Plainwell High Schooler Lowis Releases First Full-Length Album
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FREE Volume 66, Issue 27 · www.wilcoxnewspapers.com Extra Edition • Thursday, December 3, 2020 Plainwell high schooler Lowis COVID-19 brings releases first full-length album changes for By Jason Wesseldyk Sports Editor Music as always been part Christmas events of Lucy Lowis’ life, thanks By Jason Wesseldyk time of year so special.” largely to her father Ted. - Sports Editor The tree will be placed “My dad has been my mu on the plaza covered in sical idol from a young age, - - because he plays several in- The impact of the ongo lights, as usual, and res struments himself and has ing COVID-19 pandemic idents are encouraged to been in several bands,” said has been far-reaching. continue their holiday Lowis, a 16-year-old junior That includes the annu- traditions with their fam- at Plainwell High School al Christmas celebrations ilies of walking through “I thought that was so cool in Otsego and Plainwell. the Hicks Park, down the when I was young and I was Otsego made the deci- river walk and Fannie inspired to learn and play sion to cancel its annual Pell Park. music like him. Hometown Christmas “We still want people “When I was a toddler, I that had been scheduled to come out and admire would go up and bang on the for Saturday, Dec. 5, the holiday lights and drums or play on the key- while Plainwell’s cele- decorations, but please boards. It was just there for bration will look different ensure that safe distanc- me to experiment with and I than most years. es can be maintained and loved it. That’s kind of how “It was, of course, a health guidelines can be my musical passion started.” very difficult decision followed,” Siegel said. Out of that passion comes to cancel all facets of The merchants in down- “Seventh Cycle Soul,” Low- the event,” Otsego Main town Plainwell have also is’ full-length studio debut Street director Kahler created a “Merry Mile” album that was officially Sweeney said. “That de- beginning Dec. 4 and released on Tuesday, Dec. 1, - and is available at https://lu- cision came after mul lasting throughout the cylowis.hearnow.com. tiple parts of the event month of December, with “I use music to describe were canceled to try and holiday-themed decora- how I’m feeling and it real- see it happen in some ca- tions on the storefronts ly appeals to me just as an pacity.” and window displays. outlet for all of my emo- According, canceling Christmas cards will tions,” Lowis said. “There Hometown Christmas also be on display as usu- are so many different types in its entirety was the al in Hicks Park. of instruments and genres of right—if not the easy— “Friday night you may music. I love how you can decision in light of the see Santa driving around create so many things with three-week emergency town in his convertible it. The possibilities are end- order from the Michigan and little elves jumping less.” Department of Health around handing our $1 Lowis recorded and mixed and Human Services that hot chocolate coupons the album with her dad at began on Wednesday, for Island City Coffee,” their home studio. Nov. 18. Siegel said. “It was definitely a lot of Lucy Lowis released her album “Seventh Cycle Soul” on Tuesday, Dec. 1. (Photo provided) “After the emergen- Individuals can also hard work, but it’s really cy order and growing mail letters to Santa at awesome to see how it all how long it takes to write a was on top of the world.” “I have a lot of different COVID-19 cases in the Bridge St. Deli & Health turned out,” Lowis said. “It’s - song, it just depends on how Since that time, Lowis has interests,” she said. community, it was de- Goods and get cookies weird because music has al inspired I am in the moment. graduated to bigger stages, Those interests also in- ways been a part of my life cided that canceling the prepared and packaged I’ve written some songs in playing such venues as the clude math and science, event would be the most by the Plainwell United and making an album just 30 minutes and others over City Centre Market in Ka- which she is thinking about kind of felt natural to me. I responsible option,” Methodist Church. - the span of months.” lamazoo and the Livery in pursing in college. Sweeney said. “It also “All of this is differ- have to keep reminding my It should come as no sur- Benton Harbor. She has also “As much as I love music, self that not everyone creates helped avoid further ent being that there will prise that one of Lowis’ ear- played at various art hops in it’s not my dream to be a su- confusion about which not be a gathering of the their own songs and makes liest musical influences—in the area. per famous rock star,” Lowis their own records.” pieces of the events were community around the addition to her dad—was “I used to perform once said. “I’m actually thinking still happening and which Lowis took advantage of perhaps the most well- or twice a month before about going to college for Christmas Tree with live the extra free time she had - weren’t.” music and a big tree light- - known female singer-song COVID-19,” she said. something to do with science due to the COVID-19 pan writer of her generation. Lowis’ love of music has or medicine once I’m out of Like Otsego, Plainwell ing ceremony as there has demic to help complete the “Taylor Swift was defi- carried over to musical the- high school. has decided to cancel its in past,” Siegel said. “But album, which she began nitely one of my idols when ater as well. “However, I definitely will annual Christmas parade it will still be enjoyable working on a little more than I was little,” Lowis said. “I “I do musicals in my high continue writing and playing as well as the traditional and a memorable experi- a year ago. looked up to her because school,” she said. “I was music in my free time. It’s tree-lighting ceremony. ence.” The pandemic cut my she was an awesome female in ‘High School Musical’ something I love to do.” However, Plainwell The Otsego-Plainwell (sophomore) school year songwriter who played gui- my freshman year and my Lowis also loves to pro- community development Area Chamber of Com- short and kept my dad home tar just like me. Honestly, her sophomore musical ‘Into the mote a lifestyle that’s kind manager Denise Siegel is merce will also be host- from work, which helped us songs were all I knew how to Woods’ was canceled be- to both the environment and still urging people to get ing its “Over the River … greatly to finish recording play the first year that I was cause of COVID-19. animals. out and enjoy the festive and Through the Week- and mixing my album,” she learning the guitar.” “What I love most about “I try my best to practice a atmosphere beginning on end” shopping event said. Lowis’ first stage perfor- musicals is having fun with cruelty-free lifestyle by re- Friday, Dec. 4. from Friday, Dec. 10, to In addition to showcasing mance came in third grade as all the other people in the ducing my use of single-use her talents as a singer and a “Although we won’t be Sunday, Dec. 12 in both - part of a school talent show. cast and creating this super plastics and also by adopting able to gather as a com- Otsego and Plainwell. musician—Lowis plays gui “I remember that I felt re- cool performance that we animals from a local shelter tar, ukulele and piano—the munity this year, we can Sweeney hopes things ally cool,” she said of that can all be proud of.” instead of a breeder,” she still celebrate the sea- are back to normal—at album also allowed Lowis performance. “I was up on Aside from music, Lowis said. “I hope to encourage to flex her songwriting mus- son,” Siegel said. “Cher- least relatively speak- our small stage in our lunch- gets her creative fix through other people to do the same.” ish the moments that are ing—for 2021. cles. room/gym/auditorium—or such activities as drawing For more information “I get inspiration from ev- only possible during the “We look forward to cafe-gym-atorium, as we and painting. She also en- about Lowis and the release - eryday things that happen called it—playing my spar- joys reading, playing tennis, of “Seventh Cycle Soul,” holiday season and cel bringing back Hometown to me,” Lowis said of her kly pink guitar. I felt like I skiing and roller skating. visit lucylowis.com. ebrate the joy, gratitude Christmas next year,” he songwriting process. “As for and love that make this said. INDEX Classifieds .............. B7 Otsego commissioners sworn in for new terms Crossword .............. B6 At the Otsego City Com- For The Record ...... B6 mission meeting on Mon- day, Nov. 9, three com- Obituaries .............. A5 missioners were sworn in Viewpoints ............. A6 after winning re-election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Public Notices ...... A3, Cyndi Trobeck and ....................... A10, B7 Dustin McNees each claimed a 4-year term, with Religion .................. B8 Brent Milhiem rounding Sports ............. A8, A9 out the trio with a 2-year term. They were sworn in Sudoku ................... B6 by Otsego city clerk Ange- Gift Guide .......