From Bhakti Fest to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band captivate people’s hearts with their soulful, imaginative music. The New Orleans-based trio includes vocalist/harmonium player/lyricist and band founder Seán Johnson, bassist/guitarist Alvin Young and singer/percussionist Gwendolyn Colman. Their music merges conscious lyrics, sacred chants from around the world, and roots, rock, gospel and global grooves. Their dynamic sound has won over widespread fans worldwide through inclusion on several Putumayo World Music compilations. They are favorite headliners on the main stages ofmusic festivals nationwide, and have played the hallowed stages of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on multiple occasions.
“Mystery” is a highly anticipated release following the band’s last hit album, Unity, which debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes World Music Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard chart. “Mystery” explores themes of doubt, sparks of faith, and evokes a sense of trust in the fertility of what cannot be seen or explained. This collection of ten evocative songs addresses the current challenges of our time and offers inspiration to kindle the courage to move through the unknown. The album honors the wild and mysterious ways of spirit, an often hidden and unnamable force that can feel so distant, and yet in time can secretly heal a wound, mend a broken heart and restore our humanity.
“The seed for the title track ‘Mystery’ came in a conversation with Alvin, talking about how much we valued mystery as an essential part of our spirituality,” said Johnson. “I immediately felt inspired to write a song that spoke directly to this reverence and relationship with mystery. Something that I like about the song is that some parts have a rootsy, gutsy, funky feel—and there’s also a really trancelike, psychedelic, more ethereal section that conjures the cosmos. This combo of vibes creates an earthy mysticism that I think is an essential quality in our overall sound.” Instrumentally, the song features Young’s funky guitar and bass, Gwendolyn’s primal calabash beats, Jeff Sipe’s deft drumming, with Chris Rosser souping it all up on keys.
The album’s producer Rosser, founder of Hollow Reed Studio, in Asheville, NC says, “Before we started work on the album, we listened to many live recordings of their tunes, and the energy and participation coming from the audience was incredible! So, I was excited for us to figure out collectively how to best present these songs on a recording that retains the dynamics and excitement of a live performance, but with depth and nuance that encourages repeated listening.”
“My wish is that ‘Mystery’ will be an album of medicine songs that folks can turn to again and again to draw strength, nourishment, and inspiration amidst the challenges, uncertainties, and pain of life– a soundtrack to help us keep the faith amidst the chaos,” says Johnson.
Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band’s “Mystery’’ LP is available across all digital service providers on Friday, October 29. For a complete list of upcoming performances and events, visit the band’s website.
