Photo Credit: Sam Wiseman

Two-time Grammy-nominated and International Bluegrass Music Association-winning artist Sierra Hull has premiered her new roots-focused take on the Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy River” exclusively with Relix. The official release lands two years after the multi-instrumentalist unveiled her rendition of the Dead’s 1987 In the Dark track on the Live From Relix Studio YouTube series. Listen to “Black Muddy River” below. 

For Hull’s interpretation, “Black Muddy River” finds a home in the roots ether, percolating an underlining current of the folk tradition while flexing her puissant bluegrass-lean. Performed at a gentler pace than the Dead’s original, the song channels the essence of a lullaby, swaddling the listener in acoustic instrumentals that marry the songbird’s heartfelt, introspective take on the Robert Hunter-penned lyrics, harmoniously dispatched in retro-spirit.

‘“Black Muddy River’ is the first song that really made me stop and truly appreciate the music of the Grateful Dead,” Hull imparted. “There are so many Dead songs that folks cover and you kind of come to know a lot of them without even trying to some degree, but this beautiful song really made me pause and want to learn and sing it myself. It then led me to listen to the studio albums and explore and appreciate their music on a whole new level.”

Reflecting on her history with the perspective-inducing cover, Hull told Relix, “The first time my band and I ever played ‘Black Muddy River’ was two years ago on a Relix session in NYC and it quickly become one we kept it rotation after that in the live show. It feels so full circle to now be releasing a studio version. This is truly the song that made me a Grateful Dead fan! I never get tired of singing or playing it.”

Scroll down to listen to Hull’s cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy River.” For tour information and more, visit www.sierrahull.com/tour.