Not far from the tiny town of Floyd, Virginia, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, is the childhood home of The Wildmans. The sibling duo are currently navigating the release of their debut album, Longtime Friend, for New West Records. And today truly feels like a full circle moment.
“It’s surreal. It’s weird,” says Elisha Wildman. “We’re really excited for something to happen, to share our original music. And this feels like a really great jumping point.”
Alongside his sister, Aila, the Americana/indie-folk act have been garnering a lot of attention in recent years, with Longtime Friend showcasing their interlacing harmonies and musical virtuosity, the sound itself at the sonic crossroads of Americana, alt-country and folk.
Growing up in Floyd, Aila and Elisha were immersed in the rich, vibrant bluegrass and old-time music scenes. As kids, Elisha picked up the guitar and mandolin, while Aila reached for the fiddle. They became enamored with their instruments, which parlayed itself into both winning numerous renowned competitions around Southern Appalachia.
“Floyd holds an important place in our hearts and in our music,” Aila says. “It also has been pretty natural to have all of this happen while we’re here.”
