(Photo by Dutch Duscher – Yola at Garcia’s in January)
The rising indie country star Yola has returned with her new single “Hold On,” which features members of The Highwomen (who she performed with last year at Newport Folk Festival) as well as Sheryl Crow on piano and Jason Isbell on guitar (Isbell also performed with them). It was recorded during the Highwomen sessions at RCA’s Studio A and was produced by Dave Cobb.
It’s a powerful tune from Yola who just has a natural songwriting gift and a voice that packs a ton of punch and heartfelt emotion and validity that sends it all home in the most authentic way possible.
“Hold On”’s lyrics are inspired by conversations she had with her mother growing up, warning Yola of the systemic racism, colorism and unconscious bias she would experience in life as a Black woman. She explains further below:
Hold On is a conversation between me and the next generation of young black girls. My mother’s advice would always stress caution, that all that glitters isn’t gold, and that my black female role models on TV are probably having a hard time. She warned me that I should rethink my calling to be a writer and a singer…. but to me that was all the more reason I should take up this space. ‘Hold On’ is asking the next gen to take up space, to be visible and to show what it looks to be young, gifted and black.
Enjoy a listen to “Hold On” below.
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