Leyla McCalla is a Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Best known for her work in the Carolina Chocolate Drop, she is an influential exponent of American roots music and has released several solo albums; her songs explore her Haitian American heritage and diasporic identity. She plays the banjo, cello, guitar, and percussive instruments. She received critical acclaim for her solo recordings, including a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album for her 2018 album “The Capitalist Blues”. Recently she has been working in collaboration with composer Joshua Abrams exploring music from the African diaspora. Her music is a blend of traditional and contemporary folk and jazz, with touches of classical, blues, and country.