Leah Song (born Leah Smith) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumental musician, storyteller, poet, artist, and activist known for her role as one of the two frontsisters of Rising Appalachia — with younger sister Chloe Smith — incorporating sultry vocals, rhythm, banjo, guitar, ballads, dance, spoken-word and storytelling into her work.

[6] Her musical education was nurtured by her mother, who ensured that both sisters received classical and jazz piano training for most of their upbringing.

Banjo, fiddle and guitar came later, after the sisters had left home and moved to Asheville, North Carolina.

Determined to pursue an experiential form of education, at 19 Song moved to Mexico, where she became involved with the Zapatista movement.

I spent a lot of time in Southern Mexico studying the Zapatista Movement and learning about art as a tool for social justice.

[11] Asked about indigenous rights and cultural appropriation, in the same interview Song said, Yeah, totally.

The album was meant as a gift for family and friends but they received so much support and recognition for it that they decided to officially start a band called Rising Appalachia.

[17] During Rising Appalachia's Wider Circles[18] Rail Tour, the band travelled by Amtrak train.