The Song Catchers Guide To Finding Your Audience (Interview with Rising Appalachia)

This Business Of Music & Poetry Podcast

In this episode, Cliff Brooks and Michael Amidei interview Leah Song and Chole Smith of Rising Appalachia.

Rising Appalachia (www.RisingAppalachia.com)

Founded by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, Rising Appalachia has established an international fan base due to relentless touring, tireless activism, and no small degree of stubborn independence. The band has built its legion of listeners independently -- a self-made success story that has led to major festival appearances and sold-out shows at venues across the country.

Leah and Chloe grew up in urban Atlanta as the city’s hip hop scene began to flourish. They absorbed those rhythms through the music they heard at school, then traveled with their family to fiddle camps all across the Southeast on the weekends.

Now years later, Rising Appalachia has toured British Columbia by sailboat, traversed the U.S. and Europe by train, and engaged in immersive cultural exchange programs in Bulgaria, Ireland, Southern Italy, Central and South America – and has traveled countless miles in a van.

In this episode, Cliff Brooks and I dive into their origins, their creative process, and how they merge authentic creativity and a strong sense of business.

Without any further ado, here is our interview with Rising Appalachia.