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| The duo Zoe Speaks consists of Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover, who jump in and out of their east Kentucky vernacular to play everything from traditional ballads to guitar-thumping contemporary acoustic tunes. Their music is drenched in the sounds of the Appalachian music they were raised with, but they draw from other influences and do not try to hold the music static and unchanging. Whether they're playing as a duo or jamming with the band, vocal harmonies are a defining feature of their sound. Their relaxed performance style and accessible attitude allow audiences to feel as if they are getting to know Mitch and Carla. They accompany themselves on guitar, clawhammer banjo, and dulcimer. Sometimes Mitch throws in a story, or Carla some clogging. The two have won a variety of songwriting awards and tour full-time in a large van with their two daughters, Zoe and Maizie. |
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| Mitch
grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians in Madison County, KY. He
spent much of his childhood divided between his grandfathers' houses,
one a fox hunter and tobacco farmer who plowed with mules and the other
a musician and farmer, of sorts (he grew corn with which he made moonshine).
In the course of learning his grandfathers' trades, there was much time
for stories, jokes, and especially music. Mitch demonstrated musical talent
from an early age, and performed with his mother in a regionally sought-after
mountain duo.
At age 17, he set out for the east coast as part of the folk duo Mandala, with whom he played for over 10 years. After moving back to Kentucky , he began to hone his storytelling skills, drawing on the life stories and experiences rare among his generation and those following. In 1996 he met Carla Gover and decided to refocus on his music career as part of a duo based on songwriting, vocal harmony, and perpetuating Appalachian culture. Since then, he has won both the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award.
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Growing up in the rural Eastern Kentucky coal town of Whitesburg, Carla's early years were filled with music. She was first immersed in the a capella hymn-singing of her grandmother, Ollie Gilbert Hudson (who also taught her herbalism, cooking, sewing, quilting, gardening, and many other things she considered to be important to her education). Later she absorbed the old time banjo/fiddle at the dances on Saturday nights at the schoolhouse, the twang of local bluegrass festivals, and the soul of mountain church music. Her older brother also made a point of exposing her to great songwriters and singers of many genres, including the Beatles, Steve Goodman, John Prine, Tom Waits, and Dolly Parton. It was always clear to her that she wanted to pursue a career in music. As a youth she played piano, guitar, saxophone and French Horn. In college, Carla studied music while earning a degree in Appalachian Studies and singing in local clubs. Shortly thereafter she recorded her first album for JuneAppal Records with a mixed cast of bluegrass and old-time musicians. She then moved to the Washington, D.C. area where she performed with the percussive dance ensemble Footworks. She returned to Kentucky out of homesickness, and a desire to explore a new direction as a singer/songwriter with husband Mitch. She has won the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, and Acoustic Guitar called her "one of the 30 essential artists of the next generation". |
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