Toronto-born, genre-bending musician Lotus Wight takes listeners on a deeply textured historical and heartwarming journey with his latest single, "1929." The song doesn't sound like a song, so much as a living, breathing tale, a musical storybook full of soul, humor, and the kind of gritty realism that is becoming Wight's calling card.
Raised in an alibaster basket and reared amongst the colourful mosaic of downtown Toronto, Wight’s formative years between three families echo in every note he plays. "1929" is no exception. Bringing in the album with the tentative, banjo plucking intro, right through to that down in the earth rumble of contrabass harmoniphoneum, Wight’s musical choices span the years and experience he knows what American music is at its heart, creative, conflicted, and emotionally honest. There is not a note out of place, and everything feels like not only was it carefully selected, but also a natural extension of Wight.
What is remarkable is that way back in "1929," Wight had mastered the harnessing of technical control to storytelling. The song unravels with a filmic quality, transporting the listener through the era it summons without ever feeling bogged down in historical accuracy. His guitar and jaw-harp lines are loose and playful, almost conversational, weaving a tapestry that’s both reflective and instantly engaging. It’s impossible not to believe that Wight is right there speaking to you, sharing more than music, but memory, humor, and a wink of human insight.
Meredith Moon in Nashville, who works with Wight’s label, Compass Records, puts it perfectly, seeing his music performed live is like getting lost in a book you can’t set down, a feeling that has very clearly carried over to "1929." Even in recorded form, the flowing track displays a sense of immediacy and intimacy, two qualities that are scarce in the current musical climate.
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