The I Word

Genetically-overlapping Appalachian bluegrass group ‘Drawl in the Family’ is fighting back against discrimination in the industry

Din din dang twang thwang dang bwang dang twang.

One of film history’s most recognizable melodies. But does the ‘duelling banjos’ scene from the 1972 film Deliverance reveal something much darker about our society than anything in the film itself? Bandmates, siblings, and parents-to-be Llewelyn and LouAnne Mooneschein are fed up.

“It’s a symbol of hate, yet firmly established in the zeitgeist. Imagine if D.W. Griffith’s magnum opus, Birth of Nation, was treated as though it were a relevant piece of art in our modern world.” relayed LouAnne, through a translator (hereditary jaw conditions have rendered the pair’s speech practically unintelligible).

Drawl in the Family exploded onto the country music scene last year with the soulful ballad “Same Womb, Same Tomb”. But, as is the case for so many artists from marginalized communities, the path to success is laden with roadblocks.

“They see us, the rest of the family...the fact that my hand is a foot. Then it’s in**** this, in**** that. They make up their minds about who we are before we even open our mouths (sic).”

So, who really is Drawl in the Family? We at Rake wanted to hear directly from the source.

“We’re a family that likes to fuck each other.”

Stream Drawl in the Family exclusively on Apple Music.