Leah Song and Chloe Smith, founding sisters of Rising Appalachia, have long witnessed themselves – by both choice and coincidence – carrying harmony into settings of upheaval and discord. Soon after their eponymous release in 2006, the siblings moved to New Orleans to assist in rebuilding efforts following Katrina. There they gained not only a deeper sense of connection to the roots of American music, but also an abiding sense of purpose as musicians. The band, which has now grown to include musicians David Brown on upright bass and baritone guitar, and Biko Casini on world percussion, has settled into its stride and purpose through creating original music with a mission, rooted in the traditions of folk songs, storytelling, and grassroots activism. The band manages to meld traditions and genres the same way Leah and Chloe blend their voices; it’s casual, beguiling, and effortlessly singular. Their persuasive and powerful new genre of acoustic folk melds old-time music with a thick rhythm section, southern soul, West African instrumentation and an occasional Colombian love song. The diverse influences converge through the voices of Leah and Chloe, which go together as only two siblings’ can.
Both onstage and off, Rising Appalachia exudes a sense of rootedness, playful exploration, and inspired action. Their sound and message suggest that voices and traditions brought together through song, may be one of the saving graces to a world in distress. In a time when the fabric of community and culture often appear to be unraveling, their interweaving of music and mission, old traditions with new interpretations, creates an atmosphere of contagious hope and bliss.
How we met:
We met Rising Appalachia through our good friends and partners, Guayaki: Come to Life, and thought they’d be a perfect fit for a new Song Around The World we were working on with Manu Chao called “Seeds of Freedom.” We recorded them live outside surrounded by nature in a park in Evergreen, Colorado, and the rest was history.
Atlanta, GA, USA
