Zoe Speaks
Berea, KY | Established. Jan 01, 1996 | SELF
Music
Press
What's really uncanny about Zoe Speaks is the way they've made traditional songs their own and woven them into a presentation that's essentially contemporary and personal. They don't imitate old-time vocal timbres; they sing in natural, conversational voices, with every word crystal clear. - Ann Arbor Observer
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Zoe Speaks is a trio from the mountains of Kentucky with something to say, and a unique way of saying it. Mitch Barrett, Owen Reynolds, and Carla Gover are all respected musicians in their own rights on the Kentucky music scene, but their musical synergy when they play together prompts fans to use words like "magical" and "mighty"! Their music is rooted in the Appalachian sounds they grew up playing, but freely draws on a variety of rhythms and styles from smooth folk-pop to blues and calypso. (Think The Duhks or Tim O'Brien). In fact, they have more than an eclectic style in common with Tim O'Brien: collaboration with musician/producer Dirk Powell, with whom they recorded their most recent album Drop In The Bucket.
Known for both their originals and their unique spins on the mountain tunes that they cut their musical teeth on, their songs are socially conscious and spiritual, with themes ranging from the environment to family to addiction to interracial relationships, and populated by tricksters, angels, addicts, truck-stop waitresses, fools, mules, heroes, and werewolves. The band toured for a decade and appeared all over the United States before taking a hiatus to work on solo careers. Their fans were overjoyed to hear last year that they'd be reuniting, and their voices and songwriting chops are stronger than ever.
It also doesn't hurt that two members of the group are award-winning songwriters, with wins from Merlefest's Christ Austin Songwriting Contest (two times!), the Kerrville New Folk Award (two times!), The Telluride Troubador Contest, The Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriting Contest, and Kerrville's Music To Life Contest between them. Zoe Speaks has performed at the likes of Merlefest, The Kennedy Center, The Kerrville Folk Festival, and The Copenhagen Blues Festival, to name a few.
This is a band with big heart, and it radiates from their performances and recordings.
Zoe Speaks is currently in the studio working on their upcoming release "Wings", which will be their first studio release after re-uniting as a trio. It is being recorded in Morehead, KY by Kentucky string wizard Jesse Wells. (The Wooks, Kentucky Wild Horse, Clack Mountain String Band.) Once you hear their music, you'll come to love this trio from the heart of the Appalachians in whom mountain twang meets contemporary folk. It's fresh, awake, catchy, and steeped in rural sensibility!
Band Members
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