Cecily Releases New Single, "I Am Love", A Sweet, Soulful Affirmation

"I Am Love" is the new single from Washington DC-based vocalist and songwriter Cecily (ses-suh-lee). Known for her agile soprano and honest lyrics, the single is the first track taken from her upcoming project "Awakening Pt. 2" which was inspired by the text All About Love by bell hooks. The track specifically focusses on the importance of affirmations, as discussed in the text, with the heart - and title - from the track rooted in the power of reminding yourself: "I Am Love".

Echoing the romantic sensibilities of 1970s soul artists with a fresh twist, "I Am Love" effortlessly exists at the intersection of Jazz and Soul, highlighted by an easy groove and thoughtful harmonies. Co-written alongside Jacob Ungerleider, the melody of the track grew from a chord progression inspired by Cecily's listening to Blossom Dearie and Dionne Warwick, which felt like a natural pairing to the affirming poem she had crafted through daily journals. The track pays tribute to its poetic beginnings with emphasis on imagery around love as depicted through the natural world and colours; "green for the heart chakra and rose, as in a rose quartz, which is the crystal used to cultivate love energy."

"Awakening Pt. 2" explores unconditional love and its transformative power. Going beyond the romantic, Cecily dives into what hooks called a Love Ethic and examines how love can grow in each part of our loves and in society through familial love, self-love, divine love, and love of Mother Nature. "bell hooks said, "All awakening to love is spiritual awakening", and that's how I felt when I wrote these songs and more broadly in my journey to awakening to love." In crafting a thematic album Cecily pays extra attention to the individual identities and styles of each track. Working with the likes of Jenna Camille, Muhsinah, Allyn Johnson, Zachary Cutler and Jacob Ungerleider, the LP travels through the realms of Jazz, Soul and R&B with tenderness and musician precision.

Growing up surrounded by her parents' vast record collection - her father, a lover of Miles Davis, and her mother, a Smokey Robinson fan - Cecily developed a love of singing and an appreciation for the connection she had to music from a young age, taking classical voice lessons from the age of thirteen. Through this upbringing and her own focus on poetry, her work is fuelled with a unique sensuality that informs not only her vocal approach, but also her self-reflecting lyrics, grappling with self-acceptance, vulnerability, and rebirth. With a degree in Political Science and Black Studies, and an understanding of how disillusioned politics can make people feel, Cecily works to bring purpose and power to her music and people's lives. Over her career, she has done just that by making a commitment to create work that celebrates vulnerability as a strength, unconditional love as a grounding principle, and joy as an innate human right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7OWj3A2PRM

Her debut album 'Songs of Love and Freedom' garnered her a Wammie Award for Best Soul Album and was named Best New Soul on Bandcamp. 2019's "Awakening Pt. 1" was also named Best New Soul on Bandcamp, and landed her a SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year, an Indie Soul Music Award for Best Female Artist of the Year and a Wammie Award for Best Soul Song for her single, "Clumsy". "Awakening Pt. 2" is the eagerly awaited follow up to this critically acclaimed release.

Praised across musical worlds from which she draws influence, Cecily featured on modern jazz stylist José James' project 'No Beginning No End 2'. She has opened for award winning jazz and soul artists Gregory Porter, Ezra Collective, Nate Smith, and Maysa, R&B stars Johnny Gill, Kenny Lattimore and Elle Varner, folk artist Becca Stevens and alternative soul pioneer Bilal. Cecily has been featured at the Essence Festival of Culture, Capital Jazz Fest, and DC Jazz Festival. She has performed multiple times at the legendary Blues Alley and Apollo Music Café, as well as The Kennedy Center, The Hamilton, Howard Theater, Mint LA, and at the VI Annual Mompox Jazz Festival, having been invited by the US Embassy.

As a Washington, DC native, raised in a city synonymous with politics, it was an obvious choice to pursue a career in public service, but at the age of 21, Cecily walked out of her International Relations classroom feeling disillusioned. After 10 years of singing as a hobby, she wanted to dedicate her life to music.

Stay connected with Cecily and visit:
Instagram: @CecilyAlexa
Tik Tok: @CecilyAlexa
Bandcamp: https://cecilymusic.bandcamp.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/cecilymusic

Press Contact:
Viola's Babygirl's, LLC
Sherri Thompson
1520 Belle View Blvd
Unit #5347
Alexandria, VA 22307

sherri@violasbabygirlventures.com
phone 757.414.7958

Viola's Babygirl's Ventures, LLC is an entertainment agency representing pop, alternative rock and soul, rhythm and blues, and inspirational soul crossover talent with a focal point of intersecting independent artists in the genres of film and television for mainstream success.

This release was published on openPR.