
Ben Sollee
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
Kentucky musician and composer Ben Sollee has been blurring boundaries with his musical style and career for nearly two decades – his latest album, Long Haul (2024), is no exception. Drawing on tonal influences from the American and global south, Sollee’s vocals and unique cello style thread through each track, binding seemingly disparate chapters of his journey — the Long Haul.
The title track, “Long Haul,” tells the story of Sollee’s nearly two-year struggle with long-COVID. The lyrics are painted in broad strokes and are relatable to anyone who’s been forced — for whatever reason — to shift their relationship to their body. He sings, “I didn’t know how rich I was until this poverty,” lilting up to a high note, letting us know he’s embraced and grown from the experience. “I realized I had a very exploitative relationship with my body and my creativity,” says Sollee. “I realized the most radical thing you can do is to care for yourself, not in some optimized, individualistic way, but as an aspect of nature and society.” Serving as the album’s title, “Long Haul” takes on a universal meaning as a journey that everyone is all on together.