S2E1 : Gaelynn Lea | Music Has Always Been A Windy Little Thread

Artist Care and Feeding

Gaelynn Lea is an American folk singer, violinist, public speaker, and disability activist from Duluth, Minnesota. In 2016, she won NPR's influential Tiny Desk Contest when her song and performance for "Someday We'll Linger in the Sun" was selected more than 6,000 other submissions. Since then, with her husband, Paul, who is her tour manager, Gaelynn has been on the road practically nonstop, performing in 45 states and nine countries, before the COVID-19 pandemic made concerts and live performances all but impossible. Gaelynn has performed at numerous festivals including SXSW, the Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada, and the Reykjavik Arts Festival in Iceland. She also has opened for and collaborated with bands including Wilco, The Decemberists, LOW, The Jay Hawks, and the industrial rock supergroup Pigface. On Sundays, she performs live on her YouTube channel where she is joined by a variety of musical guests, most recently Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.
In addition to performing and recording, Gaelynn, who has brittle bone disease, also does speaking engagements about Disability Rights, finding inner freedom, and accessibility in the arts. She uses her music as a platform to advocate for people with disabilities and to promote positive social change. So far she's been able to share her perspective on PBS NewsHour, The Moth Radio Hour, The Science of Happiness Podcast, and through two popular TEDx Talks.
Gaelynn's website: Violin Scratches
Gaelynn's Patreon: GaelynnLea
Gaelynn's Bandcamp: GaelynnLea
Gaelynn's YouTube Channel: GaelynnLea
Twitter: @GaelynnLea
Gaelynn's Newsletter: SUBSCRIBE