Amythyst Kiah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amythyst Kiah
Kiah performing at the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival in 2022
Background information
Born	(1986-12-11) December 11, 1986 (age 38) Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Folk old-time music alternative rock rock blues alternative country roots rock Americana
Instruments	Vocals guitar banjo
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Rounder Records
Associated acts	Songs of Our Native Daughters

Amythyst Kiah at the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival on the Big Barn stage.

Amythyst Kiah (born December 11, 1986) is a talented American singer and songwriter. She grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and now lives in Johnson City, Tennessee. Amythyst is known for playing both the guitar and the banjo.

As of 2025, Amythyst Kiah has released several albums and EPs. She also worked with other artists like Rhiannon Giddens on the album Songs of Our Native Daughters in 2019. Her song "Black Myself" was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 2020!

Discovering Amythyst Kiah's Journey

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Amythyst Kiah was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her father was a musician in the 1970s, playing percussion and singing. Her mother also sang in church when she was growing up. Amythyst went to a special high school for creative arts. There, she taught herself how to play the guitar.

When she was 17, her mother passed away. Singing at her mother's funeral was only the third time Amythyst had performed in public. This experience showed her the power of music.

Amythyst went to East Tennessee State University. She studied Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music. She even joined the university's main old-time band. Since 2010, she has been touring and performing. She performs by herself, with her band 'Her Chest of Glass', or with her group 'Our Native Daughters'.

Becoming a Recording Artist

Amythyst Kiah describes her unique music style as "Southern Gothic." This means her music often has a deep, sometimes dark, and soulful feeling.

Her first album, Dig, came out in 2013. Amythyst produced this album herself. It was recorded at the East Tennessee State University Recording Lab.

Later, she released an EP (which is like a mini-album) called Her Chest of Glass on October 28, 2016. Amythyst wrote three of the five songs on this EP. She recorded it in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Amythyst Kiah gives a performance in 2015.

Her album Wary + Strange was released by Rounder Records on June 18, 2021. This album was produced by Tony Berg. Amythyst worked hard on this album, recording it three times to get the sound just right. Critics loved it! Glide magazine said it would be a very important album for years to come. Rolling Stone magazine even put it on their list of the "25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2021." Her song "Wild Turkey" was also named one of the 50 Best Songs of 2021 by Variety.

In 2021, Amythyst was a special singer on Moby's song "Natural Blues" (reprise Version). On January 14, 2022, she released her own version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division. Amythyst has traveled a lot for her music. She has toured all over the United States, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

Joining Our Native Daughters

Amythyst Kiah is also part of a special group called 'Our Native Daughters'. This group includes Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell. They released an album together called Songs of Our Native Daughters in 2019. Amythyst's song "Black Myself," which was on this album, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2020.

Amythyst Kiah's Personal Views

Amythyst Kiah has shared that she is "funny-talking, sci-fi-loving, queer Black." She believes that making music helps her deal with worries about her identity. She also sees her music as a way to help more Black artists be seen and heard. She lives in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Amythyst Kiah's Music

Amythyst Kiah and fellow ETSU students play at the Carter Family Fold in December 2010.

Albums

• Dig (2013)
• Her Chest Of Glass (2017)
• Wary + Strange (2021)
• Still + Bright (2024)

EPs

• Pensive Pop (2022)

Singles

• "Your Ghost" (2020) with Dave Hause and Kam Franklin
• "Natural Blues" (2021) by Moby with Amythyst Kiah
• "Black Myself" (2021) Moby Remix
• "Fancy Drones (Fracture Me) [Live at Studio 615 / May 2021]" (2021)
• "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (2022)
• "Wild Turkey (Live)" (2022)
• "Flower (Find My Baby) - Resound NYC Version" (2023) by Moby with Amythyst Kiah
• "In the Pines" (2024)
• "Play God and Destroy the World" featuring S.G. Goodman (2024)
• "I Will Not Go Down" featuring Billy Strings (2024)