Songwriters@Scup #32, w/Abigail Dowd, Acisse Jay, & Darren Ramey

Abigail Dowd didn’t just wander into music—she practically tumbled in, barefoot, with a guitar slung over her shoulder and a mystic line tracing back to where she came from before she got here. Raised in the heart of North Carolina, she grew up stargazing under longleaf pines, harmonizing with the wind, and figuring out how to turn all that wildness into melody. Her songs are like handwritten letters from an old friend—equal parts Southern grit and soulful tenderness, with a voice that feels like the love child of an Appalachian holler and a smoky jazz bar.

Acisse Jay (äkēsā jā) is a captivating rock/blues/Americana singer-songwriter from Norfolk, VA, known for her electrifying performances and soulful, genre-blending songwriting. She began to make waves with her debut EP, Experimental Phase EP, Vol. 1, in 2019. Praised by Guitar Girl Magazine for her “musical intelligence and nonconformist melodies,” she quickly attracted the attention of fans and critics alike.

In 2024, Acisse Jay founded Acisse Jay & the Gents, a band that went on to win the Triangle Blues Society’s Competition. This victory secured their spot to represent the Triangle at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, marking an exciting new chapter in her career.

In addition to her solo work and band leadership, she joined the Black Opry Revue in May 2024, a collective dedicated to supporting Black artists in Country, Americana, Blues, and Folk. This collaboration aligns with her mission to bring diverse voices to the forefront of the music scene.

In 2024, she recorded her second EP, Experimental Phase Vol. 2 - The Evolution of A Thang, live at Live At Ted’s in Wilmington, NC. This EP captures her artistic growth and live energy, promising fans yet another thrilling chapter in her musical journey.

Darren Ramey is an emerging singer-songwriter baby-stepping his way onto the local music scene. He delivers original compositions that are sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt but always tries to keep the story front and center.