Amythyst Kiah’s Still + Bright shines with spiritual depth and raw power while reflecting on love, spirituality, and self-discovery. Guests include Billy Strings, S.G. Goodman, and Butch Walker.
Amythyst Kiah’s third album, Still + Bright, is another strong step forward, blending her rootsy alt-rock sound with spiritual exploration and a cinematic intensity. Produced by Butch Walker and recorded in Nashville, the album goes deep into Kiah’s personal world, from her connection to Eastern philosophies and nature to her formative years as an "anime-nerd mall goth." It’s a sweeping and transformative project that builds on the promise of her 2021 breakthrough Wary + Strange, which earned her a place on Rolling Stone’s Best Country and Americana Albums list.
Where Wary + Strange was a cathartic release of grief and trauma, Still + Bright finds Kiah tapping into joy, confidence, and a newfound sense of freedom. “On the last record, it felt cathartic to write about all the pain I was dealing with,” she says. “But this time, the songs came from a place of finding joy in the music.” You can feel the shift, with Kiah confidently embracing themes and ideas she once kept hidden, now surfacing in songs that feel sparkling, daring, and deeply personal.
Opening with the stormy grandeur of “Play God And Destroy The World,” the album immediately grabs your attention. With guest vocals from fellow Southern artist S.G. Goodman, the track is a coming-of-age anthem that reflects Kiah’s critique of the hypocrisies she encountered growing up in the conservative South. There’s a real rebellious energy here, set against a backdrop of fuzzed-out guitars and industrial beats, showing Kiah’s desire to break away from the constraints of her past.
On “S P A C E,” she explores the anxiety she felt during the pandemic and the solace she found in quiet moments and meditation. The soulful track, featuring mandolin and fiddle, reveals her growing strength as a singer, as she pushes her voice into new territory and embraces a gospel-style power that soars through the song with grace and intensity. Another standout, “Empire of Love,” serves as a personal manifesto of sorts, with its brooding guitar riffs and poetic lyrics that express her spiritual journey. Co-written with Sean McConnell, the song speaks to her belief in building a life based on compassion and connection to the natural world. It’s a deeply personal exploration of faith and humanity, grounded in her own experiences in Appalachia and beyond.