Hello, I'm Lilli Lewis. For those that don't know me, I’m a New Orleans based singer/composer whose latest album Americana was an NPR All Songs Considered top 10 pick, with a single “Copper John” covered by Rolling Stone as a “song you need to know.” This summer, I received a Folk Alliance International "Spirit of Folk Award," and recent performances have included The Kennedy Center, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Mountain Stage.

I'm making this appeal as a kind of S.O.S. in an effort to save my current concert tour.

Recently, I've been involuntarily separated from the record label I've spent the last 8 years working to build. I served as the label’s General Manager, then VP and Head of A&R, and I released three critically acclaimed titles under the imprint. I endured years of extremely low compensation, as well as countless thinly-veiled anti-Black microaggressions (e.g. “I’ve never been able to work with Black women, but not you Lilli, I don’t think of you that way”) from the label owner, because I believed in the work I was doing. I was helping legacy and cutting-edge Louisiana artists with world-class distribution of their music with an eye on decency and transparency, something rare in our industry. I had hoped the label would equally support me when it was my turn.

Long story short, the label took the opportunity to stop paying me while I was sick with COVID not long ago. Even though in their letter, they asked that I remain in an advisory role, there was no meeting, no “gold watch” of thanks for eight years of labor or sidelining of my career as an artist. While in truth it was probably time for this separation, the timing couldn't have been worse. The label effectively completely cut funding for the album support tour right in the middle and still holds a great deal of my merchandise.

If you don't know how music tours work, the performer is expected to pay for any and all expenses and costs for the tour and then be reimbursed by the tour proceeds later. Music touring can be an expensive proposition, especially with a band, when you factor the costs for travel, lodging, food, merchandise and worker compensation. I funded the first part of this tour with my salary from the label with the assurance that the funding would continue for the rest of the tour. The label retains the right to distribute my work, but now that the tour funding has been dropped, I have 5 months of tour dates contracted with no way to pay my way to them.

Hence, I'm coming to you to ask for rescue.

I'm looking to raise $20,000 which will be used to complete the remaining 5 months of the tour with my band, buy back the $5,000 of CDs the label is still holding and buy vinyl pressings of my critically acclaimed album Americana. If the entire $20,000 is fully funded, I will send any donor who contributes $50 or more a vinyl record free as a thank you for supporting me in my time of need.

As an artist I've always tried to practice what I call “radical decency.” That means to always act with the best interest of everyone in mind. I don't wish ill on anyone, and will never burden myself with grudges. I only wish to be able to finish what I've started and continue to do everything I can to make the world a little better through music.

If you can help me do that, I will always be thankful to you.

My very best to you in all things,

Lilli Lewis