Canadian rock n roll singer-songwriter Neil Leyton has shared his new single ‘These Seeds’. A Song that reflects on the geopolitical landscape of the world we’re living in today. Recorded at Canoa Studios in Portugal, the song features Leyton on acoustic guitar and vocals, João Sousa from Lusitanian Ghosts on drums, and Nelson Canoa on piano, keyboards and bass as well as being the recording engineer and co-producer of the song.
Neil Leyton explains the timing of his new single:
“Now is the time to release this song – with all proceeds going to Music Export Ukraine. Regardless of other tragedies unfolding, the world must not forget that Ukraine is fighting for its country, for Europe and for democracy – which is being threatened once again everywhere, in Ukraine, in Europe with the rise of the extreme-right wing fascist, xenophobic and neo-nazi groups which I never thought could be the case in the 21st century.”
Leyton continues,
“I wrote and recorded ‘Seeds’ back in 2022, shocked and appalled that this sort of thing could happen again in the 21st century. The lyrics were inspired by the words of a courageous Ukrainian lady in Kherson, who walked up to a Russian soldier and asked vehemently, “Who are you? What are you doing here?” before denouncing the invasion of her land and admonishing the Russian soldier with the line “Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here.”
Although written and recorded in 2022, Leyton chose not to release the single.
“There was too much noise already at the time – my humble musical statement wasn’t needed, so I sat on it. Some of the same lyrics ended up being recorded on another song called ‘Seeds’ which ended up on the Lusitanian Ghosts III album that we released back in September ’23; however the musical composition of that song is Micke Ghost’s and it has a different melody and verses; ‘These Seeds’ is my original composition and lyrics from back in 2022 – and the time is now to release it, to remind the world that the war is still raging on and that Ukraine needs our support, now more than ever.”
Leyton has crafted a slow brooding track that comes from the folds of Leonard Cohen. The nature of the track gives the words an even stronger emotive power aided by Leyton’s booming baritone. There is a haunting quality that reflects the bleakness of the lyrics and the world that the track reflects. Once in a while, you get an important musician with an important song who manages to say a lot. This is very much the case here.
Check it out, here
All proceeds from “These Seeds” will be paid from the European Phonographic label to Music Export Ukraine in support of Ukrainian artists and musicians.
Find out more via Leyton’s Website or Facebook
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