BIO
Ziona Riley is a self-taught fingerstyle guitarist, folk singer, and songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Originally hailing from Bloomington, Ind., Riley has seamlessly woven herself into Nashville’s vibrant folk scene. With an uncanny ability to transform noisy dive bars into hushed listening rooms, Riley’s performances are a testament to her magnetic stage presence. Her articulate, clever songs often unfold like short stories, rich with unassuming wisdom and youthful melancholy.
Though an artist in her own right, some have drawn comparisons to chamber folk icons like Vashti Bunyan and Nick Drake, as well as the offbeat charm of Connie Converse and Dory Previn. These comparisons, however, only scratch the surface of Riley’s distinctive sound.
A frequent “Critic’s Pick” in the Nashville Scene, Riley has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Josephine Foster, Lilly Hiatt, S.G. Goodman, and Darren Hanlon. Her extensive touring includes multiple DIY tours across the US and Canada, where she has performed alongside Bill Callahan, Little Mazarn, John Kiran Fernandes, and Jeff Crompton.
In 2019, the Nashville Scene recognized Riley’s self-released EP “Not Too Precious” as one of the best local releases, praising it as “…a short collection of deeply thoughtful, impactful songs about family and contemporary society.” Working with cellist and arranger Austin Hoke, whose credits include giants like Dolly Parton and Burt Bacharach, Riley will release her first full-length album, Ten New Pens, in 2026.
PRESS
“…delicate and precise acoustic folk.”
— Charlie Zaillian, Nashville Scene
“The softest, prettiest punk rock I’ve ever heard.”
— Bebe McQueen, Third Man Records’ Rock for Roe (via Nashville Scene*)*
“Rock for Roe Livestream From Third Man Gives Abortion Rights a Signal Boost | The Spin | nashvillescene.c
“Because she seems alive to the nuances of perception, she is an exemplary singer-songwriter.”
— Edd Hurt, Nashville Scene
Ziona Riley Explores the Intersection of Art and Commercialism | Features | nashvillescene.com
“Her lyrics are inventive, perceptive and economical… Her voice is gentle but powerful, and her fingerpicking is understated. The audience chatter fell to a whisper when she started.”
— Stephen Trageser, Nashville Scene
Evan P. Donohue, Supermelt and Ziona Riley at The 5 Spot | nashvillescene.com
INTERVIEWS:
Radio Interview: Folly of Tomato: Live In-Studio Performance by Nashville Songwriter Ziona Riley | HPPR
“…soft-spoken, poetry-driven folk music, sung from the heart with enchantingly spare
compositions…”– Jenny Inzerillo
Written Interview: The Ziona Riley Interview | The Self Portrait Gospel
“…you can’t miss something if you don’t know it exists and I never felt deprived of
modern secular music as a little kid.”– Ziona Riley (on her restrictive religious
upbringing