OUR STORY
Bio
Cypress is a modern folk trio which combines the group's Appalachian roots with numerous modern genres and a uniquely synergetic instrumentation. Made up of three friends who met while studying at Marshall University in West Virginia, the trio presents a unique musical experience that combines the impact of lyrical songwriting with virtuosic talent from all three members. The trio now lives in Nashville, Tennessee where they continue to perform live and are in the process of developing their second album.
The band is vocally led by songwriter couple Zac and Cierra Doss, who are also the primary songwriters. The idiosyncrasies of marriage can be viscerally felt when the two perform, as their individual styles can be heard protruding between moments of intricate harmony. Steven Schumann rounds out the trio playing cello in his unique style, blending the feel of fiddle and blues with the unique timbre of classical cello.
Cypress' debut album titled Firstfruits was released on April 27th, 2021, marking the band's first full-length project. Following the production of this album, Cypress relocated to Nashville, where they now live and expand their musical horizons.
MEET THE 'MATES
Zac Doss
-Vocals, Guitar, longest hair in the band
Zac Doss is a lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Cypress. Zac's style is reminiscent of many singer-songwriters such as Vance Joy, and Ed Sheeran, while adding his own unique twist which adds a blend of religious imagery and impressive vocal abilitiy. Zac combines his literary songwriting with his love of Celtic Folk to create a truly unique blend of musical colors. A feature sound of Cypress is the tight and beautiful vocal harmonies traded between the Husband-and-Wife duo in the band that adds a profound depth and occasional humor. Zac studied Vocal Performance, English Education, and English at Marshall University, and has won national competitions allowing him to perform on stages across the U.S.
Cierra James Doss
-Vocals, Cajon, Coffee Runs
Cierra James Doss is a lead singer and songwriter for Cypress, while also switching between percussion and piano. Cierra's vocal training in conjunction with her virtuosic vocal abilities allows her to traverse from country, to jazz, to folk and back while maintaining her unique and touching style. Cierra draws on her experiences as a young woman growing up in West Virginia in much of her songwriting, and is able to craft a turn of phrase that cuts right to the heart of audiences. Cierra studied Vocal Performance and Music Education at Marshall University, and is currently in pursuit of her Masters degree at Belmont University.
-Cello, Vocals, Various Sundry Tasks
Steven Schumann performs on cello, guitar, and background vocals with Cypress, adding his own unique flavor of cello to a genre in which it is not commonly present. Steven lives in Nashville Tennessee, where he works as a freelance musician, private instructor, and session player. Steven has won awards for his classical performance, as well as his session playing abilities. Steven Studied Cello Performance and Music Education at Marshall University, and currently attends Belmont University as a graduate student studying Commercial Cello Performance. You can find more info about Steven on his website:
Stevenschumann.com