Sami Braman - Riveter (2023)

From the blazing hot bow of Sami Braman comes 'Riveter', the debut solo record of original fiddle tunes, inventively written and masterfully performed by the traditional roots wunderkind. Known from her work with longtime Pacific Northwest string band, The Onlies, and as a member of Willie Watson's band, here Braman celebrates the fiddle with a playful journey over the course of ten tracks that draws upon traditions from Appalachia to Ireland, Cape Breton to Norway, and beyond. Aptly named for the myriad fiddling styles Braman nimbly rivets together, 'Riveter' pulses with an old-time groove throughout and Braman's sheer joy in playing her instrument rolls off it all in waves. Within a musical tradition where fully original works are the exception, Braman sets herself apart and her compositional chops are undeniable. Listening to "Train in the Wilderness" one can almost glimpse a steam train just as it rounds a bend somewhere deep in the Appalachian Mountains, while "Rogue River'' evokes the image of surging whitewater carving its way through a lush Pacific Northwest forest. Yet 'Riveter' is not your ordinary old-time fare: Across the record Braman experiments with unconventional fiddling textures and rhythms that anything less than a virtuoso would fall short of pulling off. She excels in these moments, and in doing so, pushes us to imagine what traditionally-inspired folk music can be.