With a yodeling akin to Hank Williams, mandolinist Jennifer Brumlow howls to the heavens with a voice as haunting as it is poignant. Alongside her is guitarist Callie Harmon, who provides wave after wave of acoustic finger pickin’. 

Smoky Mountain News: What do you like most about playing the Americana-roots genre? 

Jennifer Brumlow: The truth in the music, honesty in the writing, and the less is more approach in performing. 

SMN: What’s the key to creating a great song? 

JB: Honestly, there’s no real rhyme or reason to writing a song. It hits at random moments and you have to sit down and grab it. A song is never completely done. We’ve had songs that have already gone through three lives in only two years. We just share what we have and if it evolves into something else we share that version as well. 

SMN: How does the vast and ancient landscape of Southern Appalachia affect the sound?

JB: It’s hard to not be influence by old country, bluegrass and folk music growing up in Tennessee and North Georgia. It’s bound to rub off on you at some point. 

www.facebook.com/ryebabymusic.

— Garret K. Woodward, staff writer