These Seeds

by Neil Leyton

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NEIL LEYTON: "These Seeds"

2024.

The world is at war.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which technically started back in 2014, hit the world news after the full scale "special military operation" Russian invasion back in February 2022 - it's been almost two years now, and the world's attention has been largely diverted to other atrocities and armed conflicts. However, the Ukrainian war continues.

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."

"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 or 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."

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.

All proceeds from "These Seeds" will be paid from the European Phonographic label to Music Export Ukraine in support of Ukrainian artists and musicians.

credits

released January 19, 2024
Written and performed by Neil Leyton with João Sousa on the drums, engineered, mixed and mastered by Nelson Canoa.
Neil Leyton: vocals, acoustic guitar
João Sousa: drums
Nelson Canoa: piano, keys, bass
Published by Saraiva Canejo Leitão Lda. / Lusitanian Music Publishing.
Cover photo by Alexandrum79, via 123RF.com.

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Neil Leyton Toronto, Ontario

Neil Leyton is a Portuguese-Canadian singer and guitarist born in Lisbon, Portugal, raised in Toronto, Canada.

He was a founding member and songwriter in Canadian art-glam indie project The Conscience Pilate from 1995 to 1998, beginning a solo career in 1999. Bass player in Passion d’Flower, he is currently also the singer for the Lusitanian Ghosts chordophone collective. ... more

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