Brandy Clark and Allison Russell Named 2024 NYU-Americana Artists-in-Residence

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and NEW YORK (December 14, 2023) — New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and the Americana Music Foundation announced today that Brandy Clark and Allison Russell will serve as the 2024 NYU-Americana Artists-in-Residence.

In their role, the award-winning songwriters, singers, and multi-instrumentalists will present, curate, and moderate a variety of discussions, workshops, classroom visits, and performances.

A 17-time Grammy-nominee, Country Music Award (CMA) Award-winner, and Tony-nominee, Brandy Clark is one of her generation’s most esteemed songwriters and artists. In the midst of yet another landmark year, she released her widely acclaimed eponymous album this past Spring. Produced by nine-time Grammy-winner Brandi Carlile, the album features Clark's most personal songwriting to date and has landed on several "Best of 2023" lists. She is nominated for six Grammys at the upcoming 66th annual awards: Best Americana Album, Best Americana Performance (“Dear Insecurity” feat. Brandi Carlile), Best American Roots Song (“Dear Insecurity”), Best Country Song (“Buried”), Best Country Solo Performance (“Buried”), and Best Musical Theater Album (Shucked).

In addition to her work as a solo artist, Clark has written hit songs, such as “A Beautiful Noise,” the Grammy-nominated duet performed by Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys, and Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow.” With her longtime collaborator, Shane McAnally, she wrote the music and lyrics for the hit musical comedy, Shucked. Clark and McAnally received the Outstanding Music honor at the 67th Drama Desk Awards and Shucked was nominated for nine 2023 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

In a career of only a few years, Allison Russell has established herself as one of Americana’s most formidable talents. Her numerous accolades include eight GRAMMY nominations, the Americana Music Association’s Album of the Year and the Spirit of Americana / Free Speech in Music Awards, the Juno for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, two International Folk Music Awards, three Canadian Folk Music Awards, and four UK Americana Music Awards.

Her critically-acclaimed sophomore album, The Returner, is nominated in four categories of the 66th annual GRAMMY Awards. She continues to showcase her genre-fluid and rhythm-first expression of liberation, love, and self-respect, using her platform to elevate, educate, and inspire. Russell curated the history-making Once And Future Sounds: Roots and Revolution set for the 2021 Newport Folk Festival and mobilized this year's triumphant Love Rising All-Star benefit concert in support of LGBTQIA+ causes in Nashville. She has just announced a book deal with Flatiron/MacMillan for her debut novel, a memoir based on her life, and the material that inspired Outside Child and The Returner.

Clark and Russell's residencies follow those of Rosanne Cash, who served as the inaugural NYU-Americana A-I-R, and Taj Mahal, with special guest Leyla McCalla. They are part of the ongoing partnership between the Foundation and the University, designed to enhance the understanding of and appreciation for the origins, history, and cultural impact of Americana music. The collaboration, which began in 2021, is curated and produced by Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association and Foundation and NYU Steinhardt’s Director of Songwriting Phil Galdston.  

About the Americana Music Foundation (AMF):

The Americana Music Foundation (AMF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and charitable organization, was founded to preserve Americana music through education. The Foundation endeavors to strengthen understanding, awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, to shine a light on inspiration, and to promote the capacity and engagement of future creators. The foundation accomplishes this mission through educational programs, musical performances and public events. Throughout the year, its partnership with The Americana Music Foundation and NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development focuses on the preservation of past legacies and traditions that spotlight Americana music’s heritage, while also looking ahead to ensure the future of the community’s generations to come.