And the Hi folks and welcome to episode 139 episode of Jaker on songwriting. This is Brian and Simon and

joining us today is a Grammy-winning American singer, multi-instrumentalist and

songwriter who first came to prominence as a founder member and lead singer of the Carolina chocolate drops before establishing herself as a solo artist to be reckoned with.

Her music blend Bluegrass, Gospel, Jazz, Blues and Country, a sound that's brought together by her extraordinarily powerful and versatile voice. and

sound that's brought together by her extraordinarily powerful and versatile voice

and some serious instrumental chops too.

She recently released her third solo album, There is No Other,

which features a collaboration with the brilliant musician Francesco Terrizzi,

which is yet another marvelous showcase for her talents.

We are honored to welcome the phenomenal Riannan Giddens to the show.

Yet Riannan is a truly stunning talent and it was great to get a chance to speak to her on the Eve of a new album's release

and get some insight into a style of music we've hit the two not really covered on the show.

Rianan was born in 1977 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

She's an alumna of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and

and studied opera at Oberlin Conservatory, graduating in 2000. Upon returning home she was introduced to the banjo

via the Appalachian folk music tradition known as Contra Dance Music. She met Dom Flemons and

Soule Greg Wilson in Boone, North Carolina in 2005 and the three co-founded the

Carolina Chocolate Drops mentored by a legendary fiddlet Joe Thompson. The group was dedicated to the

String Band music of the 20s and 30s and won a Grammy for best traditional

folk album in 2011 for their third record genuine Negro jig.

Rianum began to gain recognition as a solo artist when she performed at the 2013 T-bone Burnett produced Another Day Another Time concert in New York.

The following year she contributed to another Burnett project, Lost on the River, composing music for some newly discovered Bob Dylan lyrics

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