Haitian-American singer and award-winning musician Leyla McCalla has just shared a powerful rendition of ‘Freedom Is A Constant Struggle.’ The 1966 Civil Rights-era acapella protest song was originally sung by Barbra Dane and recorded with the Chambers Brothers. McCalla’s version comes just days after Dane’s 96th Birthday and was recorded in New Orleans with an incredible all-woman choir.
Born in New York to Haitian parents, McCalla studied Classical Music at New York University before moving to New Orleans where she played in the Grammy-winning old-time string band, Carolina Chocolate Drops. Her solo singles explore her ancestral roots and her latest single, ‘Freedom is a Constant Struggle’ is the first in a series on the theme of freedom.
Speaking of the track she said, “With so many of our fault lines agitated and further exposed by the pandemic, I find myself connecting more deeply with my emotional state in the context of the ways the capitalist system fails us. Music is a healing force – it helps us to know ourselves better and it helps us to take the temperature on where we stand. These are the songs that have served as a balm to my personal journey over the past few years as I’ve navigated heartbreak, outrage, grief and hope.” Listen here:
Last year McCalla released her critically acclaimed album Breaking The Thermometer, a record that combines original compositions and traditional Haitian tunes with historical broadcasts and contemporary interviews to forge an immersive sonic journey through a half-century of racial, social, and political unrest. “Leyla McCalla has long been one of the most thoughtful figures working to trace American folk music’s lineage to other countries and continents”, said Bandcamp, while the Observer described it as “An ambitious, accomplished piece of work.”
The record was featured in the best songs and albums of 2022 by The Guardian, MOJO, NPR Music and more, and the song ‘Dodinin’ was featured on Barack Obama’s Favourite Music of 2022 Playlist.
After a short run of European tour dates last month, McCalla will be back overseas in July and November to play a selection of festival and headline shows. Info and tickets can be found here:
https://leylamccalla.com/tour
Breaking The Thermometer | Leyla McCalla (bandcamp.com)
Photo credit: Laura E. Partain