Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/17/2021 - 10/29/2021
All Day
Category(ies)
Lilli Lewis is one of the best for pure emotional impact and sincerity in her artistry. If you haven’t heard her then do yourself a favor and become enthralled. – Demian Roberts, photographer
The Americana soul artist/activist Lilli Lewis, known as the Folk Rock Diva, ushered in 2020 curating Folk Alliance International’s Louisiana Red Hot Records Roots & Rhythm Showcase as Label Manager and A&R Head, and is spearheading FAI’s new “Committing to Conversation” cultural equity, race and social justice initiative.
“Even when we don’t agree we’re still responsible for each other and the world we live in,” Lewis says. “We are living in deeply divided times where connection matters. Musicians have the ability to help people relate to one another now more than ever.”
Trained as opera singer and classical pianist, Lewis has been a composer, producer and performing artist for over two decades. After spending two decades carving out space for herself as an African-American lesbian of size, Lewis is lending her voice to the music industry’s need to diversify its precepts. She was a featured panelist in Americana Music Association’s “Black Equity in Americana: A Conversation” livestream in August, covered by Billboard, Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, among others.
Lewis has composed in every tradition inspires her, including soul, Americana, classical, folk, jazz, rock, gospel, blues, soul and R&B. Lewis integrated elements of New Orleans funk while singing lead for Dirty Dozen Brass Band founding member Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove. Lewis serves as VP and A&R Head for Louisiana Red Hot Records, for which she has earned OffBeat Magazine’s “Record Label of the Year” three times, and often serves as a music industry panelist, production consultant, and advocate for fairness and empowerment in the musical community.
In August, Lewis released a single she co-wrote, co-produced and performed — the “Mask Up” anthem for the #MaskUpCovidDown campaign from Louisiana Red Hot Records and WHIV-FM. The effort benefits Masks for America’s giveaway of free N-95 masks to first responders.