In the mood for some soul-stirring songwriting from West Virginia? Gothic americana songstress Cashavelly Morrison shows raw emotion as she traverses through haunting memories of her childhood in the south in her forthcoming LP, The Kingdom Belongs to a Child.

Morrison grew up in a coal-mining town in West Virginia. She began her life in performance at the age of 3 as a ballet dancer, which continued for the next two decades until she broke her spine. Yet it was not until moving to North Carolina that she was introduced to the rich musical traditions of West Virginia and the surrounding region. Her unguarded approach flows in the same southern vein as the work of Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, and Neko Case with significance placed on the lyrics supported by a crafted musical fabric.

Morrison’s relationship with making music is intuitive with no formal training besides what she learned through internalizing the classical music to which she once danced. Her fondness for journal-writing began at age 13 and led to her English and Creative Writing majors. She met her husband while he was earning his bachelor’s degree in classical guitar performance and the two bonded over their love of authentic folk songs.

“Pink Dress” by Cashavelly Morrison