Bee Appleseed Premieres a Triple-Header of New Singles

You might think of Bee Appleseed as an artist who maybe would have been more at home in a different generation, but we’ll gladly accept him in this day and age. Today, the singer-songwriter debuts not one, not two, but three new tracks. They all come from his psychedelic rock odyssey entitled 21st Century Prayer. Featuring a remarkable 21 songs, these are the three that kick off this exceptional piece of modern psych rock. They set the stage for the rest of the record, introducing the sonic and poetic concepts evident throughout.

Although Appleseed capably takes the lead, “Accessing The Channel/Brainwashed/One With The Universe” feature the talents of seven other instrumentalists and seven backing vocalists. Appleseed is no stranger to large ensembles, having co-founded the eight-piece psych rock band Elf Freedom. To some, that might seem like too much to juggle. But to Appleseed, it’s just another day at the office, an artist capable of thriving under almost any circumstance.

With a comment on the releases of “Accessing The Channel/Brainwashed/One With The Universe,” Appleseed states:

“Thank you, V13, for allowing me this opportunity to share the first tracks off my new album, 21st Century Prayer. It took me eight years to finish this album, but I assure you the wait was worth it!”

That theme of community carries throughout the entirety of 21st Century Prayer. It uses music as its guide for introspection and truth seeking. The record is a call to keep in touch with our humanity and care for one another. The system tries to tear us apart. But Bee Appleseed wants us to know that the only way forward is to stick together. Wise words from a wise man.

A prolific songwriter, 21st Century Prayer marks Appleseed’s first new solo album in five years since Cosmic Soul. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy; in fact, quite the opposite. Along with his eight-member psych rock band, Elf Freedom, Appleseed has been putting out about three albums a year. In total, 21st Century Prayer features the contributions of nearly 40 musicians.

But when it comes to lyrics, Appleseed takes the reins. Many of the songs feel poetic, with Appleseed exploring universal themes like life, death, love, philosophy, politics, and spirituality. As the first solo album that he recorded in Los Angeles after living there for eight years, he wanted to include as many friends and community members as possible in the recording process. With community in mind, he views it as one of life’s ultimate goods.