Fitness studios are increasingly becoming as much about atmosphere as the workout itself. In Point Loma, a new boutique studio is taking that idea in a distinctly musical direction.
Founded by Lillia Brady, The Setlist combines mat Pilates, yoga, HIIT, cardio, strength training and mobility with playlists inspired by specific artists, genres and eras.
“Music has always shaped the way I move,” Brady says. “The right song can change my mood, push me through a difficult set or make me want to move when I had no energy five minutes earlier. I wanted to create a fitness experience that was built around that feeling.”
At The Setlist, classes are organized around a musical identity, with formats ranging from pop-punk and emo to hip-hop, reggaeton, metal, indie and alternative, giving the schedule a concert lineup feel.
The class roster includes names such as My Core Romance™, Blood, Sweat & Squats™, Straight Outta Reps™, Back That Class Up™ and House of Drum & Dubstep™, each designed to pair a particular style of movement with a specific musical world.
The studio's Pilates offerings include Mat Mafia, a Pilates-based class, as well as My Core Romance, which pairs core-focused movement with pop-punk and emo. Strength classes include Rage Against the Machines and Metal & Hardcore, while cardio formats draw from genres including reggaeton and hip-hop.
There are also classes designed for functional conditioning, mobility and recovery, along with yoga formats such as The Slow Rush, described as an intentional, slower-paced practice.
“One day might be pop-punk Pilates, lifting to metal or yoga set to alternative favorites; another might be a full workout powered by women in hip-hop,” Brady says. “I’ve always loved fitness, but music is what makes me feel alive.”
The Setlist began as an idea in September 2025, with Brady officially forming the business the following month. She initially planned to open in early 2026, but an unexpected loss of her father changed the timeline.
“He was my best friend, and losing him completely changed my year and changed me,” she says. “For a while, everything stopped.”
The opening was delayed as Brady navigated grief and tried to find the energy to continue building the business. Eventually, she says, The Setlist itself became part of that process.
“Creating this space gave me somewhere to put the love, pain and determination I was carrying,” she says.
That personal history is part of what makes the studio's concept feel different from a traditional fitness launch. Instead of a sleek, modern boutique look and feel, Brady envisioned an environment influenced by concert venues, record stores and alternative culture.
“Every detail, from the lighting and artwork to the class names and playlists, was designed to make the studio feel immersive, expressive and a little rebellious,” says Brady.
It's also part of a broader idea Brady has about what wellness can look like.
“I also wanted to challenge the idea that wellness has to be quiet, beige or overly serious,” she says. “Sometimes wellness is restorative yoga. Sometimes it’s lifting something heavy while your favorite breakdown is playing loud enough to feel in your chest. Both can be meaningful.”
That philosophy is reflected in the class lineup, which moves between strength, cardio and conditioning and slower practices like yoga and mobility.
The studio plans to host artist- and genre-themed events, workshops and pop-ups, along with Private Shows for groups looking to use the space exclusively. The studio celebrated its grand opening on Monday, September 21 , featuring local pop-ups and an opportunity for guests to experience the space ahead of the full class schedule.
For Brady, opening the doors represents more than the culmination of a business plan.
“This studio was created during the hardest year of my life, but that makes opening its doors feel even more meaningful,” she says. “The Setlist is proof that movement can be more than exercise, music can be more than entertainment and sometimes the thing that helps bring you back to life is the thing you decide to build.”
The Setlist is now open at 3713 Rosecrans Street in Point Loma. Follow @thesetlist.fit for the latest events and happenings.
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