“Lewis’ single “My American Heart,” off her upcoming album, “Americana” demonstrates a caliber of genius… When Lewis hits the high notes, she personifies a contemporary Jessye Norman if folk rock had been her genre.”
– The Grateful Web

New Orleans singer / songwriter Lilli Lewis quietly released her timely track “My American Heart” on Dec. 7, and performed it the next night for the Movement Voters Project’s Georgia Fund benefit which included Mandy Patinkin and host Faith Salie. MVP raised funds directly for grass roots groups on the ground to help flip the Senate blue in the two Georgia runoff races.

Musical superstar Patinkin said of Lilli’s performance: “I was so deeply moved, Lilli, when you you sang… When I heard you, right from the beginning, it was like listening to light.”

Of her performance, Lewis says: “This year has been a real challenge, and a lot of musicians I’ve spoken with have been struggling with finding meaning in their work. The same was true for me at the start of the quarantine, but over the course of the year I’ve been invited to lend my voice to causes I care about, like masking for the sake of public health and working towards cultural equity in the music industry. So it was an absolute honor when asked to sing on behalf of a MVP, a national organization that goes out of its way to fund grassroots organizations who pound the pavement for voter turnout, especially for my home state of Georgia, where the results of the upcoming race could prove so critical for the well-being of millions.”

Throughout her career, the folk rock diva has promoted the radical decency that can inspire connection in a deeply divided nation. Lewis has been balancing working on her eagerly anticipated new album “Americana” with “My American Heart” as the single, and serving as a music industry voice for diversity across genres. This fall, she presented a Louisiana Red Hot Records-sponsored showcase for the Country Soul Songbook Summit, and spoke at the Thriving Roots Americana Conference’s Black Equity panel.

“My American Heart” features Lewis on piano and vocals; Wade Hymel on acoustic guitar and drums; Dr. Jimbo Walsh on bass; Gina Forsyth on fiddle, and Dave Easley on lap steel guitar. Cover Art provided by Nonney Oddlokken of Thread|Paper|Glue.

Hear Lewis perform her single for the powerful finale of Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America series: “New Orleans Voices on Social Justice” filmed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Center.

Street Date: 12/18/2020