Culture
Amythyst Kiah talks embracing Americana association and surprise of her songs’ international appeal
By: Ian Saint
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WOUB) — Amythyst Kiah’s signature “Southern Gothic” sound has graced several Americanafests, and Ohioans have two opportunities to experience Kiah live the same weekend the 23rd Annual Americana Honors — where she presents the Instrumentalist of the Year Award — airs on PBS.
As a self-described “funny-talking, sci-fi-loving, queer” Black female musician in Appalachia, Kiah grew up painfully aware of what it feels like to not belong — experiences that informed her previous LP, 2021’s Wary + Strange. It includes Black Myself, an anthem of triumph in the faces of adversity and derision which garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best American Roots Song.
New album Still + Bright is a liberating succession. Previewed by lead single, Empire of Love, the record includes collaborations with Billy Strings and SG Goodman, last year’s respective Americana Award winners for Artist Of The Year and Emerging Act Of The Year.
Kiah’s Still + Bright Tour comes to Natalie’s Grandview (945 King Avenue) in Columbus November 23 and to G.A.R. Hall (1785 Main Street) in Peninsula November 24. WOUB-TV broadcasts ACL Presents: 23rd Annual Americana Honors at 10 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 23, where Kiah and Amy Helm co-present the Instrumentalist Of The Year Award.
Amythyst Kiah spoke with WOUB’s Ian Saint during the Americana Music Honors’ Red Carpet ceremony, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, prior to the show. A transcript of their conversation, edited for length and clarity, is below.
Ian Saint:
How do you feel about being associated with the “Americana” genre?
Amythyst Kiah:
I feel the Americana genre perfectly fits my philosophy about music: if I like it and it feels good, then it’s good. I grew up in a household where we listened to, literally, all kinds of music. I listened to Yanni, Enya, Santana; everything.
So I feel like Americana’s foundation, based on the people that I’ve met and its sense of community, is that everybody is encouraged to be their authentic selves — and to find their path, that they want to take, musically. Everybody is so supportive of one another, as well.
Americana is American music. It’s a great (scene) for people that can’t be pigeonholed into a specialized genre, and it allows room for them to be able to explore whatever sounds we want to explore without feeling like we no longer (belong) in a genre. It’s a big umbrella. So I think it’s cool, and I’m really happy to be part of it.
Have certain songs of yours resonated with audiences in ways that you found surprising?
Kiah:
Black Myself. That was the first time I’ve ever written a song that was so direct. Usually, I try to write songs where no one feels alienated or othered — because I know what that feels like — but I realized that sometimes being direct is just as effective.
I wrote Black Myself for the (2019) Songs of Our Native Daughters (album with Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla), which was a pretty heavy project. I remember writing that song and thinking, “This is so direct, I feel a little uncomfortable. I’m worried about how people are going to perceive it. But this is real.”
Then I played (England’s) Cambridge Folk Festival. We perform Black Myself, and 600 white English people were singing every word back to us. We all did not really anticipate that. Then I realized that a song like (Loretta Lynn’s 1970 single) Coal Miner’s Daughter — I mean, I’m not a coal miner’s daughter, but that song (resonates) because of the message behind it. So that taught me that I can be more direct about things, long as I’m still trying to leave the takeaway that we’re all part of this human experience together.
Any other stand-out surreal locations you’ve performed?
Kiah:
Scotland; the very first time I ever played my music in the UK. I was contacted by Andy Shearer, director of the Southern Fried Festival in Perth, Scotland. He’d heard one of my records and found my stuff online, and he invited me to come perform a Dolly Parton tribute at an Americana festival in Scotland. And I go, “Okay, well, these plane tickets are like two grand.” But he paid for all the travel; I came over there, and it was incredible. Della Mae was the house band, and it was all women.
My 92 year-old Nana in Ohio, which you’re touring through, is from Scotland. Did you find the Scots a little more… direct?
Kiah:
Oh, yeah. They definitely do not mince words at all, which I appreciate. I really enjoyed it; the energy was great, it was so much fun. That’s where I met (Black English musician and actress) Yola for the first time. This was in 2015, so it’s been almost 10 years.
Amythyst Kiah plays Natalie’s Grandview in Columbus and G.A.R. Hall in Peninsula on Saturday and Sunday, November 23-24, respectively. For tickets, and all tour dates, visit https://www.amythystkiah.com. ACL Presents: 23rd Annual Americana Honors airs on PBS on Saturday, November 23 at 10 PM EST.