Rhiannon Giddens' New Album Celebrates Community and Carolina Roots
The folk singer's latest record is a homecoming, anchoring her wide-ranging explorations in the traditional string-band music of North Carolina. Recorded live in the studio, it features collaborators from across her career, including former Carolina Chocolate Drops member Justin Robinson. The album balances ragged, live energy with clean production, blending original songs with folk standards.
The album was cut live in the studio, a choice that preserves spontaneous moments like the chatter preceding a raucous take on the folk standard "Old Cluck Hen." Giddens balances original songs written with longtime collaborator Dirk Powell against interpretations of North Carolina-associated material, including Elizabeth Cotten's "Freight Train" and Ola Belle Reed's "High on a Mountain," both reworked with fresh rhythmic approaches.
Giddens' reunion with Justin Robinson follows their 2025 joint record, which revived the impassioned traditionalism of their Carolina Chocolate Drops days. The new album also features a duet with her sister Lalenja Harrington on the gospel standard "Walk with Me," while "Wish in Vain" directly addresses the modern refugee crisis, connecting contemporary concerns to the album's broader themes of resilience and shared human experience.
This release could reinforce the cultural visibility of Appalachian and Piedmont string-band traditions, potentially introducing younger audiences to regional folk forms through Giddens' established platform. Her blending of traditional material with contemporary social themes may also model how roots music can remain relevant to current conversations, affecting how listeners and programmers approach folk music's place in modern discourse.