Farayi at Belleville Roots

Incorporating a tradition of bluegrass, gospel and American roots music, Grammy-nominated Farayi is a "once in a generation voice."
About this Event

"Prayer for the People” marks a bold new solo chapter for Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Farayi. Influenced by gospel and roots music and featuring haunting bluegrass instrumentation from Grammy-winning band the SteelDrivers, the single asks that people find relief from the challenges facing the world today: despair, anger, loneliness, and fright. Throughout, Farayi’s vocals are tender and empathetic, infused with deep spirituality and steely strength.

Growing up in rural Idaho, Farayi was exposed to a diverse cross-section of American music through her parents. Her dad was fond of classic country, while her mom loved jazz, Motown, and ’80s pop acts such as Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.

Along the way, Farayi kept writing her own songs—and after completing her master’s degree, she moved back to the Pacific Northwest and found herself reconnecting with the music of her childhood. “That's when my writing really started to transition,” she says. “I found myself writing more in a roots vein. I wanted to get back in touch with the music that really spoke to my heart, and the music that made me fall in love with music in the first place – and that was roots music.

“I studied jazz for many years and I let the other part of my musical identity go,” she adds. “Race was a big part of it. When I was a kid, I didn’t see any Black fiddlers, so I didn't really know what was possible for me. I didn't see a lot of people like myself represented in roots music spaces, so I didn't feel like I had permission to be in those spaces. I can see that changing now.”

Around this time, Farayi won a Salt Lick Incubator Grant, selected by a panel that included T-Bone Burnett and Jon Batiste. The grant came with support to build out a team and funding to record her 2025 debut EP Edge of the Earth. These days, she is enjoying the best of both worlds, launching a solo career while continuing to teach and mentor the next generation of students; in fact, she was recently appointed the managing director of Berklee’s American Roots Music Program. The program’s illustrious alumni include Sierra Hull, Julian Lage, and Molly Tuttle.

However, Farayi makes it clear that every part of her musical life is interconnected. “I identify myself as an American roots artist and songwriter who is fundamentally rooted in the blues,” she says. “I don't see any of the music that I'm doing—or any of my influences—really being that different. And if we recognize what all the American music that we love and listen to has in common, we find that we're not so different.”