Boonton Coffee Presents: Amythyst Kiah

~ “One of Americana’s great up-and-coming secrets.” -Rolling Stone

~ “Amythyst Kiah found her powerful voice. Now she has a sound to match it."
-The New York Times

~ “[Amythyst is one of the] young royals of Americana Music. She is expanding the vocabulary of the banjo.” -NPR

~ Best American Roots Song 2020 Nominee -Recording Academy Grammy Museum

On her new album Still + Bright, 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, 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. This 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. 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. Still + Bright ultimately affirms her as an artist of both daring originality and uncompromising depth.

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. On Wary + Strange, Kiah offered up a collection of spellbinding songs detailing her experience with grief and trauma and alienation, each illuminating the extraordinary impact of her songwriting. An electrifying showcase for her singular musicality and soul-stirring voice, Kiah’s Rounder Records debut soon found many leading critics hailing her as a formidable new talent, adding to a list of accolades that includes earning a Grammy nomination for her powerhouse anthem “Black Myself.”

But when it came time to create her follow-up, the Tennessee-born singer/songwriter felt compelled toward a profound shift in her artistry. “On the last record it felt so cathartic to write about all the pain I was dealing with, but this time the songs came from a place of finding joy in the music,” says Kiah. “In the past I felt so mired down with anxiety that I sometimes held back from what I really wanted to write about; I felt like I needed to play it safe and keep certain thoughts to myself. But now I’m at a point where I’m confident in what I value and love, and because of that I’ve made the album I’ve always wanted to make.” 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. Still + Bright ultimately affirms her as an artist of both daring originality and uncompromising depth.

• amythystkiah.com

Coffee/Tea bar, Brook Hollow Wine selections and assorted sweet & savory delicacies (charcuterie boards, delicious toast plates, pastries and more) will be available for purchase before and during the show.
This is a 16+ event, please understand this is a seated, focused, listening room (quiet) setting. Tickets are REQUIRED—no walk-ups nor last minute guest list expectations, they will be rejected.

Join us for this intimate event. Space is extremely limited. Ticketed entry only. Coffee bar, specialty teas, Brook Hollow Wine (multiple options), along with sweet & savory treats will be available for purchase before and during the show.

Host or Publisher Boonton Coffee Co.