Pulitzer and Grammy-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens’ new album Hope is the Thing with Feathers was inspired by the beauty of people coming together and drawing strength from each other. It was intentionally recorded live with no frills and few overdubs, just pure and essential music that captures the feeling of community, clarity, as well as the joy and power of creating together. From exploring the lineages that make American music to the communityoriented spirit in which it was conceived and recorded, in many ways the album tells the story of the last 20 years of Giddens’ life.