Amythyst Kiah

Amythyst Kiah had already established a notable presence as an independent performer within Americana and roots traditions prior to receiving a Grammy nomination tied to her contributions in the all-female folk supergroup Our Native Daughters. From Tennessee, this versatile songwriter possesses a profoundly soulful vocal style that seamlessly navigates old-time folk, blues, country, along with more modern elements of R&B and alt-rock. Having self-issued her initial solo record in 2012, she cultivated an international touring career ahead of her involvement with Our Native Daughters, whose 2019 debut album prominently featured her standout composition "Black Myself," later reinterpreted on her Rounder Records debut Wary + Strange from 2021. Her upbringing took place in Chattanooga, where she first took up the guitar during high school, drawing from the varied musical preferences of her parents in addition to the alt-rock broadcasts on MTV. Following her teenage coming out as gay, she faced challenges in gaining acceptance and found comfort through her artistic endeavors. Her pivot into roots music occurred during college after she joined a bluegrass program at East Tennessee State University, at which point she also adopted the banjo. The independent release of her debut album Dig in 2012 launched her into continuous touring over the subsequent years. Her commanding vocal power combined with a diverse fusion of roots styles enabled her to captivate crowds and secure status as a festival favorite across both the United States and the United Kingdom. Alongside her supporting musicians, she put out the 2016 EP titled Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass. She eagerly participated when the chance arose to work with other women of color sharing similar perspectives in the roots music community. Led by Rhiannon Giddens and also including Allison Russell and Leyla McCalla, the ensemble Our Native Daughters crafted a debut record that directly confronted aspects of American history and cultural identity encompassing slavery, racism, sexism, and civil rights. The Smithsonian Folkways label issued this project, Songs of Our Native Daughters, in 2019, with Kiah's intense declaration of Black identity, "Black Myself," serving as its centerpiece; that track earned a Grammy nomination as well as Song of the Year recognition at the Folk Alliance International Awards. As her visibility grew, she partnered with producer Tony Berg, known for his work with Andrew Bird and Michael Penn, to create her follow-up album. Rounder released Wary + Strange in 2021, blending her raw alt-rock leanings with folk, Americana, and blues while incorporating a revised rendition of "Black Myself."