Biographies

60 Word Bio

150 Word Bio

Blend a powerful singer, crisp acoustic guitar player and a heartfelt observer of the world and you have singer-songwriter, Lynn Hollyfield. Her “indie-folk-pop style” (Leicasterbangs, UK) reflects an infusion of many influences including great jazz artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, to contemporary influences of John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin and CSNY. The resulting blend~her own voice mingling wit, a silky sweetness and thoughtful reverie to her songwriting and performance. Hollyfield has three solo recordings, Layers (2010) and In the Balance (2014) and her recent release, Look Up (May 2024). Look Up is listed in the TOP Albums and Lynn Hollyfield is in the TOP Artists on the Folk Alliance International DJ Playlist for June 2024. The 2 earlier recordings listed in the Top Albums of the year-Folk DJ Playlist and received numerous Washington Area Music Award nominations including Album, Songwriter and Artist of the Year. “Some artists are known for their voice or their delivery or maybe their songs or for their guitar playing. Lynn is not just ‘some artist.’ She delivers ALL of these with depth and clarity, one gorgeous song at a time.” Ruthie Logsdon

300 Word Bio

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).

Look Up, the newest release (May 2024) from Singer Songwriter, Lynn Hollyfield, is a striking collection of 12 original songs, set in beautiful arrangements. The arrangements feature voice, guitar, ukulele, piano and vibraphone, all of which illuminate Hollyfield’s multi-instrumental skill and versatile singing style. Hollyfield’s songs have well-crafted melodies, stand-alone lyrics and marked emotional depth. The songs explore a variety of genres including contemporary folk, jazz, blues and one with a bossa nova feel. Timely themes including climate change, women’s rights, love, relationships, moving forward, comfort and empathy, finding our way and bringing light into the world. Special guest artists add their magic to some of the tunes and include Tom Prasada-Rao, Jess Eliot Myhre, Kristen Jones (ilyAIMY) and John Peiffer. Just Begin, Jezebel and Liam’s Lullaby were recent winners in MidAtlantic Songwriting Contest for Folk, Jazz/Vocal and Children’s Categories respectively. Look Up is listed in the TOP Albums and Lynn Hollyfield in the TOP Artists on the Folk Alliance International DJ Playlist for June 2024.

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. In The Balance was listed in the TOP ALBUMS for 2014 on the FOLKDJ Listserv as was her first album, Layers, in 2010.

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.

Full Length Bio

Blend a powerful, passionate singer, a crisp, acoustic guitar player and a heartfelt observer of the world and you will have, singer-songwriter, Lynn Hollyfield. Hollyfield’s roots hail from Staten Island, NY when she picked up the guitar at age 10 and ran with musical influences she experienced from home. From great jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to the Beatles, Cream and CSNY, Hollyfield launched into her own songwriting infusing these influences to create a diverse repertoire of contemporary folk, pop, blues and jazz.

Hollyfield’s highly anticipated 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/This Digital Folk Life.org, 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. Hollyfield worked with award winnning produced, Marco Delmar at Recording Arts along with an accomplished array of area musicians including Carey Creed, Grace Griffith, Mary Gordon Hall, Marcy Marxer, Steve Wolf, Brian Simms, Dave Abe, Jimmy Brink and Kristen Jones. In The Balance is comprised of 12 originals 3 of which are collaborations with Carol Burbank, writer/poet/healer www.storyweaving.com.

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. Layers, marks a turning point in her work, and brings together her wit, silky sweetness and a thoughtful reverie to her first, solo recording. “Her indie-folk-pop style would have (her) opening up for 10,000 Maniacs or Cowboy Junkies.” (Leicasterbangs, UK). Lynn in fact has opened for headliners including: Jesse Winchester, Loudon Wainwright III, Jonathan Byrd and Christine Lavin. Layers, “presents a pensive, roots-driven collection, which feature the artist’s angelic voice and fluid guitar picking.” (Dickson Mercer, Maryland Independent). Well received by the Folk community, Layers became listed as one of the Top Albums of 2010 on the Folk DJ Playlist and in the Top 99 Albums of 2011, Dan Herman’s Crystal Blue Radio Program. “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. A wonderful CD you can listen to over and over and discover something new each time.” (Jane Woods, Fanrealm.com). The Album graced the artist with three WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Awards) nominations~Best Contemporary Folk Recording, Best Debut Album and Songwriter of the Year (2011). Her songwriting received recent Honorable Mentions in the MASC (Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest) and The Indie International Songwriting Contest-Folk Category. “Lynn is a wonderful singer-songwriter,” states Steve Wolf, Bassist (Swingspeak and Tom Principato). “Your songs are mesmerizing…” Carol Lite, Co-Chair of the Program Committee, Washington Folk Festival 2011.

Hollyfield’s vocals have developed since her early musical endeavors as part of the duo, Hollyfield & Spruill, who released two recordings, Slipping Time and Blue & Green. Recently described as “the warmest voice since Christine McVie,” by Ron Goad, percussionist, SAW (Songwriter’s Association of Washington-Board of Directors) and “a most gorgeous tone, I could listen to your voice all day…” Lynn Veronneau, Jazz vocalist. Hollyfield received a WAMMIE nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Vocalist 2011 and 2012. “I love hearing your voice….so rich, gentle, comforting and inviting,” writes Amy White, Award Winning Musician (Al Petteway & Amy White). Hollyfield supports her vocals and songwriting with her accomplished guitar playing. She performs on a regular basis with Grace Griffith-Singer, Multi WAMMIE Award Winner, Washington, DC Icon and Blix Street Recording Artist, who describes her playing as “strong, solid and right on time.” Hollyfield continues to perfect her craft and recently attended the Kerrville Folk Festival Songwriting School, Kerrville, TX and the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference, NERFA, in Kerhonkson, NY. In addition to performing throughout the Northeast, Lynn Hollyfield, supports other local musicians and songwriters by hosting the monthly, SAW Open Mic (Songwriter’s Association of Washington) at the New Deal Cafe, Greenbelt, MD and is a founding member and producer of five concerts at the volunteer run, Homegrown Coffeehouse, held at the National Colonial Farm-Accokeek Foundation, Accokeek, MD since 1999.

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"In The Balance"