PICK OF THE WEEK: "Seeds" by Lonnie Holley
The song America needs right now
Lonnie Holley is an American artist, art educator, and musician. He is best known for his sculptures and immersive environments made of found materials. However it is his music that really captured our hearts, when we first discovered him through our dear friend Mary Lattimore several years ago.
His most recent recording “Tonky” is an album that takes its name from a childhood nickname that was affixed to Holley when he lived a portion of his childhood life in a honky tonk in Alabama, during the Jim Crow era.
The song we wanted to share with you today is the first song on “Tonky”, called “Seeds”. It is an historical document, both autobiographical and personal but also confronting what it means to be American right now, at this very moment in history. It is a document of suffering, transformation and, surprisingly, even hope.
This is a very strange time in the unfolding story of America. We are finding it personally disorienting and at times quite difficult to process. Something about “Seeds” feels healing, in its honesty about the pain in its historical foundation, but also in the belief Holley has in the ability of the human spirit to ultimately choose kindness and hope.
Enjoy “Seeds”, and please dive deeper into Lonnie Holley’s work if you are moved.
Oh so glad you are calling attention to this one. This album was a revelation to me! "The Same Stars" & "I Looked Over My Shoulder" were two other great standouts!