American pianist Lara Downes is set to weave a conversation steeped in history on new album Hold These Truths, an expansive collection that moves through American music past and present, from songs that pre-date the nation’s founding to works by composers shaping its sound now.
Whether a reimagination of Francis Hopkinson’s “My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free,” or the anthemic notes “Hymn to Freedom” shaped as an anthem of the Civil Rights movement, works by Carlos Simon, Christopher Tin, Edmar Colón, Ricky Ian Gordon, Jeff Beal, Daniel Gilliam, Caleb Burhans, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Ives, Aaron Copland, Willie Nelson, and others drive the ambitious project forward.
Crafted as an introspection of the past and present, each track is shaped as a reflection gathered through ‘The Declaration Project’, a national initiative Downes to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Layers of complex, devastating yet resilient and profound tales unfurl as the world reimagines the best of who we are.
Laden with artistic honesty, the album draws from the intricate layers of The Declaration Project which began the understanding that a traditional celebration of America’s history would not be enough. Swerving away from a polished performance of patriotism, the album captures the cracks and crisises embedded in the American story, delivering the quietly powerful argument that people can move forward even when the system feels broken.
Channelling conversation and catharsis through gritty yet enriching soundscapes, Downes’ ability to draw out the deepest fears, scars and hopes of people shines bright underpinned by her uplifting musical style.
Speaking of the work behind the album, she says “What a ride. The American road trip that inspired and generated this album took me from Northern California to the last stop on the L train in Brooklyn and from Brattleboro, VT to Tuskegee AL, zigzagging around the crazy-quilt of this country for almost two years. A soul-searching, soul-baring adventure through big cities and small towns. A journey of many thousands of miles, pulling a heavy suitcase and carrying a fragile package of hope.I travel with music as my passport, granting me expedited entry to community and communion with people I might never otherwise encounter. Music introduces me, tells my story and invites others to share their own.”
Recently honored as Classical Woman of the Year by NPR’s Performance Today, Downes continues to be a visionary trailblazer, a sought-after soloist, Billboard chart-topping recording artist as her artistry carves out a space for people to find connection and comfort.
Listen to Hold These Truths here
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