Kira Annalise - of The Waymores Talks Music, Hair, and Fashion | Instagram LIVE | Rugged Revival
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There's something refreshing about an artist who refuses to play the Nashville game. Kira Annalise of The Waymores—the Atlanta-based honky tonk Americana duo that's been praised by everyone from Vintage Guitar to the Austin Chronicle for keeping the old sound alive—doesn't fret about imitating anyone else. When asked about her fashion heroes, she's clear: she's her own person. It's that kind of authenticity that extends through every aspect of her artistry, from the music she makes with husband Willie Heath Neal to the very clothes she performs in.
The Waymores have earned their reputation as keepers of a genuine honky tonk flame while the rest of modern Nashville seems content with lip service to tradition. Vintage Guitar noted that "while 21st-century Nashville pays lip service to this timeless sound, the Waymores keep it alive." The Austin Chronicle went further, comparing them to June Carter and Johnny Cash—that bright and brash combination that made country music feel dangerous and alive. These aren't throwaway comparisons; they're acknowledgments that something real is happening when The Waymores take the stage.
I hate it every day. I hate it more, but thank you very much.
— Kira Annalise
What struck me most during a recent conversation with Kira was her thoughtfulness about every choice she makes—not out of pretension, but out of genuine care. When discussing her stage wardrobe, she didn't rattle off designer names for clout. Instead, she spoke passionately about Christy Dawn, a company that sources regenerative cotton from southern India, employs traditional farmers at fair wages, dyes fabrics with vegetables instead of synthetics, and works with LA designers who are similarly compensated. It's the kind of detail most artists wouldn't bother mentioning. For Kira, it matters enormously.
That ethical consciousness extends even to the dead stock fabric Christy Dawn rescues from the textile industry—the bolt ends and remnants that would otherwise warehouse away to nothing. She's not thrifting vintage because she's never had luck finding clothing that fits her frame, she explains matter-of-factly. That's not bitterness; it's just honesty. What she *does* do is wear pieces that align with her values. In an industry often obsessed with image, it's oddly rebellious.
I really care about where my clothes are coming from and it's more of a boho country style, I guess.
— Kira Annalise
Hair, it turns out, isn't where Kira gets precious. Through a transition from longer locks to something shorter, her approach is beautifully straightforward: arrowroot powder when she wants texture, heat styling tools when needed, and that's it. No elaborate routines, no sponsored product endorsements. The lack of pretension is almost jarring in an age where artists monetize every aspect of their personal maintenance. She's currently growing her hair out again—a process she admits to hating "every day," even as others tell her it looks great. It's that kind of self-aware, slightly self-deprecating honesty that makes her easy to root for.
There's a through-line connecting all of this: The Waymores succeed because they care about the substance beneath the surface. Kira's grandmother inspired her fashion sense early on, teaching her that good dressing isn't about following trends but about understanding what works. That lesson seems to have stuck. The music, the clothes, the way she carries herself—it all reflects someone who knows the difference between authenticity and performance, and chooses the former every time.
In an era where country music feels increasingly manufactured, where artists are expected to hit predetermined marks of marketability, The Waymores stand apart simply by being themselves. They don't need to reinvent honky tonk for the streaming age because they understand what made it matter in the first place. Kira Annalise represents that same ethos in every choice she makes, from the ethical brands she wears to her no-nonsense approach to beauty routines.
If you want to hear what genuine Americana sounds like in 2024—and meet the woman behind it—the full conversation is worth your time.
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