Chris Mullins is a multidisciplinary creative working across music, sound, and education.
He is the founder and creative visionary behind Newtime Stringband, a genre-bending project that fuses bluegrass, hip hop, and global folk traditions—music built on the idea of new sounds with old tones. Collaborators have included Matt Menefee (Mumford & Sons) and Gangstagrass, with influences ranging from Celtic and Indian classical to Southern string band music.
As an educator, Mullins has taught audio engineering, music theory, and stringed instruments for over 20 years in college, private, and K–12 settings. His teaching blends core musicianship with modern tools, helping students develop the creative and technical skills needed to build working careers in music and media. He has also served as a program architect for multiple schools and colleges—designing recording studios, computer labs, and immersive media centers while shaping the curriculum that brings them to life.
Mullins began teaching through workshops on Appalachian music at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and later earned his Master of Music after studying classical composition in New Zealand—giving him a rare fluency across folk, academic, and technical circles.
That same commitment to authenticity and perseverance runs through his work as an author. Mullins’ first children’s book, Sing Sam, Sing!, tells the story of a young singer who stays true to his voice—even when others don’t hear it yet. Written with warmth and humor, it encourages young artists to keep going, keep practicing, and create for the love of the song in their heart.