Amythyst Kiah Shares “Silk And Petals,” A Gothic Love Song Inspired By ‘The Haunting Of Bly Manor’

Today (9.27), GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah shares “Silk andPetals (feat. Butch Walker).” The gothic love song is inspired by Kiah’s viewing of the supernatural horror drama, The Haunting of Bly Manor. Walker – who is also the producer of her upcoming album, Still + Bright, and known for his work with Taylor Swift, Green Day and Weezer, to name a few – adds his harmonies to Kiah’s haunting vocals to complete the track’s euphoric groove. 

“‘Silk and Petals’ was inspired by the story of the Lady in the Lake, the ghost of a woman named Viola Lloyd,” Kiah explains. “I wrote ‘Silk and Petals’ thinking about the idea of ghosts being unable to leave this realm because they’re hanging onto something they’ve lost, and the song came from being so intrigued by that very intimate intermingling of love and death.”

Listen + pre-save Still + Bright here

“Silk and Petals” is Kiah’s final preview of her upcoming album, Still + Bright, which Rolling Stone praised “is poised to be a major moment for the east Tennessee-raised singer-songwriter." Coming October 25th via Rounder Records, the 12-track album explores the vast expanse of her inner world and interests: her deep-rooted affinity for Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions, a near-mystical connection with the natural environment, the life lessons learned in her formative years, and much more. Featuring collaborations with S.G. Goodman, Billy Strings and Avi Kaplan (Pentatonix), the project also marks a complete transformation in Kiah’s songwriting process: her first time opening up her approach and working with co-writers on an album. The album features co-writes with punk legend Tim Armstrong, Sadler Vaden (guitarist/vocalist for Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit) and Sean McConnell (Brittney Spencer, Bethany Cosentino). 

New York Times hailed one of the album’s preview tracks — "I Will Not Go Down (feat. Billy Strings)" — “a fierce, foot-stomping song laced with backup vocals and bluegrass virtuosity... the song’s stark declarations arrive fully armored in musicianship” while Billboard praised it a “powerful declaration of self-preservation and fortitude.” 

Last week, Walker made a surprise appearance at Kiah’s official AmericanaFest showcase at the Mainstage at Cannery Hall to perform “Silk and Petals” (photo below). The showcase capped Kiah’s busy AmericanaFest week that included presenting the award for “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the 2024 Americana Music Honors & Awards show, speaking in a panel alongside Mary Gauthier, Marcus K. Dowling (The Tennessean), Stephanie Hudacek (Rounder Records) and Jed Hilly (Americana Music Association), and playing The Lone Bellow’s secret show at Brown’s Diner. See her upcoming tour dates below. 

Still + Bright Track List:

1. Play God and Destroy the World (feat. S.G. Goodman) (Amythyst Kiah, Sadler Vaden)

2. S P A C E (Kiah)

3. Empire of Love (Kiah, Sean McConnell)

4. I Will Not Go Down (feat. Billy Strings) (Kiah, Butch Walker)

5. Silk and Petals (feat. Butch Walker) (Kiah)

6. Die Slowly Without Complaint (feat. Avi Kaplan) (Kiah, Jeremy Lutito, Avi Kaplan)

7. Gods Under the Mountain (Kiah, McConnell)

8. Dead Stars (Kiah)

9. Dark Matter (Kiah)

10. Let’s See Ourselves Out (Kiah)

11. Never Alone (Kiah, Walker)

12. People’s Prayer (Kiah, Tim Armstrong)