Cecily - A Flower In Winter (Single)
“A Flower In Winter” is the new single from Washington DC-based vocalist and songwriter Cecily (ses-suh-lee). Known for her agile soprano and honest lyrics, the single is taken from her upcoming project “Awakening Pt. 2” which was inspired by the text All About Love by bell hooks and follows previous single “I Am Love” which saw support from the likes of Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Triple R, Soho Radio and Stereofox.
Jotting down the lyrics to the chorus of “A Flower In Winter” after being held by a loved one when she truly needed it, Cecily wrote the rest of the song reflecting on the above bell hooks quote a year or so later; “the pandemic only made the lyrics feel more visceral.” She adds, “It taught us all that life is not meant to be done alone”. The central idea of the song – “a flower in winter, a soft touch of spring” - speaks to the power of renewal offered by love, even in a barren landscape.
The original lyrics and melody were developed with additional chords alongside Allyn Johnson, alongside the progression of a jazz-samba vibe from producer Drew Kid. The simple yet lush instrumentation of the track allows Cecily’s vocals to breathe with the freshness and relief that comes with those first moments of spring.
“Awakening Pt. 2” explores unconditional love and its transformative power. Going beyond the romantic, Cecily dives into what hooks called a Love Ethic and examines how love can grow in each part of our loves and in society through familial love, self-love, divine love, and love of Mother Nature. “bell hooks said, “All awakening to love is spiritual awakening” and that’s how I felt when I wrote these songs and more broadly in my journey to awakening to love.” In crafting a thematic album Cecily pays extra attention to the individual identities and styles of each track. Working with the likes of Jenna Camille, Muhsinah, Allyn Johnson, Zachary Cutler and Jacob Ungerleider, the LP travels through the realms of Jazz, Soul and R&B with tenderness and musician precision.