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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. 

 

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Q+A with LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition Finalist Stephen Sylvester

Sunday, May 1st, 2022

Who’s over six feet tall, an old soul, and definitely doesn’t have a “V” in his first name? You guessed it—Stephen Sylvester, a down-to-earth country artist whose unique and powerful voice is reminiscent of the great R&B singers of the ’60s. He’s living just like his mama taught him, a true-to-his-roots force to be reckoned with. You’ll want to remember this true Southern gentleman: check out Stephen Sylvester’s new album Let Me Be Strong on Spotify or Apple Music.

NewSong Music: What was your intro to music?

My dad was a prolific Christian singer-songwriter in the ’90s, so music was a part of our home from my earliest memories. That plus all the Disney movies meant young Stephen sang A LOT, but my musical awakening happened because of Stevie Wonder, oddly enough. I distinctly remember hearing him sing when I was about 7 or 8 and thinking “I’m going to do that one day.”
 
What is the first song you wrote that you were proud of, and why?
 
That would have to be “I Promise You,” which is the song I submitted for the contest (how poetic is that?!). It’s one of my oldest songs that I’m not embarrassed to play, and it was the one that caused my first experience moving an audience emotionally. I played it for folks I didn’t know in a wine bar years ago, closed my eyes for most of it, and when I opened them everyone was crying. After that moment I figured I didn’t have much choice but to be a songwriter.

 
What instrument do you play, and why?
 
Full disclosure – I started playing acoustic guitar at 16 specifically to get a girlfriend. It didn’t work, but I fell in love with music instead! My first instrument was actually drums, and that’s still my favorite one to play, but it’s hard to be a solo performer (or get a girlfriend) as a drummer.
 
How did the pandemic impact you as a performer, for better or worse?
 
Ooof, yeah the pandemic was rough for me as I know it was for all performers and gig workers. I had about four solid months of no gigs whatsoever, and then opportunities to play started coming back slowly. Today, two years later, I’m only just now back to what I would call a regular performing schedule. The benefit, though, was that all the extra time meant way more opportunities to write, so I write and virtually co-wrote songs like a madman! And I can credit the pandemic for helping me become a much better writer if we’re talking silver linings.
 
Does the place you grew up inspire you as an artist? If so, in what way?
 
Yes absolutely, I think Coastal Alabama is about as inspiring of a place to grow up in as a kid could ask for. Scenery-wise it’s full of gorgeous beaches and wildlife, which have been a great source of visual inspiration for me. It’s also still a developing area of the country, so if as a kid I didn’t experience hardship directly it was right there in front of me. And drawing from those stories has been just as powerful of a songwriting inspiration for me as my own experiences, if not more.
 
In what ways does the craft of songwriting still surprise you?
 
The magic!! I’m the type of person who wants to over-analyze and really dig into how things work so that I can improve. But songwriting really doesn’t work like that. You get better by practicing and try new methods and know how rhyme and meter work, but there’s still something unquantifiable about writing a song. Which, for me, can be frustrating, but it’s also incredible to experience in real time – songwriting is literally magical.
 
What are some of your creative goals for this year?
 
Well my goal every year is to get George Strait to record a song I wrote for him (haha) but I’m also actively playing more regional shows now that the world seems to be opening up for music again. My manager and I are pitching songs to publishing companies trying to get me a deal, and I’m still writing and performing all the time. My unrealistic goal is to quit my day job and do full-time music by the end of the year, and who knows? I’ve been pleasantly surprised too often to think it’s impossible!
 

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Q+A With LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition Finalist Sadie Gustafson-Zook

Friday, April 29th, 2022

Sadie Gustafson-Zook is a versatile singer, intricate guitar player, and contagious songwriter. Her pure voice and hummable melodies balance with witty lyrics to create charmingly honest and relatable music. Indiana-grown, Boston-nurtured, and Nashville-based, Sadie has brought her lovable stories and songs to audiences across the country, in homes, churches, and renowned folk venues and festivals across the country, including Club Passim, The Purple Fiddle, Walnut Valley Festival, Red Wing Roots, and more. Sadie is a two-time Kerrville New Folk finalist, has been featured on the Folk Alley and the Basic Folk podcast, and holds a master’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music from Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. On her new album “Sin of Certainty,” Sadie explores the process of questioning all that she had taken for granted, through finding a new community in the roots scene of Boston, studying jazz, and coming out as queer.

NewSong Music: What inspired you to enter the NewSong Contest?
 
Sadie: I have had a number of friends who have done well in this competition and it seems like NewSong treats the winners super well, especially in terms of continued publicity, and so that was a major factor that made the NewSong contest seem appealing. 
 
What was your introduction to music?
 
My parents are both musicians so I was kind of indoctrinated into a family band at the age of 6 (once I had been playing violin for two years), but music has generally been around me for my whole life. 
 
What is the first song you wrote that you were proud of, and why?
 
In 5th grade I wrote my first official song called “My Tears Are Melting Away,” which described an incident on the playground in which my crush was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, and I felt so many feelings about it, so I wrote those feelings into a song. I was proud of it because it was my first fully formed song that was more than a ditty, and it was a really helpful way for me to express my emotions (however dramatic they were as a 12 year old in love lol). 
 
What instrument do you play, and why?
 
I’d consider myself a multi-instrumentalist, but for songwriting I’ve found guitar to be my chosen instrument. I love (and hate) how complicated and versatile the guitar can be. Even though I started playing when I was 12 I never run out of new things to learn! I also have been working on banjo and grew up playing stringed instruments. 
 
How did the pandemic impact you as an artist (for better or worse)?
 
I went through many different phases in the pandemic as it relates to my artistry. I started off with a lot of momentum, running a kickstarter, and practicing for hours every day (though I could only do covers- for whatever reason I was pretty much unable to write for a large chunk of the pandemic). Then I kind of got into a slump where I wasn’t making much music at all. Around this time I also got a remote part-time job (in addition to teaching voice/guitar lessons over zoom), which took a lot of the pressure off of music to pay my bills. I think was a very positive thing that allowed me to start creating music again without the added stress of “I should be booking.” That being said, I felt really removed from music for a long time and I wasn’t sure what my future would look like. Between 2020-2021 I was also recording an album (in chunks) which felt like a really distinct detour from my normal pandemic life (and a reference to my pre-pandemic life). It was a really welcome reminder that I am a musician and I am skilled, but it also felt pretty surreal to travel to NYC, record, have this whole very musical experience, and then come back home to my slow indoor life. 

 
Does the place where you grew up inspire you as an artist? If so, in what way?
 
I grew up in a liberal Mennonite community in Indiana, and there was a huge emphasis on the importance of being of service to other people, which I think was confusing to me for a long time as it related to my songwriting. I found myself feeling like I wasn’t doing a good job unless I had a really tangibly service-oriented profession (like being a teacher or social worker, etc). But as I’ve grown up a bit and lived outside of my hometown I’ve found that my songs are actually quite helpful to a lot of people, and that devaluing their power is a disservice to my artistry. So I suppose I keep that in the back of my mind when I write songs now– the acknowledgement that simply by sharing my own experience I can help someone else feel more heard and understood, which is a really important job! 
 
In what ways does the craft of songwriting still surprise you?
 
It’s so easy to fall into a pattern of how I write music, and the more I write, the more clearly I can see what my tendencies are. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of music and writing a lot, and it’s been a joy to notice interesting things that other songwriters do in their work, and to experiment with ways that I can incorporate those ideas in my songs. So I guess it’s just surprising that it’s such a unique process and there are so many ways to write a song!
 
What are some of your creative goals for this year?
 
I recently moved to Nashville, and since arriving I’ve found myself really digging into my creative pursuits (in all mediums). I’ve gotten really into print-making and embroidery, I’ve been digging into arranging my room, I’ve been spilling out songs (and keeping track of what I’ve written so even if it’s not a keeper, I still have record of my work), and I started the year strong with morning pages (freewriting 3 pages each morning- an idea from the book The Artist’s Way), which I’m hoping to recommit to soon. In addition to prioritizing these more solitary creative pursuits, I want to work with other people more, maybe make a band (especially since I now live around so many musicians) and play music with my friends!

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Four questions with 2019 NewSong Competition host, Alli Marshall

Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

NewSong is proud to have Alli Marshall as our host at the 18th Annual NewSong Competition on Saturday Nov. 23 at Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC. Marshall is the longtime Arts editor for Asheville’s local alt-weekly newspaper, the Mountain Xpress. 

We asked Marshall about her favorite songwriters, advice for this year’s batch of finalists and her personal relationship with the growing Asheville music scene. 

 

NewSong: Name three of your all-time favorite songwriters. What do you think it is about their songwriting that grabs your attention?

Alli Marshall: I really don’t have any all-time favorites — I tend to go in phases and am always looking for for new songwriters to be moved and inspired by. That said, those who come quickly to mind are:

• Brittany Howard, who I think is such an important contemporary soul musician. Her writing is deeply poetic and true, but there’s also her sense of musicality and performance — not just what she says but how she says it.
• Taj Mahal has written some of my favorite songs, and whenever I go back to his catalog I’m never disappointed. He exudes deep joy within the idiom of the blues.
• Jeff Markham, who was an Asheville-based singer-songwriter. He was always reconfiguring his band and sound, and he eventually left music to be a full-time chef somewhere in the southwest. But I’m fortunate to have a stash of his records, including some unreleased songs, and I feel them deeply. I wanted to mention Jeff because a musician doesn’t have to “make it” to be connect to a listener.

 

How would you describe your relationship with Asheville music scene? (I’m of course thinking of your role as Arts editor at the Mountain Xpress but also of your personal experience as a music lover living in this ever-changing city.)

One thing I’ve said about Asheville for years is that we, as listeners, are fortunate to be in community with and to have relationships with the folks whose bands we support. Not to downplay the magic of a major show with lights and costumes and whatever, but some of the most special and memorable experience I’ve had with music were when I knew the band and was in a small room and witnessed the moment when the performers and audiences synched up. That gorgeous, golden flow, or giving and receiving. That exchange of energy and co-creation of art … I live for that.

You were also involved in the LEAF NewSong contest this spring. Any advice for this new batch of contestants based off that experience?

Be authentic. Be well-rehearsed, have a plan and play your best songs, but also really be grounded in the room. Take a moment onstage to exhale and get super present. And then remember to introduce your songs! That’s a nice way to connect with the audience, but it also shows professionalism and care for craft.

What is the last album you listened to? 

This week I’ve been going back and forth between Son Little’s new EP, “invisible,” and “It Rains Love” by Lee Fields & The Expressions.

 
In addition to serving as Arts editor at the Mountain Xpress, Alli Marshall is a writer and artist in her own right. Check out Alli’s work on her website. 

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Meet 2018 NewSong Competition finalist: Alex Wong

Friday, December 7th, 2018

From the artist’s bio: Alex Wong’s curiosity has a varied appetite, and he’s always fed it well. A steady diet of projects as artist, producer, composer, and fittingly, as chef, has taught him that the connections between seemingly separate disciplines can be a source of inspiration rather than distraction. Perhaps this understanding stems from his synesthesia, a rare neurological condition where the brain perceives relationships between unrelated senses. Alex sees sounds and hears colors. What a doctor might deem peculiar, his creative mind appreciates as a gift: this multi-sensory approach allows him to find magic in unexpected connections.

Following those connections has rarely led Alex in a straight line, but it has led him to a Latin GRAMMY-nomination (Miguel Bose), song placements in film, television (One Tree Hill, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Last Song) and major ad campaigns (Google, Aquafina), as well as production credits with Delta Rae (Big Machine), Vienna Teng (Universal), Elizabeth and the Catapult (Compass) and Ari Hest (Columbia), among others. It has led him around the globe, to perform at festivals like Coachella and Outside Lands, arenas in Mexico City and theaters in Europe and Japan. Read full bio on Alex’s website. 

We asked Alex some questions about his songwriting process and what it means to be a NewSong finalist. To purchase tickets for the Dec. 15 event at Isis Music Hall, visit our ticketing page. 

What does it mean to you to be selected as a NewSong finalist, and what do you hope to get out of the experience?

 
Being selected as a NewSong finalist is especially meaningful to me because it’s the first time I’ve put music out under my own name. I’ve been really lucky to have had a career making music as a collaborator, band member and as a writer/producer in support of other artists, but fear always held me back from releasing music under my own name. Even when I put a solo album out over 6 years ago, I used a moniker (A City On A Lake) because I wasn’t comfortable using my name.
 
I realized I’d grown up learning to hide … as a minority kid growing up in suburban U.S., we were taught to fit in to white culture and downplay our cultural identities. As a drummer, I learned my place was in the back of the band and that writing songs and being out front was a job for someone else. It’s been a long path to try and re-write that narrative, to stand in my own space as an artist and to let myself truly be seen in the world without the protective layer of a band or collaborator. The Quiet Voice was the first song I’ve ever released under my own name so it means the world to me that it was recognized by NewSong.
 

What is your songwriting process like, and where do you find inspiration?

 
For me, songwriting has always been a way to ask questions. I’m not really moved to write until I feel there is a question I’ve been wrestling with and can’t figure out. Sometimes I feel I’m most interested in trying to write (what I pretentiously call) “secular spirituals” because even though I’m not religious, the questions that are most interesting and that pop up in my writing the most are metaphysical in nature and often have to do with the relationship between life on Earth and the before/after life, if there is such a thing.
 
I am fascinated with why we are here, what lessons we are here to learn and whether we’ve been here before, and I think that seeps into my writing all the time. As far as inspirations, I used to have a big sign in my studio that said “WWTPD” (what would Tom Petty do?) and anytime I was stuck in the writing process I would just try to channel him. I always admired his ability to cut out all extraneous crap and his brilliant economy with lyric and melody. I also tend to worship Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Paul Simon, Radiohead, Quincy, Pharrell, Stravinsky and Chopin, to name a few.
 

What important news about your music do you have coming up?

 
I just finished my second solo album, called The Elephant and the Seahorse, which I plan to release in April 2019. I will also be releasing a duo concept album with Jesse Terry in 2019, about a town in Alaska struggling with climate change. I’m currently writing a musical called The Paper Raincoat with former NewSong winner Amber Rubarth and NewSong finalist Devon Copley (The Animators, 2006). I will be continuing to release exclusive content and videos on my Patreon site, which I adore. As a producer, I just started work with NC natives Delta Rae on their upcoming double album.

 

Listen to Alex Wong on Soundcloud and Spotify. Follow Alex Wong on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

 

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#WeAreNewSong :: David Robert King

Monday, October 8th, 2018

Every year, NewSong receives countless song submissions from talented artists across North America and beyond. Only a handful are chosen each year as finalists. And while not all of these finalists take home the grand prize, all of them leave a lasting impression on the NewSong team. Supporting and fostering new and as-yet-undiscovered musicians is what NewSong is all about, which is why we aim to celebrate past finalists and winners in our new video series, #WeAreNewSong. This week, we’re featuring David Robert King. 

 

 

David Robert King, talented songwriter and 2017 NewSong Music Competition finalist, is certainly an artist to get to know. His 2017 album, Idaho, was produced by Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case, The New Pornographers, Sarah McLachlan) and has been met with great critical acclaim for its unique sound.

No Depression has praised the musician, calling Idaho “good for the soul,” full of “folk-drenched songs of the world class order.” King recently performed at the 30A Songwriters Festival, alongside Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Mary Gauthier, and others. We caught up with David this week to find out what is new in his career, how his experience with NewSong has impacted him and to get his thoughts on songwriting. Stay tuned this fall for a single David recorded with fellow NewSong finalist and 2017 Grand Prize Winner Crys Matthews. 

NewSong: How would you describe your songwriting style?

David Robert King: For me, songwriting is both a therapy and an itch. Sometimes I need to sit down and write in order to maintain sanity, other times an idea, tune, or phrase just keeps bugging me until I give it time and space, then the itch is scratched.

It has been almost a year since the 2017 NewSong Music Competition. How did your experience with NewSong impact you?

NewSong has been a place to build community. The group is both incredibly talented and incredibly kind… a rare combination. I’m only human, and NewSong’s recognition is validating and encouraging. Playing at Lincoln Center in New York, recording at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville — pretty awesome stuff.

What is coming up for you that readers should know about?
 
I have some exciting shows coming up in the Southeast, and I’m really excited about the songwriting workshop I am doing with City Song School and Jennifer Knapp (one of my favorite writers) in Decatur, GA
 

We hope you follow David Robert King’s music career, as we will, and check out his work on Spotify and iTunes! 

To stay up-to-date with David’s news and schedule, visit his website. 

To learn more and enter the 2018 NewSong Music Competition (deadline is Sunday, November 4), visit this page.

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Crys Matthews records grand prize EP at Echo Mountain Recording Studios

Monday, July 30th, 2018
 

Crys Matthews was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2017 NewSong Music Competition. She spent time in Asheville this July recording her grand prize EP with producer Gar Ragland at Echo Mountain Recording Studios.

 

NewSong Music is delighted to have 2017 Grand Prize Winner Crys Matthews in the studio this week, recording her EP, These Old Hands. 

Matthews credits her NewSong win with launching her music career in the right direction. “Since that night, I’ve been on an incredible trajectory,” she says. “I have been able to play some of the most amazing venues in the country, meet some of the most amazing people, and rub elbows with some of the greats like Michael Franti and Keb Mo.”
 
Of her new EP with NewSong Recordings, These Old Hands, Matthews says, “It’s a complete departure from my last two projects and has more of an angsty Joan Armatrading feel to it. I’m so looking forward to sharing these songs — especially with my fans who always want to hear some sad songs.” 
 
“It’s such a pleasure to be working with Crys on this new collection of beautiful songs,” says Ragland, who is producing and mixing the project. “It’s a bit of a departure from her previous recorded work, and pushes the envelope in both exciting and musical ways. The whole team is excited for its upcoming release.”
 

More about Crys Matthews

Crys Matthews is nothing if not ambitious. In August 2017, she simultaneously released both a new full-length album, The Imagineers and an EP, Battle Hymn For An Army Of Lovers. These collections showcase two sides of Matthews’ dynamic songwriting; The Imagineers is a selection of thoughtful songs about love and life while Battle Hymn For An Army Of Lovers tackles social justice themes. Songs from both projects have already won her recognition and awards. She was one of ten finalists (from a pool of 5,000) in this year’s NewSong Music Competition and, after performing at Lincoln Center on November 30th, she was named grand-prize winner. Matthews also won the People Music Network’s Social Justice Songs contest at the 2017 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance.

We hope you will follow along with Crys Matthew’s growing music career and check out her releases on Spotify and iTunes! For updates and show schedule, visit her website. 

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Beth Snapp’s single “Don’t Apologize” available now

Monday, June 25th, 2018

Beth Snapp’s new single “Don’t Apologize” is available June 25 from NewSong Recordings.

Beth Snapp, a sharp-witted and soulful songwriter from Kingsport, TN, is releasing her new EP, Don’t Apologize, on NewSong Recordings August 31. The first single and title track of the EP is out today on Spotify and iTunes. Pre-order the full EP on iTunes, and receive the single as an instant gratification download. Don’t Apologize is a collection of soothing and supple melodies, underscored by a bracing backing band. The songwriting strikes deep, as the musician shares universal messages of love and acceptance from a well of personal experience.

 

Snapp was a semifinalist in the NewSong songwriting competition in 2017. That experience led her to meet NewSong founder Gar Ragland and eventually record her forthcoming EP with NewSong Recordings. The EP was produced and mixed by Ragland, engineered by Grammy winner Julian Dreyer, and recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, North Carolina.

“I feel like my career is just beginning,” says Snapp. “I’ve laid some groundwork, but now I’m at a jumping off point, and it’s time to jump.”

We asked Snapp some questions about her forthcoming EP, Don’t Apologize. 

 

I’d love it if you could speak to the EP name, “Don’t Apologize.” What does it mean to you, and what was the inspiration behind it?

“Don’t Apologize” is the name of the title track; however, it really became the overarching theme of both this project as well as my current place in life. I think thanks to certain millennial stereotypes, there is plenty of coverage regarding the entitled, and yes that is an issue. However, I think far on the other side of that spectrum, is a place we often find ourselves in where we begin apologizing for things we have no business apologizing for. We get insecure, we listen to the voices in our head (or sometimes the voices around us) and suddenly we aren’t just ashamed of our character flaws – we become ashamed of our character. We become ashamed of trying new things, putting ourselves out there, being vulnerable…and that has to stop. SO. Don’t apologize – ever — for loving yourself, loving your neighbors, and trying to pour some of that love into this broken world. 

What was your songwriting process like for the album? 

Relatively quick, actually! All the songs were written at a time when I was sort of on the other side of a storm. I was really starting to enjoy life again, and I was finding new purpose. This new chapter for me was also coinciding with a period of time when our country and its people were stressed, fearful, and at times attacking one another. It’s silly, not only to let fear grip your entire life, but to also risk relationships with one heated moment in time. That time will pass, but the friendship gap might not. So, as I was waking up, I just wanted other people to wake up as well! I wanted to send a message that we are all OK. I think I wanted it so badly the theme for the EP, the content, and the lyrics just poured out. And within no time at all, I was ready to record!

What was your experience recording at Echo Mountain Studios?

Gar’s production was vital to this project – his patience, ease of communication, and direction led the EP down the road it needed to be on.  He understood the message, and how to portray that message in the style and arrangement of the music. Also, being able to record at Echo Mountain Studios was basically a dream come true. The equipment, aesthetics, and staff were incomparable.

Are there any songs in particular you are excited about?

I suppose my favorite song is “the Princess Dream.” It’s a personal story – how I grew into myself, and learned to accept and love myself despite growing pains.  What I love the most is the more we played the song live, the more women who have come to me to tell me it’s their story too. It feels connected, and if the song was as healing for them as it was me, I’ve done something worthwhile.

If there is one thing your fans should know about this album, what is it? 

It’s the message. Don’t Apologize! This is a reminder – be kind to yourself, love yourself, love the folks around you.  If we all spread that love, one soul at a time, think what we could do for this hurting world! We often feel so powerless, but this is a small but important way to gain the power and help our communities.  Whatever that means to you is fine because we all have different ideas of what that means. It doesn’t matter. Just do it. And remember it all starts with accepting and loving yourself as the perfectly imperfect soul that you are. 

Do you feel this work is a departure or continuation of your previous work? How so? 

It’s a departure in that the content is a bit more uplifting than past projects – BUT – it’s a continuation of my personal journey, and therein lies the connection. Life is a little different, my perspective has shifted, I’ve got a few more miles under my belt, and I want to share that.  

Learn more about Beth and stay up to date with her performance schedule at bethsnapp.com.

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Meet ‘Southern Accents’ performer Michaela Anne

Wednesday, June 20th, 2018

Michaela Anne will perform as part of the ‘Southern Accents’ series, a free outdoor concert series honoring the music of Tom Petty.

 
Michaela Anne is our next featured performer in the free summer outdoor concert series ‘Southern Accents: New original music inspired by the songwriting legend Tom Petty’ in New York City. The lineup features some of North America’s best up-and-coming acts playing original music inspired by the well-loved troubadour Tom Petty.
 
Upon releasing her 2014 album, Ease My Mind (Kingswood Records), singer-songwriter Michaela Anne garnered considerable acclaim for her introspective songwriting. The New York Times praised the “plain-spoken songs of romantic regret and small-town longing” and the Village Voice listed it among its Top 5 Country Albums of the year. The Nashville, TN based artist just finished recording her next album in California, and we can’t wait for what comes next for this rising indie country star. 
 
We asked Michaela Anne three questions in advance of her ‘Southern Accents’ performances Tuesday, June 26 at One New York Plaza and Wednesday June 27 at Grace Plaza. Both shows take place 12:30-1:30 pm and are free and open to the public.
 
 
1. How does Tom Petty influence your own music?
Tom petty greatly influences my music, as I’m sure he does most songwriters, with his to-the-point, feel-good songwriting. His songs are the anthems to so many of our experiences, and I strive to write simple, to-the-heart songs. He had a unique way of capturing universal feelings in the most perfect way.
 

2. What is your songwriting process like?
My songwriting process is kind of all over the place. I’m not a very disciplined songwriter. I go through phases of sitting down to write pretty consistently, then go through times where nothing comes out and then, out of nowhere, a song will appear. I often play and sing at the same time until an idea starts to form, trying to channel it until I have enough to go back to. I’ll then approach it in a more academic way, with editing and pushing myself to find the most fitting way to say things.
 
3. What’s coming up for you that you would like readers to know about?
I just finished recording a new album out in California produced by Sam Outlaw and Kelly Winrich (Delta Spirit), which I’m really excited about. Until that comes out — hopefully early next year — I’ll be touring pretty sparingly, so I’m excited to be playing shows in New York now! But new music is definitely on its way, and lots of touring is on the horizon. 
 
Stay up-to-date with Michaela Anne’s album release and show schedule on her website, www.michaelaanne.com.

WHAT: ‘Southern Accents’: Michaela Anne

WHERE: One New York Plaza (6/26) // Grace Plaza (6/27)

WHEN: 6/26 & 6/27 // 12:30-1:30 pm

FREE SHOW

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Meet ‘Southern Accents’ performer Farewell Milwaukee

Tuesday, June 19th, 2018

Farewell Milwaukee performs as part of the ‘Southern Accents’ series, a free outdoor concert series celebrating the late songwriter Tom Petty.

Farewell Milwaukee is our next featured band in the free summer outdoor concert series ‘Southern Accents: New original music inspired by the songwriting legend Tom Petty’ in New York City. The lineup features some of North America’s best up-and-coming acts playing original music inspired by the well-loved troubadour Tom Petty.

Mainstays of the Minneapolis music scene since 2008, Farewell Milwaukee embraces the role that Midwestern towns have played in shaping the band artistically, garnering them fans through their authentic lyrics, lush vocal harmonies, and an honest sincerity at live shows. They have gathered accolades from local and national press, landed a song placement on major-network TV, opened for the Lumineers (among others), and are featured on compilations alongside Mumford & Sons, Adele and Amos Lee.

We asked Farewell Milkwaukee three questions in advance of the band’s ‘Southern Accents’ performances Tuesday, June 19 at One New York Plaza and Wednesday June 20 at Grace Plaza. Both shows take place 12:30-1:30 pm and are free and open to the public.

1. How does Tom Petty influence your own music?

I bought the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers greatest hits tape when I was in middle school, and by early high school had worn it out. I logged so many hours on the lawn mower listening to those songs. I also saw him in 1999 at Summerfest in Milwaukee on the 4th of July and he closed with “American Girl.” It was magic. He wrote perfect rock and roll music and all of us in Farewell Milwaukee have similar experiences in which his music shaped important moments in our lives. Tom’s like the cool, unassuming uncle that was always there for you on the radio. 

2. What is your songwriting process like?

On our most recent album, “FM” I came into the studio with a batch of songs and our producer friend Jason Orris said, “These are great songs, but you have one more in you! Try writing something that’s three chords and happier, like something Tom Petty would write!” I was up for the challenge and wrote a song called “Hurt No More” for my daughter, which became the lead track on that album. It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve written, and it’s super fun to play live. 

3. What’s coming up for you that you would like readers to know about?

We’re starting to enter a writing season. We have a ton of fun outdoor shows throughout the Midwest this summer, following our visit to New York, but after that, we’re hoping to focus on writing songs for a new record. 

Stay up-to-date with Farewell Milwaukee’s news and schedule on the band’s website, farewellmilwaukee.com.

WHAT: ‘Southern Accents’: Farewell Milwaukee

WHERE: One New York Plaza (6/19) // Grace Plaza (6/20)

WHEN: 6/19 & 6/20 // 12:30-1:30 pm

FREE SHOW

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