Lonnie Holley unveils the new single, ‘That’s Not Art, That’s Not Music,’ from his new album, Tonky, out March 21st via Jagjaguwar. Following Holley’s “deeply moving, genre defying”(NPR Music) single ‘Protest With Love,’ ‘That’s Not Art, That’s Not Music’ is about Holley’s early experiences in the art world and larger institutions’ apprehension in accepting Black self-taught art as fine art. Holley is once again joined by Jacknife Lee, The Legendary Ingramettes, Kelly Pratt, and Jordan Katz. Budgie also contributes here. Atop atmospheric horns, flute, and marimba, Holley sings: “Gathering our arts / Gathering our music / Incorporating it into song / Us being rejected / They were saying, ‘That’s not good enough’/Not good enough / That’s not art / That’s not music.”
Watch/Stream ‘That’s Not Art, That’s Not Music’
Tonky is a work born out of the delight of finding a sound and pressing it up against another found sound and another until, before a listener knows it, they are awash in a symphony of sound that feels like it stitches together as it is washing over you. The layers of sound found on Tonky are the result of decades of evolving experimentation. Tonky takes its name from a childhood nickname that was affixed to Holley when he lived a portion of his childhood life in a honky tonk. Lonnie Holley’s life of survival and endurance is one that is required – and no doubt still requires – a kind of invention. An invention that is also rich and present in Holley’s songs, which are full and immersive on Tonky.
Portions of this press release are pulled from the Tonky bio written by Hanif Abdurraqib.
Praise for ‘Protest With Love’
“‘Protest With Love’ is sublime and lyrically minimal, an electronic arrangement that sounds as alien as it does ecstatic. I crave whatever turn Holley makes next.”— Paste, “Best New Songs”
“Holley flaunts his artistic versatility and virtuosity in tandem. It’s the work of a true storyteller.” — UPROXX
“[‘Protest With Love’] is an impassioned, soul-influenced plea with…gorgeous instrumentation.” — The Needle Drop
Tonky Album ArtworkLonnie Holley Online:
