Amythyst Kiah (from the album Still + Bright

Amythyst Kiah (from the album Still + Bright

Amythyst Kiah (from the album Still + Bright available on Rounder Records/Concord) (by Danny McCloskey)
Ancient Greek philosophers had the attention of the populace. They encouraged critical thinking and open debate about fundamental questions regarding human nature, ethics, politics, and the natural world. On her recent release, Still + Bright, Amythyst Kiah dons the robes of a philosopher, using music as her podium as she posts definitive statements with her words. To open Still + Bright, she is joined by S.G. Goodman on the first cut, the pair beginning a debate with “Playing God and Destroy the Mountains”. Amythyst Kiah keeps to spiritual discourse with the hammering beats of “Gods Under the Mountains”. The stark chords and piano taps in “Empire of Love” begin the march as Amythyst Kiah describes ‘don’t want a theocracy, some idol ideology, we’re all made from stars from above’. After posting her beliefs, she follows the comments with her own role in the creation citing ‘I pledge to my soul, I follow where she needs to go, I’m a pilgrim for the empire of love’. Amythyst Kiah balances beliefs, advice, and a clear eye for the future. Her mindset is fueled with positivity, foregoing fear tactics, replacing hate with love as she points towards the direction forward on signs painted with words and music. 
 
Musically, Still + Bright grounds many of the tracks with powerful rhythms, the music thumping and pumping the blood. Joined by Billy Strings, Amythyst Kiah expresses her stamina in “I Will Not Go Down” while Avi Kaplan (Pentatonix) helps her offer comfort for our souls over the foot-stomped beats of “Die Slowly Without Complaint”. Album producer, Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer), steps to the microphone alongside Amythyst Kiah over the trip-hammer groove of “Silk and Petals”. While her opinions are laid over rhythms that demand attention, a quieter approach is presented when requesting “S P A C E”, a muted heartbeat the only rhythm underneath bright string strums. A trio of tunes lead towards the exit of Still + Bright, the cycle beginning over simple acoustic guitar and harmonica as Amythyst Kian asks ‘sometime I wonder if we are just a mistake’ in “Let’s See Ourselves Out” as the cut leads into human nature conclusions of “Never Alone”, exiting the album on soft breeze melodies reciting “People’s Prayer”. (by Danny McCloskey)
 
Listen and buy the music of Amythyst Kiah from AMAZON
 
Head over to the Amythyst Kiah website for more information