Rising Appalachia - Folk & Anchor (2024) Hi-Res

Folk & Anchor is a collection of contemporary cover songs that have been meaningful to us over the years. As sisters, as a Southern folk band, as lovers of story-telling songs, neo-soul southern music, banjo melodies, Beyonce, Hozier, Bob Dylan and beyond, this new album celebrates our journey as eclectic music lovers. Our taste spans from the old time fiddle tunes of our family, to Hip-hop of our urban up-bringing in ATL , to the deep roots and traditional instruments of the American South. With this new album Folk and Anchor, we wanted to create a body of work where all those influences could be showcased under one roof while giving a nod to some of our heros. Each song has been carefully selected from a long list of favorites because they each tell a story in and of themselves. But more than that, they tell a story together, and that story weaves the listener into the sonic tapestries of the roots of Rising Appalachia.

From Bob Dylan to Beyonce, every song on Rising Appalachia’s new covers EP, Folk and Anchor, was carefully selected for the album not just because they were some of bandmate sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith’s all-time favorite songs, but because they each tell a story in and of themselves. “But more than that,” Leah says, “they tell a story together, and that story weaves the listener into the sonic tapestries of the roots of Rising Appalachia.” And the tapestries are rich, drenched in fiddle and banjo, Hip-Hop influences from the sisters’ upbringing in Atlanta, Appalachian folk traditions, the formative rise of neo-soul, the deep musical ties in the American South, and much more.

“We grew up immersed in a musical family, and our songwriting and performance has been deeply influenced by so many Americana genres over the years,” says Leah. “We wanted to create a body of work where all those influences could be showcased under one roof.” And when the wildly popular group announced to their fans that they’d be taking a creative sabbatical from the road and social media in 2024 to work on new music, and were in-turn met with nothing but love and encouragement from fans, Leah and Chloe knew that Folk and Anchor would be the perfect parting-for-now gift to their ever-loyal fanbase.