Posts Tagged ‘NewSong Music’

Announcing the 9th annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Showcase and Competition

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

The annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Showcase and Competition, now in its ninth year, will take place at Spring LEAF Festival, in Black Mountain, N.C., on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

The performance showcase and competition is a collaborative effort between NewSong Music and LEAF Community Arts. It aims to identify and recognize exceptional performers and songwriters from across the country. Eight finalists will be invited to perform, network, and compete at the LEAF Festival in May.

The winner of the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, selected from a panel of music industry judges, will earn a spot as one of only eight finalists at the annual International NewSong Competition, held in Asheville, N.C., in the fall. The winner will also return to the Fall LEAF Festival, held October 19-22, 2023, as a featured, paid performer.

Past winners include Sadie Gustafson-Zook, Noan Partly, Parker Ainsworth, and Carly Taich.

SUBMIT SONGS HERE

While the event is a contest, it’s decidedly not a cutthroat competition. Instead, the focus is on building a community among songwriters and sharing the magic of songcraft. “It’s a celebration of one of humanity’s oldest art forms, something that helps us all process and understand the world around us,” says NewSong Music founder Gar Ragland. This is an “opportunity to recognize talented musicians and bring new voices to a bigger stage.”

A group of singer-songwriter stand together outside the LEAF Lounging Barn.

 

The deadline for Early Bird submissions is Friday, Feb. 24. One early bird entrant will be selected as a finalist for the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition. (All other early bird entries will remain in consideration.) The final deadline to submit entries is Sunday, April 2. Finalists are expected to be announced by Wednesday, April 12. 

 

SUBMIT SONGS HERE

“NewSong has been an extraordinary LEAF partner, creating the opportunity for many amazing songwriters and singers to perform at LEAF Festival. For many artists, this was their first big step onto a national and international stage, and the teamwork with the organizations creates ease and support. In a nod to history, these artists are walking in the footsteps of historic Black Mountain College moments and LEAF Global artists from over 100 countries.” ~ Jennifer Pickering, LEAF Global Arts Co-Executive Director & Founder

About LEAF Global Arts

LEAF Community Arts is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to connect cultures and create community through music and arts. LEAF is composed of two key cultural arts education programs, LEAF Schools & Streets and LEAF International, as well as two signature events, LEAF Festival and LEAF Downtown.  LEAF Festival provides a family-friendly weekend experience infused with music and arts while supporting the long-term vision of the organization. Since 1995, LEAF has served more than 200,000 youth with programs in over 15 community locations and in 10 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.theLEAF.org.

Meet the 2022 finalists: Cozi Anda Flounder

Monday, October 31st, 2022

Cozi Anda Flounder is a self-described cosmic country / Americana-ish outfit. The father (Ezra) and daughter (Cozi) songwriting duo surround themselves with a group of lifelong music friends.

NewSong Music: What sort of music was playing in your house when you were growing up?

Cozi: Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, Lenard Cohen, Norah Jones etc. A lot of ’60s -’70s folk/Americana 

Ezra: Basically the same artists. That was my parent’s music that became my music, then Cozi’s … minus Norah 

What inspired you to become a songwriter?

Cozi: I had grown up watching my dad write songs. I would often wake up to him excited to show me and my mom a new song he had written that morning. I didn’t put much thought into becoming a songwriter it just came naturally. 

Ezra: The same, my Mom and Dad (Cozi’s grandparents) are also songwriters, so I grew up listening to them behind the walls as I went to sleep. They wrestled with songs late into the night. And when I woke up, they would play them all morning. The process was mesmerizing; like some kind of magic. I wanted to be that kind of magician. two musicians playing guitars in a pink room with purple lights.What is the first song you wrote that you were really proud of?

Cozi: I wrote my first real song when I was 11 years old on the ukulele. I was going through some troubles so I decided to play around on my ukulele, and the melody and words just came. My dad helped me finish it. I was so proud and wanted to show everyone. 

Ezra: I was grim in early songwriting. I pretty much hated all my songs until I got much older and kinder to myself. They never turned out the way I imagined they could. So, my first song I was proud of was much later in life. The first one that I remember thinking, “You finally wrote a real damn song,” was in my late 30s. It was called “Song Before I Go,” and oddly, I never officially released it. I’m just happy it exists. It’s somewhere on YouTube. 

If you could partner with another living songwriter to co-write a song, who would it be?

Cozi: Most definitely Bob Dylan! He is the greatest songwriter that has ever walked the earth in my opinion. He is one of my biggest musical idols next to Dad.

Ezra: This is a total cop out, but true. At this time, I wouldn’t want to write with anyone but Cozi. We now have a mountain of songs we’re trying to finish and I’m starting to sound like a Dad, I guess.

What attracted you to submit your song(s) to the NewSong Competition?

Ezra: I don’t submit to many contests, but NewSong music seemed like something very different than the ones we have been part of. It felt, from what I have seen over the years in newsletters, that it could be a more intimate musical experience that we would remember for years to come.

Do you have any recent or forthcoming projects to tell us about?

Ezra: We do. We have a new EP that is almost complete with the same producer, Aaron Thomas. The debut EP, The Place, was recorded almost live in a few weekends, whereas on this new recording, we got to sit in our studio and play with the ideas, so it’s a little bit of an experiment for us. An exploration.

Tickets are available for the 21st annual NewSong Music Competition

Friday, October 28th, 2022

In celebration of its 21st Anniversary, NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition will welcome eight finalists to Asheville, NC, for an evening of songs and connection on Saturday, December 3, 2022. The internationally recognized event, previously held at the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, has since found a home in the mountains of Western North Carolina. NewSong is proud to partner with Citizen Vinyl, a multifaceted event space in downtown Asheville, to present the finale showcase. 

Tickets are $50 General Admissions and $125 VIP.
Purchase tickets here:  https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/6736939

VIP PACKAGE: Join us as a patron of the arts for a pre-concert gathering. Enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres, an exclusive meet & greet with this year’s finalists, preferred seating for the evening and a digital recording of the night’s performances mixed by our own Gar Ragland, Co-Founder and Director of NewSong Music and Founder and CEO of Citizen Vinyl. Doors at 5:30PM.

GENERAL ADMISSION: General admission seating will include concert style and cafe tables as well as some bar stools. Seating is first come first serve. Doors at 6PM / Show at 7PM.
The finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical chops to Asheville to perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner who will receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 500 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl, and a featured, paid performance at Arts Brookfield’s Summer Concert Series in New York City in the summer of 2023.

Citizen Vinyl, established by NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland, is North Carolina’s first vinyl pressing facility, and boasts a variety of amenities including a full-scale recording studio, a vinyl-themed craft cocktail and coffee lounge, a farm to table café, a record and art store, and more. 

Now in its 21st year, the NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters today. This crowd-sourced effort seeks to identify the truly exceptional artists within our communities and to work closely with them to develop their careers and introduce their music to a broader, international audience while building a supportive community of performers and songwriters across all genres of music and levels of skill.

Announcing the 2022 Arts Brookfield NYC Autumn ‘In Search of a Song: The Tour’ Concert Series Lineup

Tuesday, August 30th, 2022

We are proud to announce the New York City autumn outdoor concert series. The venue tour is presented by Arts Brookfield, and curated by NewSong Music.

The series features free outdoor lunchtime concerts taking place every Wednesday and Thursday from Sept. 21 through Oct. 13.

Each Wednesday concert begins at 12:30 PM at Manhattan West, located at 385 9th Ave, near Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.

Thursday shows start at 12:30 PM at One New York Plaza, located at 1 New York Plaza in New York City’s Financial District. The lineup features some of North America’s most talented performing songwriters and represents an eclectic array of styles and genres.

All the performers featured in the concert series are members of the NewSong artist community.

QUEEN ESTHER
• 
Wed, Sep 21, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thurs, Sept 22, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

OLIVIA ELLEN LLOYD
• 
Wed, Sep 28, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thurs, Sep 29, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

JAE JIN
• 
Wed, Oct 5, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thur, Oct 6, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

MICHAEL FLYNN
• 
Wed, Oct 12, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thur, Oct 13, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

About the Artists:

QUEEN ESTHER

(pictured above)

Described as “the unknown queen of Americana” (Feedback, Norway), Queen Esther’s most recent work includes a performance with her western swing collective The Black Rose of Texas at Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City initiative. She was a 2015 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalist.

Queen Esther received a grant from the NYC Women’s Fund for her forthcoming alt-Americana album Blackbirding. Within the song cycle, she uses the Gettysburg battlefield to make reclamation driven Americana from a Black Southern feminist perspective. The album will be released by spring 2023.

Queen Esther is a proud member of Actor’s Equity, SAG/AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild and The Recording Academy. Her critically acclaimed 2021 Black Americana album Gild The Black Lily is the fourth release on her imprint EL Recordings. Her 2018 TED Talk “The True Origins of Country Music” continues to reverberate throughout the Americana community.

OLIVIA ELLEN LLOYD

After releasing her debut album Loose Cannon in February 2021, Olivia Ellen Lloyd has been on a steady diet of writing, touring, and honing her bandleading chops at some of Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Americana institutions (Skinny Dennis, Luckydog, and Pete’s Candy Store). Her self-funded and independently released debut has been quietly winding its way into the hearts and minds of Country and Americana music lovers all over the world.

Lloyd is a West Virginia native and proud of it. Raised by a musician and a public-school educator her sound is a combination of her deeply rooted past and her fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants present. Olivia was a 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalist.

MICHAEL FLYNN

Michael Flynn is an Americana-adjacent singer-songwriter based in Western North Carolina. His songs have been featured on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Shameless, and on commercials for useful products like cars and shampoo. He’s also won a few awards for songwriting, most recently grand prize in the 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. His band Slow Runner has released five full-length albums, an EP, and several singles. The group spent some time on one of SonyBMG’s labels and have toured internationally with artists such as The Avett Brothers, Josh Ritter, Built to Spill, and William Fitzsimmons.

Michael has released three solo albums, including Survive With Me, the most recent, in 2020. That year also brought the release of a new EP called endlings, an unvarnished collection of songs that at various points evoke the following emotions: sadness, happiness, regret, romance, optimism, pessimism … you get the idea. Michael consistently threatens to write a self-help book called Stop Trying to Look Like What You Used To Look Like And Just Look Like What You Look Like but none of his friends think he’ll follow through.

JAE JIN

Jae Jin is an independent global recording artist, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor (SAG-AFTRA), and storyteller from Baltimore, MD. He has self-released three full-length albums of original music for which he has received Grammy consideration, numerous accolades, and songwriting awards (including the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Award and first place in the International Songwriting Competition).

He has performed nearly 600 concerts in 136 cities globally. Jae is also the recipient of a prestigious Creator Award through WeWork for his original music and powerful life story. He continues to share both around the world. Jae was a 2019 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalist.

ABOUT ARTS BROOKFIELD

Arts Brookfield supports innovation in music, dance, theater, film, and visual art by pushing boundaries to create unique works of art and cultural experiences presented for free. Thriving for over three decades, the program gathers communities around creativity by animating Brookfield Properties’ public spaces.

Q+A with Early Bird Finalist The Singer and The Songwriter

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

California-based duo The Singer and The Songwriter, aka Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran, were recently chosen as the first finalist in this year’s NewSong Performance and Songwriting Competition!



The identities of Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran — a queer mixed-race-Mexican-American and first-generation-Vietnamese-American, respectively — inform their music. Together they create eclectic and heartfelt songs that tell emotionally honest and compelling stories. Their unique and vibrant style is sophisticated but playful.

The California-based duo met and began writing and performing music together in 2006. Together Rachel and Thu won the West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest, were nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Song at the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards and, this year, were named as a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition for Emerging Folk Artists at the Kerrville Folk Festival.

We caught up with Rachel and Thu to learn a little bit more about their original music project.

NewSong: You’ve been having an amazing year, with being named a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition for Emerging Folk Artists at the Kerrville Folk Festival and then being chosen as the NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition Early Bird Finalist. Why do you think the stars are aligning right now?

RACHEL: Thank you! We feel that alignment too and I think it’s because we’re feeling in musical integrity. With this latest set of music we have finally caught up to the musicians we have always hoped we would be. We have been in constant pursuit of the best version of our musical selves. This looks like constantly honing our skills as songwriters and working our respective crafts; me with singing, Thu with guitar. We’re clear on our perspective as folk musicians and deliberate in the stories we want to tell. When we tell an honest story and give that story a simple, clear musical home, folks connect with it. Early on we often unintentionally hid our lyrics behind more flashy production, but as we’ve become more precise lyricists we’re able to put forward work that is unencumbered. The music that’s gaining some notoriety from Kerrville and now NewSong are all story songs that don’t have any obligations but to directly and honestly tell a story. 

You have been creative partners for 16 years. What has been key to establishing and nurturing trust and communication in that relationship? 

RACHEL: Has it really been 16 years?! This has been sweet to reflect on. Our trust and communication is something we’ve intentionally worked on over our long collaboration together and it hasn’t always come easily to us. We know that it’s in the music’s best interest if the stewards of that music are in sync with themselves and each other. We know that if we are in rupture, the music will suffer (say bickering for two hours and then trying to play a show together…) Over the years, we’ve become better attuned to one another’s needs even (and especially) when they’re different than our own. For instance, I know that Thu prefers to rehearse a ton before shows, whereas I prefer to rest my voice. I get really nervous before a show so I need a lot of ritual and warm-up, and Thu doesn’t really need that. So over time, we have found ways to communicate our needs and make enough space for each of us to be operating at our best. So now, for instance, we rehearse early and often (not right before a show), and we have some warm-up rituals that we do together that ground us. For us, this kind of compromise is a reflection of our individual commitment to the band and to the music. The more I acknowledge and embrace the needs of my bandmate, the more it feels like I’m leaning in towards the music. And I trust that Thu is leaning in equal and opposite measure which creates an equilibrium that, I think, has kept our band sustainable for all these years. 

During the pandemic you developed a system to bring music to people as they quarantined. Is there anything you gained from that experience that you plan to continue in your post-pandemic performance?

THU: There’s this thing that we heard Susan Gibson say that really stuck with us which is, “Your music is a service, not a product.” That ended up being such a perfect articulation of what we learned from doing The Songmobile. When the pandemic first hit, and we were feeling so powerless, it was Rachel’s idea to just put a battery-powered speaker in the car and drive around the Bay Area, playing private concerts to individual families from their houses’ driveways. It was such a straight-forward solution and I think the reason it worked is because it really got to the heart of music: it’s the connection between the music and the listener. It was an important reminder that when we perform, we get to be of service to the audience. I love being able to focus on that idea when we perform because it helps me take my ego out of the equation, and allows me to just connect to the music and the listener.

You recently shared a bill with another duo from the NewSong Music family — Ordinary Elephant. What does it mean to you to be part of a community of songwriters and performers such as NewSong?

THU: It means the world to us to be part of this community! When we look at the list of past NewSong finalists, they are songwriters that we genuinely admire and we have discovered some personal favorite artists by keeping up with NewSong each year! It’s an amazing feeling to be considered peers with artists you’ve loved for years.

Any updates on the planned release of your new album, Dreams! The Dead! Ghost! Future?

THU: We are in the process of approving the masters right now! It’s been a long journey for this album since it got stalled by the pandemic, but we are so excited for how it’s turned out. All the songs that we submitted to NewSong will be on this new album so we’re hoping that our participation in NewSong will get more folks excited about the record! As of now, we’re planning on releasing it sometime in 2023. More soon, we promise!

Submissions are still open, through Sept. 18, for the 2022 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. Enter your original songs here.

Announcing the new #WeAreNewSong video series

Thursday, August 4th, 2022

New video series features 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalists

This week we launched the first installment in a weekly series of performances and interviews with NewSong finalists, filmed at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville, N.C. The first video features Charlie Belle.

Charlie Belle is an indie-pop band from Austin Texas formed by siblings Jendayi Bonds and Gyasi Bonds. The duo performed as a finalist act in the 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition, held at Citizen Vinyl. Charlie Belle was one of eight finalists to compete for the annual NewSong Music grand prize.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow the series. New videos will release each Friday.Love these videos? Consider submitting YOUR original songs to this year’s NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. Submissions are being accepted through Sunday, September 18, with a finale performance scheduled for Saturday, December 3, at Citizen Vinyl.

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2022 NEWSONG MUSIC PERFORMANCE & SONGWRITING COMPETITION

Thursday, June 16th, 2022

NewSong Music is now accepting original song entries for its 21st annual performance and songwriting competition, presented by Citizen Vinyl. The program’s curated showcases have been a fixture in the national music scene since 2001. The competition finals, formerly staged in New York City at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, relocated to Asheville, N.C. in 2017.

2018 NewSong grand prize winner Mel Bryant recording at Echo Mountain Studios

Eight finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical magic to Asheville where they will perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner to  receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 300 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl, and a featured, paid performance at Arts Brookfield’s Summer Concert Series in New York City in the summer of 2023.

Past NewSong winners and standouts include Ingrid Michaelson, Meghan Trainor, Max Hatt/Edda Glass, Grace Potter, and Crys Matthews.

Discounted ‘Early Bird’ entries are now open (1 song: $40; 2 songs: $70; additional songs: $25 each). Entry prices increase after Sunday, July 24, with the final deadline for submissions on Sunday, September 18, 2022. To submit your original music, visit newsong-music.com/contest. Finalists will be notified via email and announced through NewSong Music’s website and social media channels on Monday, October 18, 2022.

Mark your calendar for the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finale, which will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2022 at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

NewSong Music is an independent music organization that aims to build a supportive community of performers and songwriters across various genres of music and skill levels, while identifying truly exceptional artists and introducing their music to a broader international audience.

Citizen Vinyl was established by NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland. It opened October 2020 as Asheville’s first vinyl manufacturing facility. Citizen Vinyl boasts a variety of amenities including a full-scale recording studio, a vinyl-themed craft cocktail and coffee lounge, a record and art store, and more.

For up-to-date information on the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, visit newsong-music.com. To learn more about Citizen Vinyl, visit citizenvinyl.com

 

Coppa Stone: LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition Judge

Friday, May 6th, 2022

The May 14 competition, held at the LEAF Retreat, will be judged by a panel of Asheville-based music industry professionals.

Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Coppa Stone is a father, artist, writer, educator, scholar, and a self-proclaimed day dreamer. His earliest musical memories are of Roots, Rocksteady and Dub, mixed with Reggae and a touch of Rock, R&B and Soul. Upon relocating to the U.S., his love for music continued to grow alongside this thing called Hip-Hop. During the day, he plays the role of a mild-mannered Education Director at a nonprofit, but at night, he changes into his alter ego, a Hip-Hop & Reggae music artist.  

Here’s a bit more about Coppa, in his own words, from an Islandstagemag.com interview:

I am definitely a product of my parents creativity. My mother sings, and my father plays both the piano and organ, so it could only be natural that music and art would be an active part of my life.

[My inspirations range] from the Beatles to the Maytals, from Peter Tosh to Bob Marley to Nina Simone, from Colin Channer to Edwidge Danticat to Jack Kerouac, from Kamau Brathwaite to Saul Williams, from Roots Manuva to Mos Def to Tanya Stephens to Protoje to Lauryn Hill and straight back to The Roots…the list goes on and on.

Growing up in school, my teachers would always encourage me to pursue a career in writing, because they believed I was a naturally good writer. I started out writing short stories, then gradually poetry, which then later developed into lyrics and rhymes. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I was brave enough to actually share these rhymes and lyrics with others. So, my musical journey as an artist began in Gainesville, Florida, where I was a member of an underground collective called 101 Vibes.

Stay tuned for more about Coppa, including a music video.

 

Q+A with LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition Finalist Philip Bowen

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Born and raised in West Virginia, Philip Bowen’s uplifting sound is heavily inspired by his Appalachian roots. The dynamic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist began playing fiddle at the age of four, and his virtuoso skills have become quite popular on TikTok, with over 3 million likes and 540k followers on the platform alone. His popularity on the app even propelled him to win TikTok’s Gamers Greatest Talent competition, earning $25k and beating out thousands of other competitors.

Bowen has been writing songs since he was a teenager, but never thought it would be possible to have a career in music. After earning an MBA from the University of Tampa, a friend encouraged him to create an account on TikTok and his fiddle covers and original songs took on a life of their own.

He continues to release his original music, spreading his message of positivity to an audience that has been growing rapidly. With guest spots on Ross Golan’s “And the demo is…”  and praise from Yahoo, PopMatters, and Atwood Magazine, it’s easy to see why the Nashville Songwriters Association International dubbed this inspirational artist “one to watch.”

NewSong Music: What inspired you to enter the NewSong Contest?

Philip: I originally heard about it a few years ago, and was immediately intrigued and wanted to submit my songs. 

What was your introduction to music?

 
I’ve been playing the fiddle since I was 4 years old, and grew up going to festivals like the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston, WV. Music is a huge part of Appalachian Culture and was always in the house. 

What is the first song you wrote that you were proud of, and why?

 
I wrote this song called, “Almost Heaven” about how much I was missing home during my college years. I played it all around town at coffee shops and beach restaurants (I went to school in Clearwater, FL) and it was the first time I saw audience members with happy tears at something I’d written. 
 
What instrument do you play, and why?
 
I play the fiddle/violin, guitar, keys, and a little mandolin. Fiddle is my first love, but guitar has a special place in my heart because it is my main writing instrument.
How did the pandemic impact you as an artist (for better or worse)?
 
Well, it honestly provided a crazy amount of growth for me in my music performing and songwriting. I made a commitment going into 2020 that I would do something every single day towards my music and make a real go of it. Of course, COVID hit, but I wanted to keep to my commitment and so I started finding ways to do music online and it changed my life. I’ve met and collaborated with so many people, and it’s been such a joy to see things grow. 
 

Does the place where you grew up inspire you as an artist? If so, in what way?

 
Oh yes. My West Virginia/Appalachia home inspires almost everything I do. WV is such a special place, and it’s given me so much inspiration in my writing. The people are special and so is the scenery, and they inspire me every time I write a song. 

In what ways does the craft of songwriting still surprise you?

 
I’m always amazed at how a song can come together, sometimes seemingly out of thin air or when you are at your most frustrated with the songwriting process. One of the things I love most about songwriting, is the challenge of telling a deep, emotional story, but having to do it with relatively few words. I love the marriage of melody and prose. It’s terrifying at times, but it’s so addictive. 

What are some of your creative goals for this year?

 
I want to write my best songs yet. I also want to do more collaborating and co-writing with other songwriters. I want to inspire as many folks as I can. 

Q+A with LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition Finalist Kelly Hoppenjans

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022
Nashville singer-songwriter Kelly Hoppenjans creates empowering rock, combining the spirit of riot grrrl tinged with folky introspection. The follow-up to her energetic 2019 full-length debut, OK, I Feel Better Now, her new EP Can’t Get the Dark Out dives deep into relationships, fate, and breaking free of toxic patterns. The EP is inspired in part by Hoppenjans’ journey of finding love during the pandemic: navigating online dating, confinement, and impending life changes to sustain that love.
 

NewSong Music: What was your introduction to music?

Kelly: I asked for a guitar for Christmas when I was about 10 years old, because I thought girls who played guitar were cool and I wanted to be just like Jewel — I’m a ’90s kid through and through! 

What is the first song you wrote that you were proud of, and why?

 
I wrote some pretty cringey songs when I was a kid, but I was still proud of them at the time! As an adult, the first song I was really truly proud of was called “Bird in a Tree,” and it’s on the first EP I ever released. I wrote it to remind myself why I make music, and that’s because it makes me happy, not because I want the accolades or the glory. I used to sing it at bar gigs when I was background noise, to make myself feel better about the fact that nobody was listening. And I still really love that song, years later! 

What are some of your creative goals for this year?
 
I’ve been working on writing poetry as a new creative outlet for the past few years, and I’m hoping to publish a collection of poems this year! Other than that, just writing songs and trying to stay balanced 🙂