Meet Lolly Dunlap | Ceremonialist Musician and Registered Nurse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lolly Dunlap and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lolly, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Creative spirituality, coloring outside the lines until the lines disappear. Beauty, love and harmonies.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up playing guitar and singing around the campfire with my family and friends, and later on in Bible College, on the praise and worship team. After surviving conversion therapy, a disastrous form of spiritual abuse, I stopped playing all together. Twenty years later I started working with plant medicines and my music returned. It is best described as singer songwriter, spiritual reclamation, Americana, and folk. Shored up by warm nylon strings, buffalo drums, various hand percussion and tight harmonies, the soulful lyrics call the listener home to themselves. We play music for yoga classes, groups journeying in the sacred realm, and regular gigs such as our local Pride festival, house parties and small music festivals. Amy and I are releasing our first album as Bear Roots, entitled Wild Bird May 16th, 2024. This dream snuck up on me. I didn’t realize it was happening until we were deeply involved. One thing I love about our music is the community that embraces it. The songs, with lives of their own, have become the backdrop to the grassroots community being built around us. We don’t have want for fame or giant tours, bring us intimate settings and rich connections.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the Piedmont of NC, in a growing and diverse county, but with a lot of rolling hills and farmland. There are many local nature preserves and parks with hikes I would point folks to, which is where I love to spend my time… with the rivers and the trees, and the majesty of the open sky and it’s flying spirits.

If we’re looking for a social scene, we have a gem hidden in Chatham county NC, an old diesel refinery called “The Plant”. Now an eco-industrial park, it draws community into its live music, local farm to fork restaurants, axe throwing, coffee roasters, plant nursery, art gallery and many other unique shops. It is funky, eclectic, and inclusive. There is always something going on at the Plant.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be here doing this beautiful work if not for my healthy ancestors, indigenous teachers, healers, and peers in today’s spiritual awakening. Specifically, my musical and life partner, Amy, has lifted me up, and works alongside me with her musical gifts and inspiration. The love that surrounds me in this container creates the dream and the outcome.

Instagram: Bearrootsmusic

Facebook: Bear Roots

Image Credits
Bear Roots painting by Emily Merletto