Sarah Siskind Modern Appalachia LP

On her new album, Modern Appalachia, Sarah Siskind investigates a more multifaceted relationship with not only the region where she grew up, but with herself. As each song digs a little deeper into Sarah's questions, fears and realizations, the full story reveals that the rawness, earthiness, and spiritual depth of North Carolina has inevitably clothed Siskind. In "Carolina", she sings "Who you are isn't where you're from/but where you're from is always close/and when you go digging in that dirt/get ready to find what you fear the most."

Her love of progressive rock and fusion shine through on this album to create a new incarnation of Appalachian music. The musicians she chose for the album were the perfect vehicle for this distinctive sound with guitar-giant Bill Frisell and luminary Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) both guesting. Daniel Kimbro, Mike Seal, and Jeff Sipe's (Warren Haynes, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Jimmy Herring) tight but organic soundscape lay a lush bed for Siskind's direct, story-telling vocal tone.

After moving to Nashville at the age of 20, her song "Goodbye Is All We Have" was recorded by Alison Krauss, which led to a job at Big Yellow Dog as a staff writer. Siskind went to have songs recorded by Randy Travis, Wynonna, Point of Grace, Madi Diaz and countless others. Her music has also found its way onto television, where her songs have been heavily featured on CMT's Nashville, as well as on MTV's Teen Mom 2, MTV's Awkward, ABC's Pretty Little Liars, Lifetime's Army Wives and HBO's The Wire. She made her primetime TV debut in 2014, performing Nashville's hit "A Life That's Good" from the Ryman stage with the show's cast and co-writer Ashley Monroe.

In 2009, Siskind released her album Say It Louder on Thirty Tigers, which met with critical acclaim and won "Americana Album of the Year" at the Nashville Music Awards. Her earlier album Covered, the release of which was derailed due to health issues, was brought back to life in 2014 by Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), who personally sought it out for re-release on his record label Jagjaguwar. Since then, Sarah has become a regular NPR performer, with features on Tiny Desk concerts, World Cafe with David Dye, All Songs Considered, Song Of The Day, and most recently Mountain Stage. She has toured with Bonnie Raitt, Lee Ann Womack, Paul Brady, Bon Iver (who also famously covered her "Lovin's For Fools") and The Swell Season.

Siskind has been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Brandi Carlile, but in my humble opinion, she's incomparable

She is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of artist in her delivery, honesty and songwriting.

If Joni Mitchell had grown up in the South, she'd sound something like Sarah Siskind.

Modern Appalachia takes a timeless stance befitting its descriptive title. Richly resilient, it's a tour de force of sorts, a well-woven melodic tapestry that ought to finally propel Siskind into the upper realms of success and stardom. At very least, it leaves no doubt that she's so definitely deserving.