Arwen Lewis is a talented musician whose passion for the universe is reflected in her latest EP, ‘Under the Stars.’ The EP features a collection of songs that explore the vastness of the universe and its relation to the human experience. Among the standout tracks on the album is ‘Black Moon,’ a beautiful and laid back Americana tune that was originally written and recorded by Arwen’s father, Peter Lewis.
With her earthily angelic voice and a lineage that includes an Oscar-winning actress for a grandmother and a founding member of ‘60s psychedelic cult heroes Moby Grape for a father, Arwen Lewis has always been part of the creative cosmos. Her new EP, ‘Under the Stars,’ is a testament to her fascination with the universe and her ability to explore its mysteries through music.
‘Black Moon’ is a perfect example of Arwen’s ability to capture the essence of the universe in her music. The track is a perfect blend of Americana and folk, with Arwen’s vocals providing a sense of warmth and comfort. The song is a tribute to her father and his musical legacy, and Arwen’s rendition of the tune is a beautiful tribute to his work.
In addition to ‘Black Moon,’ the EP features a collection of original songs written by Arwen herself. These songs include ‘Man on the Moon,’ a layered and wistful track that showcases Arwen’s talents as both a songwriter and a producer. ‘Winter’ is another standout track, with two different arrangements that highlight the song’s beautiful melody and heartbreakingly honest lyrics.
Arwen’s ability to interpret other people’s songs is also on display on the EP. Her trumpet-driven version of Jackson Browne’s ‘Doctor My Eyes’ is a standout, as is her folky take on Joni Mitchell’s ‘I Think I Understand.’ These tracks showcase Arwen’s versatility as a musician and her ability to make a song her own.
Overall, ‘Under the Stars’ is a beautiful and thoughtful EP that showcases Arwen Lewis’ talents as a musician and her passion for the universe. ‘Black Moon’ is just one of the many highlights on the album, and it’s sure to resonate with fans of Americana and folk music. Arwen Lewis is a rising star in the music industry, and ‘Under the Stars’ is sure to cement her place as one of the most exciting artists in the industry today.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Technically, Arwen Lewis inhabits our blue planet, but so much about her believes and belongs in the celestial realm. First and foremost, her earthily angelic voice (just listen and you’ll know that’s not a contradiction in terms). Then there’s her her lineage: The granddaughter of Oscar-winning actress Loretta Young and the daughter of Peter Lewis, a founding member of ‘60s psychedelic cult heroes Moby Grape, she’s been part of the creative cosmos all her life. So it’s no surprise that Arwen’s new OMAD EP is called Under the Stars—or that a slice of sonic heaven is poised to enter your heart, mind and soul.
“I’ve always had a fascination for the universe—it just trips me out!” Arwen says. “Now, I’m drawn to songs that take those ideas about how vast and mysterious it all is and relate it to human experience.”
While Arwen’s self-titled debut, released in 2015, featured her interpretations of her father’s songs, this time out she’s flying higher, as both producer and writer. Self-penned tunes include the layered, wistfully longing “Man on the Moon” and the beautiful heartbreak of “Winter,” showcased in two arrangements—once with gently growling guitar and again accompanied by piano and cello.
Not that Arwen could resist digging into her dad’s archive, with a lilting, countrified cover of his “Black Moon.” Plus, she brings her earnest, unaffected gift to a pair of iconic tunes: a trumpet-driven version of Jackson Browne’s “Doctor My Eyes” and a frankly folky take on Joni Mitchell’s “I Think I Understand.”
The EP came together organically, at first just she and a friend—guitar impresario Jonathan McEuen—“scratching out ideas in my living room,” Arwen says. Jonathan mentored me,” Arwen candidly admits. “He also arranged everything perfectly—truly the musical director for this project.” A select few recruits from the deep end of the California talent pool came aboard next, including rock and roll “space traveler” Jason Achilles, Los Angeles film composer/all-around scene staple George Adrian, and trumpeter Jeff Elliott. Plus, yes, Peter Lewis is present as well, slinging a Strat on one track. The recording was finished at Surprise Studio with Graham Palmer as the engineer. “While I had complete creative control,” says Arwen, who also plays guitar on the record, “I was lucky enough to get together with amazing musicians who were in sync with the way I hoped to express these songs.”
To wit: A vintage vibe with unique personal spirit. “The songs I wrote as well as the ones I chose reflect the music I was raised on: Joni, Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, The Byrds, Nina Simone,” she says, noting that embracing the music of others, adding your unique twist, and the putting it out there is “basic to the communal tradition of folk, passing the songs from person to person, generation to generation.” That’s why, while she has no big tour plans, Arwen will play live, here and there, from South X Southwest this spring to the local West Coast venues she loves. Indeed, she might well be singing about the importance of performance on “Man on the Moon” when she promises: “Believing in the stars that I cannot see, I know there’s a way to where you are.”
