Lilli Lewis Explained

Lilli Lewis
Birth Place:Athens, Georgia
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Years Active:2009–present

Lilli Lewis is an American folk and Americana singer, songwriter, and pianist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is sometimes known as the "Folk Rock Diva".[1]

Musical career

Lewis is originally from Athens, Georgia. She released her first album Out from Yonder in 2008.[2] She was first known as the "Folk Rock Diva" in the folk rock band The Shiz, which she founded with her wife Liz Hogan in 2009.[3] She has also released records backed by a big band containing several notable New Orleans musicians, known as the Lilli Lewis Project.[4] Their album We Belong received positive reviews from the jazz press in 2019.[5] The album My American Heart received media attention in 2020[6] [3] with one reviewer comparing Lewis to opera singer Jessye Norman.[7]

In 2020, Lewis co-wrote and co-produced "Mask Up! COVID Down!" as part of Louisiana Red Hot Records' efforts for public health in the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] She also contributed a set of twelve arias for a cycle entitled Cura Personalis, commissioned by the Opera Workshop at Loyola University.[9]

In 2021, Lewis released her album Americana on Louisiana Red Hot Records. NPR Music[10] chose it as a Top 10 Album of the week. NPR Morning Edition[11] also interviewed her in a segment on black musicians and activists forging a new path.

Lewis' album Americana was pulled from streaming service Spotify after the track "A Healing Inside" featuring the original Lady A was flagged by the band formerly known as Lady Antebellum, and was restored to the service after days.[12] Rolling Stone noted the controversy, and reviewed Lewis' "Copper John" as one of its Songs You Need to Know.

Activism

Lewis has spoken out on racial, gender, and LGBTQ equity in Americana music in her role as Vice President and head of A&R at Louisiana Red Hot Records, with panels covered by Rolling Stone[13] and American Songwriter.[14] She told Nashville Scene: "Country and Americana share space with the profound legacies of entrepreneurial female artists like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith."[15]

Albums

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lilli Lewis. February 21, 2021. Cutting Edge Conference. en-US.
  2. Web site: Lilli Lewis – Out From Yonder – on NoiseTrade. February 21, 2021. pastemagazine.com. en.
  3. Web site: writer. KEITH SPERA Staff. Lilli Lewis, record label exec and recording artist, finds her voice in 'My American Heart'. February 4, 2021. NOLA.com. February 4, 2021 . en.
  4. Web site: aaamc. Lilli Lewis Project – We Belong BLACK GROOVES. October 2019 . February 21, 2021. en-US.
  5. Web site: DownBeat Reviews. February 2, 2021. downbeat.com.
  6. Web site: Clapp. Jake. February 1, 2021. Lilli Lewis speaks straight from the heart on new EP. February 3, 2021. The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.
  7. Web site: Lilli Lewis "My American Heart" Review. February 2, 2021. Grateful Web. en.
  8. Web site: Kirk Joseph, Erica Falls, Lilli Lewis & more drop 'Mask Up! Covid Down!'. February 2, 2021. OffBeat Magazine. August 3, 2020 . en-US.
  9. Web site: CLAPP. JAKE. Lilli Lewis speaks straight from the heart on new EP. February 2, 2021. NOLA.com. February 2021 . en.
  10. News: New Music Friday: The top 10 albums out on Oct. 29 : All Songs Considered. en. NPR.org. 2021-10-29.
  11. News: New roots: Black musicians and advocates are forging coalitions outside the system. en. NPR.org. 2021-10-29.
  12. Web site: writer. KEITH SPERA Staff. Lady A controversy got New Orleans songwriter Lilli Lewis' 'Americana' deleted from Spotify. 2021-11-24. NOLA.com. November 16, 2021 . en.
  13. Freeman. Jon. August 13, 2020. 'Black Equity' Panel to Discuss Representation in Americana Music. February 2, 2021. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  14. Web site: August 19, 2020. Black Equity in Americana Panel Set for Thursday. February 3, 2021. American Songwriter. en-US.
  15. Web site: How Black Women Can Power Country Music's Future. February 3, 2021. Nashville Scene. November 19, 2020 . en.
  16. Web site: Lilli Lewis Project, We Belong (Louisiana Red Hot Records). Fontenot. Robert. OffBeat. October 30, 2019. February 3, 2021.
  17. Web site: CLAPP. JAKE. Lilli Lewis fills new album 'Americana' with left out stories. 2021-10-29. NOLA.com. October 25, 2021 . en.

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