Rhiannon Giddens is one of the most vital and visionary artists in American music today. A North Carolina native and Pulitzer Prize winner, she blends folk, blues, gospel, and classical traditions into a bold, deeply personal body of work. Whether illuminating the life of Omar Ibn Said in her groundbreaking opera Omar or reviving African American string band music with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Giddens turns history into song with unmatched grace. Her voice is not only a powerful instrument—it’s a bridge between past and present, reclaiming the stories America must remember.
Rhiannon Giddens has captivated the world with her musical prowess, blending a rich tapestry of folk, blues, and historical storytelling through her extraordinary voice and banjo playing. Giddens, a North Carolina native, has built a career that highlights not only her own talents but also the untold stories of others, often using music to explore the African American experience. Her work has spanned from intimate collaborations to grand performances on the world stage, earning her widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize.
Giddens’ journey into the limelight began in earnest with her work as a founding member of the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, a group dedicated to reviving the legacy of African American string band music. Her deep commitment to this mission has remained steadfast throughout her career. Whether performing solo or collaborating with other artists, Giddens brings an authentic voice that resonates with historical significance and contemporary relevance. Her ability to connect past and present through music is a rare gift, one that has only deepened with time.
One of Giddens’ most notable achievements is her recent Pulitzer Prize for the opera Omar, which tells the story of Omar Ibn Said, an enslaved man from Senegal who was trafficked to South Carolina. This opera, which premiered at the Spoleto Festival USA, is particularly poignant as it debuted just blocks away from where Said was originally sold. The narrative of Omar is drawn from Said’s own writings, the only known surviving slave narrative written in Arabic, and it represents a powerful exploration of identity, resilience, and the African American experience.
Giddens’ ability to bring historical narratives to life is further exemplified by her work exploring the life and legacy of Wilmington musician Frank Johnson. Johnson’s story, and his influence on Giddens, are a testament to the rich cultural history of the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The tragic events of the 1898 Wilmington massacre, which violently disrupted a thriving African American community, have left a lingering shadow over the region’s history. Giddens’ dedication to unearthing these stories is an act of cultural reclamation, restoring the voices of those who were silenced by history.
Giddens’ talents caught the attention of T Bone Burnett, leading to her participation in the Coen brothers’ promotional concert for Inside Llewyn Davis. Burnett, recognizing Giddens’ unique ability to interpret classic American songs, offered to produce her on the spot. Their collaboration led to an album that beautifully showcases Giddens’ vocal range and interpretive skill, featuring songs like Patsy Cline’s “She’s Got You” and Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Up Above My Head.” Supported by a stellar ensemble that includes legendary percussionist Jack Ashford and Nashville bassist Dennis Crouch, Giddens shines as the focal point, proving herself to be an artist of incredible depth and versatility.
As Giddens continues to explore new artistic avenues, including her upcoming musical ventures, she remains a vital figure in the landscape of American music. Her commitment to using music as a vehicle for storytelling and historical reflection not only enriches our understanding of the past but also invites us to engage more deeply with the present. Rhiannon Giddens stands as a powerful voice for both her artistry and her advocacy, ensuring that the stories of those who came before are not forgotten but celebrated.
Rhiannon Giddens You're The One CD
Rhiannon Giddens ’You’re the One” is the GRAMMY, MacArthur and Pulitzer-winning singer, composer, and instrumentalist’s third solo studio album and her first of all original songs; her last solo album was 2017’s critically acclaimedFreedom Highway. This collection of 12 songs written over the course of Giddens’ career bursts with life-affirming energy, drawing from the folk music that she knows so deeply, as well as its pop descendants. The album was produced by Jack Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Alicia Keys, Valerie June, Tank and the Bangas) and recorded at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami with a band composed of Giddens’s closest musical collaborators from the past decade alongside musicians from Splash’s own Rolodex, topped off with a horn section, making an impressive ten- to twelve-person ensemble.Giddens madeYou’re the Onewith some of her closest musical collaborators from the past decade, including her partner, Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi, plus multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell, bassist Jason Sypher, and Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu. The album features electric and upright bass, conga, Cajun and Piano accordions, guitars, a Western string section, and Miami horns, among other instruments, capturing the inclusive spirit that channels through all of her work.”I hope that people just hearAmericanmusic,” Giddens says. “Blues, jazz, Cajun, country, gospel, and rock—it’s all there. I like to be where it meets organically. They’re fun songs, and I wanted them to have as much of a chance as they could to reach people who might dig them but don’t know anything about what I do. If they’re introduced to me through this record, they might go listen to other music I’ve made and make some new discoveries.”You’re the Oneopens with “Too Little, Too Late, Too Bad,” an R&B blast (complete with background “shoops” and horns) that takes a titan for inspiration. “I listened to a bunch of Aretha Franklin, and then turned to fellow Aretha-nut Dirk Powell and said, ‘Let’s write a song she might have sung!'” Giddens recalls. Her danceable, vivacious tribute to Franklin’s sound is a vocal showcase, spotlighting her soaring high notes and nearly-growling low ones. Another highlight, “If You Don’t Know How Sweet It Is,” intentionally puts an edgier spin on the sass of Dolly Parton’s early work.One of the album’s most powerful moments is “Another Wasted Life,” inspired by the tragic story of Kalief Browder, who was incarcerated on Rikers Island for three years without trial. The lone featured guest on the album is Jason Isbell on “Yet to Be,” the story of a Black woman and an Irish man falling in love in America.
“I hope that people just hear American music,” says Giddens. “Blues, jazz, Cajun, country, gospel, and rock—it’s all there. I like to be where it meets organically. They’re fun songs, and I wanted them to have as much of a chance as they could to reach people who might dig them but don’t know anything about what I do. If they’re introduced to me through this record, they might go listen to other music I’ve made and make some new discoveries.”
“Is there anything Rhiannon Giddens can’t sing?…[she] sings with inflections that bridge mountains and deserts.”
— The New York Times
“The electrifying singer and banjo player gives fresh voice to old American traditions.”
— Smithsonian Magazine
“For nearly a decade, Giddens has been heralded as a luminary in the world of Americana, and for some time, she was one of the few African-American faces represented.”
— American Songwriter
Rhiannon Giddens – You’re the One (Lyric Video)
Rhiannon Giddens’ “You’re the One,” the title track to the new album, is due August 18 on Nonesuch Records.
YOU’RE THE ONE
(Rhiannon Giddens/Lalenja Harrington)
I knew you were the one.
Were my one and only
And I knew
That you would always know me
Cause you were the one
Who kept me from feeling
So sad and lonely in my life and
I never knew
Life could be so wonderful
That there could be someone
Who was so beautiful
And I never knew
That I could be so free
To love someone like you and
I wanna love you forever
And I’ll be with you
For worse and for better
And I never thought I’d fall
But you’re the one
I thought my life was drawn
In shades of gray and
That was how
I would live my everyday and
Aimless no direction found
My destiny was going through the motions of a life and
Then you came along
With your sweet sweet smile and
Then you put your cheek
Right next to mine and
All those shades of gray slowly turned into a
New technicolor world and
I’m gonna love you forever
And I’ll be with you
For worse and for better
And I never thought I’d fall
And I’m gonna love you forever and
I’ll be with you for worse and for better
And I never thought I’d fall
But you’re the one
You’re the one
Your smile contains the sun
Rays of glory
You’re the one
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Rhiannon Giddens: “You’re the One”
Rhiannon Giddens shares a lyric video for the title track to her 2023 album; You’re the One. The song was inspired by a moment Giddens had with her son not long after he was born (he’s now ten years old, and she has a fourteen-year-old daughter as well). “Your life has changed forever, and you don’t know it until you’re in the middle of it, and it hits you,” Giddens says. “I held his little cheek up to my face and was just reminded, ‘Oh my God, my children—they have every bit of my heart.’”
Uncovering the History of the Banjo with Rhiannon Giddens: From African Roots to American Music
Join renowned musician Rhiannon Giddens as she delves into the fascinating and complex history of the banjo. With her signature blend of musical expertise and historical insight, Giddens explores the African roots of the instrument, tracing its evolution through the centuries to its role in contemporary American music.
Through her engaging storytelling and masterful playing, Giddens reveals the banjo’s rich cultural heritage, highlighting the instrument’s significance as both a symbol of oppression and a source of empowerment. She draws on a wealth of historical research and personal experience to offer a thought-provoking exploration of the banjo’s complex legacy, shedding light on the ways in which music can serve as a powerful tool for resistance, resilience, and transformation.
Whether you’re a music lover, a history buff, or simply curious about the banjo’s fascinating past and present, this video is not to be missed. Join Rhiannon Giddens as she takes us on a journey through the vibrant and multifaceted history of this iconic instrument, and discover the enduring power of music to inspire, challenge, and unite us all.
🎶 More Voices, Same Soil
Rhiannon Giddens reminds us that roots music is not just heritage—it’s a heartbeat. If her artistry stirred something in you, explore these other kindred stories where tradition meets revolution:
- 🌊 Amber Bain: The Japanese House Opens Wide – A pop dream built on emotional architecture and vocal depth.
- 🎷 Eric Dolphy’s *Out to Lunch* – The avant-garde jazz reckoning that still dares us to listen differently.
- 🎸 Bonnie Raitt: Runaway Now – Blues roots, rebel spirit, and a slide guitar that sings through generations.
- 🪕 No Better Blues from Prof. Wynton Marsalis – A masterclass in storytelling through trumpet and tradition.
Let the music carry you—because roots don’t end, they entwine.