Cheyenne Marie Mize has a voice like coming home: cozy and inviting, yet wistfully nostalgic.
The Louisville-based songwriter released her latest EP, We Don’t Need, in January, showcasing a more expansive and aggressive side of her songwriting (Mize’s 2010 debut, Before Lately, was rooted in delicate folk). The six-song effort finds the classically trianed violinist embracing a range of influences, from the percussive, soul-inspired “Wishing Well” to the bouncy, piano-driven blues of “Going Under.” But even the ferocious drums, gritty riffs and fuzzy organs of “Keep It” and “It Lingers” aren’t enough to muddy the nostalgia-inducing voice that Daytrotter described as “a tone that allows you to stretch your head back to that last great and true love that you experienced — the best form of it that ever came your way — and feel as if it never left.” Luckily, the singer’s penetrating vocals remain the constant in her stylistic experiments.
Photos by Meagan Jordan
Mize first gained national attention performing with fellow Louisville native Bonnie “Prince” Billy (aka Will Oldham), lending her soothing vocals to Oldham’s Among the Gold, a modern take on 19th century American parlor music. That same year, the multi-talented instrumentalist joined forces with another Kentuckian, Ben Sollee, for the cellist’s Dear Companion tour with Daniel Martin Moore. But Mize’s outstanding songwriting quickly caught the attention of outlets ranging from The New York Times to NPR, rightfully overshadowing the collaborations and earning her a deal with Yep Roc Records.
Tonight, Mize visits Asheville for a performance with Donora and Dirty Bourbon River Show at One Stop Deli and Bar.
10 p.m. $5.
