Lynn Hollyfield
Blend a powerful singer, crisp acoustic guitar player and a heartfelt observer of the world and you will have singer-songwriter, Lynn Hollyfield. Hailing from Staten Island, NY, Lynn picked up a guitar at age 10 and started playing, learning from great jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and contemporary influences like the Beatles, CSNY, Shawn Colvin and John Hiatt. She soon started writing her own songs infusing these sounds to find her own voice, mingling contemporary folk, pop, blues and jazz. The resulting blend has been called an "indie-folk-pop style that could have (her) opening up for 10,000 Maniacs or Cowboy Junkies." (Leicasterbangs, UK).
Hollyfield's second solo recording, In The Balance, was released the end of April 2014. The album was funded in part by a successful Kickstarter campaign, where Hollyfield raised a total of $14,500 on and offline in a one-month period. In the Balance, is currently on the Folk DJ charts. John McLaughlin, Folk DJ-WU/This Digital Folk Life/Facebook, reviewed In The Balance and stated, "there's a range of moods and emotions captured in this music; it's a beauty." In The Balance is a compelling collection of 12 original songs set in arrangements that highlight Hollyfield's skillful guitar playing and her inviting, rich vocals.
She was first heard in the DC area as part of the duo, Hollyfield & Spruill, releasing two recordings, Slipping Time and Blue & Green. Layers, her first solo recording, exploded on the folk scene in 2010, receiving air play and positive reviews-nationally and internationally-marking her as a rising star of contemporary folk music. Layers, marked a turning point in her work, and brought together her wit, smoky sweetness and a thoughtful reverie to her first, solo recording. The Maryland Independent praised Layers as "a pensive, roots-driven collection that features the artist's angelic voice and fluid guitar picking." Layers, was listed as one of the Top Albums of 2010 on the Folk DJ Playlist and her work landed her 4 WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association Awards) nominations in 2011. Her Vocals earned her additional WAMMIE nominations for Best Contemporary Folk Vocalists in 2012 and 2013. Songs from Layers have received Honorable Mentions in the MASC (Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest) and The Indie International Songwriting Contest-Folk Category. Jane Woods, from Fanrealm said, "Hollyfield's songs are beautiful and contain a universal wisdom we can all identify with. (Her songwriting) celebrates the truly important things in life - the journey not the destination."
Hollyfield supports other local musicians and songwriters by hosting monthly a SAW Open Mic (Songwriter's Association of Washington) in Greenbelt, MD and is a founding member/producer of the Homegrown Coffeehouse, Accokeek, MD, which has been hosting concerts since 1999.