By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/30/25 – Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah is bringing her soulful blend of Americana, blues, and rock to the Two Roads: From Roots to Broadway showcase at the Sunset Music and Comedy Festival, held November 7th at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. In a recent Zoom interview with The Hollywood Times and Aspiring Magazine, Kiah shared her thoughts on her musical evolution, her groundbreaking song “Black Myself,” and the power of community through collaboration.
A proud daughter of East Tennessee, Amythyst Kiah has spent her career redefining the boundaries of Americana. Her sound, a dynamic mix she dubs “alternative Americana”, draws influence from pop, rock, blues, and roots traditions.
“At the heart of what my music is, it’s a mix of various kinds of American music,” she said. “I take in influences from pop and rock… a lot of the rhythms I use tend to be syncopated or polyrhythmic. So, I guess ‘Alternative Americana’ fits, but I’ve also played around with calling it Appalachian goth-pop blues rock.”
Click below for our exclusive interview:
Kiah’s fluid approach to genre mirrors her refusal to be boxed in—an artist equally at home at folk festivals, concert halls, and now, a festival that uniquely combines Broadway, soul, and stand-up comedy.
Kiah’s Grammy-nominated anthem “Black Myself” became a rallying cry for resilience and identity. Written as part of the acclaimed Our Native Daughters project with Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla, the song confronts centuries of racial injustice with raw honesty and courage.
“At the time, I didn’t imagine it would strike such a chord,” Kiah reflected. “It was the first time I had written something so direct. I was nervous because I wasn’t writing about myself, I was writing about broader history: the transatlantic slave trade, Jim Crow, and reclaiming the banjo as part of the Black experience.”
Despite tackling deeply specific themes, “Black Myself” has resonated across audiences.
“Even though it’s rooted in Black history, people of all backgrounds connect with it because it’s about human beings overcoming adversity,” she explained. “The more specific I got, the more universal it became.”
Kiah credits her collaboration with Rhiannon Giddens and the Our Native Daughters Collective for expanding her artistic confidence.
“It taught me I’m not condemned to writing alone,” she shared. “Co-writing felt scary at first, it was so personal, but working with women who cared deeply about telling the truth showed me the power of community and sisterhood in music.”
She also spoke passionately about the thread connecting different art forms, music, comedy, and theater, all part of the Palm Springs festival’s lineup.
“Storytelling isn’t limited to words,” Kiah said. “Whether it’s through Broadway, Southern soul, or comedy, each form shares experiences and observations in a unique way.”
Kiah’s West Coast Tour kicks off November 5th in Tucson and continues through November 17th, hitting Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and up to Eugene, Oregon. She also recently participated in her first sync writing camp, creating music for potential television placements.
“Hopefully you’ll hear some of those songs on TV soon,” she said with a smile. “I’m also working on new music and Southeast shows later this year.”
Fans can find her full tour schedule and music at amythystkiah.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Bandcamp.
Amythyst Kiah will perform Friday, November 7th at the Palm Springs Cultural Center as part of the Sunset Music and Comedy Festival’s Two Roads: From Roots to Broadway evening. Her performance promises to be a soulful fusion of heritage and innovation, a celebration of music as “history, heart, and healing.”
Follow The Hollywood Times and AspiringMagazine.com for exclusive coverage, photos, and interviews from the festival.
