Amythyst Kiah

On her new album Still + Bright, Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah explores the vast expanse of her inner world: her deep-rooted affinity for Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions, a near-mystical connection with the natural environment, the life lessons learned in her formative years as a self-described “anime-nerd mall goth,” and much more. Produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer) and recorded at his Nashville studio, Kiah’s second full-length for Rounder Records merges her revelatory storytelling with a darkly cinematic twist on the rootsy alt-rock of her 2021 breakthrough Wary + Strange—an LP that landed on Rolling Stone’s list of the 25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2021 and drew acclaim from major outlets like Pitchfork. With its sonic palette encompassing everything from fuzzed-out guitars and industrial-leaning beats to gilded pedal steel and Kiah’s exquisitely graceful banjo work, Still + Bright makes for a vital new addition to a body of work largely dedicated to exploring the struggle and joy of true self-discovery.

The latest turn in a dynamic career that’s included joining Our Native Daughters (an all-women-of-color supergroup also featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell), Still + Bright emerged from a deliberate transformation of the songwriting process Kiah adopted after composing her first song on a Fender acoustic at age 13. To that end, the album marks her first time opening up her approach and working with co-writers, including punk legend Tim Armstrong, Sadler Vaden (a guitarist/vocalist for Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit), and former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan. Although her third LP is an undeniable departure from the anguished emotionality of its predecessor (an album informed by losing her mother to suicide at age 17), Kiah imparts each track with a hypnotic intensity born from boldly stating her convictions. Revealing her rare ability to spin her fascinations into songs uncovering essential truths about human nature, Still + Bright ultimately affirms her as an artist of both daring originality and uncompromising depth.

Learn more at https://www.amythystkiah.com/

Mustard Cutters

Mustard Cutters is a great new old-time outfit featuring Ivy Sheppard, Gina Dilg, Hanna Traynham, and Andrea Smith.


By age fifteen, Ivy Sheppard was playing clawhammer banjo and had announced to her parents that she was going to make her living playing music. She met up with Janice and Bill Birchfield in 1999 at a fiddlers convention, followed them home, and subsequently performed with the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers for several years, and toured with The South Carolina Broadcasters playing the music music of the Carter Family, transitional old time-bluegrass tunes, and originals. She also runs radio stations WEHC and WISE-FM in Emory, Virginia.

Gina Dilg is a visual artist and musician who brings a unique perspective to traditional American music. As a proud member of the old-time music community, Gina started the "Trad Music Superhero" series to pay tribute to the musicians who have shaped this genre. The series has inspired a range of merchandise, from stickers to apparel. Today, Gina's art can be found all over the world, bringing joy and inspiration to fans of traditional music. When she's not creating art, Gina can be found performing with her husband Jason Dilg in a musical duo or with the string band The Mustard Cutters.

Learn more at https://borninthemountain.com/