Artist: Jessye DeSilva
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Song: “Solstice Hymn”
In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Solstice Hymn’ in December 2020, during the first COVID-era holiday season. Produced by Alex Calabrese of Old Tom & The Lookouts, I wanted the track to be sparse, but warm — a sort of lullaby to those of us who struggle during this season with loss, loneliness, and mental health challenges. In addition to lyrical nods to Christina Rossetti’s ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ and Judy Garland’s ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ I included a few words and images I’d crowdsourced on my social media. In production, Alex and I knew we wanted our friend Cecilia Vacanti to lend her eclectic influences to the track — particularly, references to Scottish and New England folk styles. Coupled with thick, dissonant harmonies, my hope is that the resulting track feels sort of timeless and almost like an ancient pagan hymn to the passing of seasons. Although the song may feel melancholy, my overarching message is one of hope: the light IS coming back and we CAN make it through this.” — Jessye DeSilva
