Crys Matthews, a Nashville-based troubadour of truth, is a standout voice in the new wave of social justice music-makers. Blending Country, Americana, Folk, Blues, and Bluegrass, she delivers powerful performances rooted in tradition and driven by honest, original lyrics. Matthews has earned praise for her ability to weave socially conscious themes with warmth and strength—"lifting spirits just when we need it most," says ASCAP’s Eric Philbrook.

Her latest album, Reclamation, was inspired by a question posed at Folk Alliance International: “What is your tradition?” For Matthews—a North Carolina native and self-proclaimed poster child of intersectionality—the album is a deeply personal reflection on identity, heritage, and purpose. It's a musical journey that amplifies unheard voices and affirms love and hope as pathways to justice.

Produced by Levi Lowry and recorded in Nashville, Reclamation features artists like Heather Mae, Kyshona, and Melody Walker, alongside top-tier musicians. As a preacher’s kid, a Black woman, a Butch lesbian, and a proud Southerner, Matthews uses her platform to reclaim space—for herself, for others, and for the South that shaped her.


Heather Mae isn’t just writing songs—she’s writing revolutions. A Nashville-based, award-winning artist-activist, Mae blends alt-rock grit, indie-pop hooks, and folk storytelling to create anthems of mental health, queer liberation, and radical joy. Her powerful live shows—part concert, part communal catharsis—are often described as “church without the religious trauma,” transforming any room into a space of healing and belonging.

In 2025, Mae will release WHAT THEY HID FROM ME (alternative) and kiss & tell (pop)—a genre-defying double album created entirely by women and nonbinary collaborators. Together, these records form a bold concept project: part reckoning, part rebellion. WHAT THEY HID FROM ME is a raw, unflinching rallying cry for those reclaiming their truth—exploring themes of religious trauma, survival, and identity. kiss & tell is its glittering counterpart: a celebration of queer joy, sensuality, and the freedom of living unapologetically.

Named Artist-Activist of the Year by the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance and winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase, Mae isn’t just imagining the future of social justice music—she’s leading it. Her work is defiant, hopeful, and utterly unignorable.