aspen Music Festival, and Ivan Davis for graduate studies at the University of Miami where she received a full scholarship plus stipend. Unsatisfied with classical music and wanting to perform and compose her own music, Pilley moved to New York and hung around the music building, scraping together work as a keyboardist with various unsigned artists and bands. She quickly gained recognition and appeared as a rock/pop keyboardist in video and television programs on MTV, BET, and PBS. Pilley was the featured keyboardist/talent for MTV's ace award winning show "TURN IT UP" and WWOR's Super Station program "SPOTLIGHT CAFE" with Denis Leary, for which she co-wrote both theme songs. She recently performed with Jo Dee Messina for the LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT awards show on the LIFETIME NETWORK and appeared playing keyboards for THE SOPRANO’S. She also fronts her band "ILA'S DRESS". Their debut CD "ignorance and bad manners” was received with critical acclaim and ila's dress has been featured on 2 compilation CD's for best-unsigned bands, while also charting on CMJ. It also landed her recording contract with Allen Kovak’s label BEYOND (BMG). The band is currently being featured in several motion picture soundtracks internationally. Among them, View Askew Productions, (Kevin Smith of “Chasing Amy” and “Clerks”) new feature film “Big Helium Dog” and “The Rules (For Men)” directed & starred in by Robert Capelli, Jr. (Gramercy Films) A music video has also been shot in conjunction with “The Rules” for the song “I love you (whoever you are)”. Pilley is the co-host /founder of the popular singer/songwriter event sponsored by ASCAP, “The PANTY PARTY”. A monthly NYC event, the raucous spectacle sports a cult following of musicians, artists, downtown hipsters featuring NYC’s strongest unearthed musical talent. Featured in November 22nd New York Magazine as one NYC’s hottest Nighttime events. Pilley was also ASCAP's recipient of the Abe Olman Scholarship from the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters' Hall of Fame (featured in several of their showcases) and was a featured performer in ASCAP’s showcase at the Sundance Film Festival to rave audiences. Pilley is head of A&R for the National Festival MAMAPALOOZA for which she is also a featured artist, and she can currently be seen in the NYC off-Broadway hit "Tony & Tina's Wedding."