They’ll be joining us here in Asheville next month to network, showcase and compete at LEAF Retreat, on May 11, 2024 in Black Mountain, NC (right outside of Asheville).
On behalf of everyone at LEAF Global Arts and NewSong Music, a DEEP thanks to all of the fantastic artists who submitted. The pool of talent was outstanding again this year, making our job all the more difficult and the finalists’ recognition all the more impressive.
To everyone who entered, your creative work inspires us. Thanks for sharing it, and PLEASE keep on writing, singing and recording your art … the world’s a better place for it, and we need your songs now more than ever.
The annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Showcase and Competition, now in its tenth year, will take place at LEAF Global Arts Retreat, in Black Mountain, N.C., on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
The performance showcase and competition is a collaborative effort between NewSong Music and LEAF Global 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 Retreat (a more intimate iteration of LEAF’s annual fall 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 LEAF Global Arts Festival, held October 17-20, 2024, as a featured, paid performer.
Past winners include Jimmie Griffith, Noan Partly, Parker Ainsworth, and Moon Bride.
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.”
The deadline for Early Bird submissions is Friday, March 8. 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, March 31. Finalists are expected to be announced by Sunday, April 7.
“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 Global 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 Global Arts Retreat (May) and LEAF Global Arts Festival (October). Since 1995, LEAF has served more than 200,000 youths with programs in more than 15 community locations and in 10 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.theLEAF.org.
NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is thrilled to announce that Natalie Price from Nashville, Tennessee, is the 2023 Grand Prize Winner. (Photos by Aaron Stone.)
During the Saturday, November 18, finals, Price showcased five songs with infectious hooks that felt like instant hits. Her grand prize package includes a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 500 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl.
“Natalie’s storytelling within her singing and songwriting held the audience in her grasp,” said LEAF Performing Arts Coordinator and NewSong judge Otto Vazquez. “Like puppets on a string, she had us either crying or chuckling, qualities of a truly masterful artist. Looking forward to seeing her soar.”
Learn more about Natalie Price’s self-described “Ameri-kinda” music here.“I really enjoyed visiting Asheville, seeing Citizen Studios, and getting to know the other finalists. We had a great time together exploring the city and talking about music and life, “ said Price. “The contest itself was a great experience — the seats were full and everyone seemed engaged with what we were doing. Thank you to NewSong for hosting the event and having me out this year!”
The internationally recognized NewSong Music event, now in its 22nd year, is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters today. The Saturday, November 18, finale concert brought seven finalists — selected from nearly 500 entries, and from across the U.S. and Canada — to Asheville, NC, for an evening of songs and connection. The magical evening of singer-songwriter performances ran the gamut from soulful Americana to indie-pop and from country roots to Portuguese-infused melodies.
The 2023 runners up were: MaisCéu (Jimmie Griffith; Lenoir, NC) and Reece Sullivan (Lafayette, LA).
The full finalist lineup included: Beth // James (Mikaela and Jordan Burchill; Austin, TX); Cloudbelly (Corey Laitman, Turners Falls, MA); Senobia (Midway, GA); and Stacy Antonel (Nashville, TN).
Judges for the event, which took place at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville, included Garret K. Woodward, Otto Vazquez, Jamie Beck, and Gar Ragland. Learn more about the judges here.
As this year’s Grand Prize Winner, Natalie Price joins NewSong Music’s impressive roster of artists such as Crys Matthews, Rachael Kilgour, Michael Flynn, Jobi Riccio, AC Sapphire, and others.
Join us in welcoming this year’s panel of judges, all music industry professionals. We appreciate their insight and expertise in selecting a Grand Prize Winner, who will receive a six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, with vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl.
Garret K. Woodward has been the arts/music editor for The Smoky Mountain News, an alt-weekly covering Western North Carolina, since 2012. He’s also the music editor for Smoky Mountain Living magazine, a national publication whose jurisdiction rolls across seven states in Southern Appalachia.
In 2018, Woodward joined Rolling Stone as a contributing writer, focusing
mainly on music festivals from coast-to-coast. As an author, Woodward penned the 2017 book If You Can’t Play, Get Off the Stage: Bluegrass in Western North Carolina and Beyond. To date, Woodward has been nominated three times for “Writer of the Year” by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Otto Vazquez is the Artistic Curator for LEAF Global Arts, working to book bands and create themes for the organization’s signature events, including the annual LEAF Global Arts Festival. He is also a prolific street dancer, choreographer, published author and poet, filmmaker and grand educator who has taught at more than 100 universities both in the United States and abroad.
Jamie Beck is the Sales Director at Merge Records in Durham, N.C. Her first concert was a performance by Kitty Wells on a cattle farm outside of Kansas City, Missouri.
Gar Ragland is a producer, musician, and president and co-founder of the NewSong Music Group. He is also the founder of CEO of Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, N.C. Gar is a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys).
Martin Anderson, Music Director and Host at WNCW, will emcee the evening. Martin joined WNCW in 2001 as the weekday morning host. He loves interviewing the many talented musicians who come to Studio B, stretching out with the many styles ‘NCW embraces, and reflecting listener requests, events of the day, and the beautiful Southern Appalachian landscape. As Music Director, he books live sessions, and keeps in touch with the record labels and promoters that send new music.
In celebration of its 22nd anniversary, NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition will welcome eight finalists to Asheville, NC, for an evening of songs and connection on Saturday, November 18, 2023. 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.
Clockwise from top left: Damon K. Clark, Beth // James, Reece Sullivan, Natalie Price, Stacy Antonel, Senobia, MaisCéu, Cloudbelly.
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.
2022 NewSong Music finalists (with NewSong founder Gar Ragland, center back). Image by Aaron Stone Photo
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 2024.
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 record and art store, and more.
Now in its 22nd 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.
NewSong Music is now accepting original song entries for its 22nd 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.
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 2024.
2022 NewSong Music finalists (with NewSong founder Gar Ragland, center back). Image by Aaron Stone Photo
Past NewSong winners and standouts include Ingrid Michaelson, Slow Runner, Crys Matthews, and Jobi Riccio.
Discounted ‘Early Bird’ entries are now open (1 song: $45; 2 songs: $80; additional songs: $30 each). Entry prices increase after Sunday, July 9, with the final deadline for submissions on Sunday, September 3. 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 Tuesday, September 26, 2023.
Jobi Riccio, Grand Prize Winner of the 18th Annual NewSong Competition.
Mark your calendar for the 2023 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finale, which will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.
MaisCéu — the solo project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jimmie Griffith — won this year’s LEAF Songwriter Competition.
Griffith hails from the mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil. His compositions are a fusion of American and Brazilian musical traditions, reflecting his upbringing steeped in both cultures. At the LEAF Songwriter Competition, held Saturday, May 13, at LEAF Retreat, Griffith mesmerized the audience with intricate guitar melodies, upbeat auxiliary percussion, and lyrics sung in Portuguese.
“The experience of bonding with the other talented finalists, both on and off the stage, was nothing short of magical,” Griffith says. “As I looked around the room, filled with incredible talent, I was overjoyed and surprised when my name was announced as the winner of the 2023 NewSong Songwriter’s Competition. It feels surreal to witness how the songs I composed in a quiet corner of my room, with such personal meaning to me, are now resonating with new audiences.”
The singer-songwriter, who is currently based in Lenoir, N.C., earned a spot as one of only eight finalists at the annual, international NewSong Competition, to be held in Asheville this fall. MaisCéu will also return to the Fall LEAF Festival, held October 19-22, 2023, as a featured, paid performer.
“LEAF has always held a special place in my heart, and it has been a dream of mine to not only participate in the NewSong Songwriter’s Competition but also to be a featured performer at LEAF,” Griffith says. “I am looking forward to continuing this journey by putting together a special performance for the upcoming LEAF in the fall.”
From left, Gar Ragland, Jimmie Griffith, Josh Batenhorst, Jess Young, Lyle de Vitry, Corrie Lynn Green, Bridger Dunnagan, Jess Clemons, Quinn Tuff, Maggie Monaghan, Kate Prascher, Tiana Kennel, China Langford.
Judges for the event, culled from Asheville, N.C.’s music industry professionals, included arts and culture journalist Tiana Kennel, talent booker China Langford, and NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland.
“Once again this year’s finalists showcased a wonderful array of original material to an attentive and appreciative LEAF audience,” said Ragland. “ I’m continually impressed and humbled by the level and diversity of talent that this program attracts. It’s an honor to be able to showcase this caliber of talent each year with LEAF.”
Genres ran the gamut from folk and Americana to indie-pop. Seven finalists and their accompanists traveled from as far as Oregon’s Hood River Gorge to share their songs.
The LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition is a collaborative effort between NewSong Music and LEAF Global Arts. It aims to identify and recognize exceptional performers and songwriters from across the country.
The annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, now in its ninth year, will take place at Spring LEAF Retreat, in Black Mountain, N.C., on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Eight singer-songwriters have been selected from across the country to showcase, compete, and network at the competition.
MAGGIE MONAGHAN (Wellesley, MA)
Maggie Monaghan is an indie-folk singer-songwriter from Wellesley, MA. She is currently a rising senior at Wesleyan University in CT where she leads weekly open mics and is working on a musical. She began songwriting in high school, and it quickly became one of her biggest passions. She released her first single in May of 2022—and another last month—and is currently working to record and release an EP. Some of her top musical influences are Noah Kahan, Mt. Joy, St. Terrible, and Lizzy McAlpine.
NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
Maggie Monaghan: To someone who has never heard my music before, I would describe it as an intersection of the Indie-Folk and singer-songwriter genres. I am a huge lyrics person when I listen to music, so that is one of the areas of my songwriting that I would say has grown the most over time. I grew up playing piano, so I write a lot of music on piano but have recently picked up the guitar as well. I feel like guitar has definitely helped me lean even further into the folky elements of my songs throughout the writing and production process.
What is the first album you bought, and why?
The first album I ever bought was Elton John’s Greatest Hits because my dad used to have a CD of the album in his car, and I remember countless car rides from soccer games or school, blasting “Tiny Dancer” and “Crocodile Rock.” My dad has always been one of my biggest fans; in high school, I spent hours at the piano every week, singing and playing, and he would sit on the stairs behind me and just listen. He is relentlessly supportive of my dreams in music, and it always feels special to share that passion together.
What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?
Rainbow Kitten Surprise has been one of my top artists for the past four years. Some of their songs definitely trend in a more Indie direction, but a lot of their music is pretty alt. rock, which is why they may be a surprise as far as an influence for my music. Hearing about how they write some of their songs has been fascinating and inspired a lot of my music. Some songs of theirs have only two chords and yet such intricate and funky melodies. I remember first getting into them and being blown away by their lyrics, which have since inspired my approach to writing. Many of their lyrics could mean so many different things, and that act of interpretation is something I love about listening to their music. Their lyrics, tight harmonies, and instrumentals work together to convey such a specific vibe for each of their songs, and this cohesion—out of so many different, simultaneous instrumental elements—is something I admire. During my gap year, I spent a lot of time in my makeshift recording studio (a closet in our attic) on GarageBand making mash-ups, my favorite being an RKS-Maggie Rogers one.
What projects are you currently working on?
Since October, I have been working to record an EP with Pace Ferro, who owns Pharaoh Recording Studios in Plainville, CT, and Julian Sherwood, who is an incredible Indie artist and instrumentalist. I am always writing and playing music, whether I am walking to class, at golf practice, or listening to music. I am also currently working on a musical about the environment and colonialism; the plot takes place in a McDonald’s-esque fast food chain restaurant, and one of the main characters is a naturalist from the 1700s, back from the dead. During the fall semester, I started weekly open mics with two friends at school and have been working to build that community since. Getting to see the variety of talent that people show up with, week after week—as well as getting to meet and collaborate with so many new people—has been a highlight of my year.
The annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, now in its ninth year, will take place at Spring LEAF Retreat, in Black Mountain, N.C., on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Eight singer-songwriters have been selected from across the country to showcase, compete, and network at the competition.
CORRIE LYNN GREEN (Port Republic, VA)
Born and raised in The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Corrie Lynn Green writes and reflects the secrets and stories of life in a small holler town. Drawing from her deep roots in rural Appalachia, she pulls the history of life, rebellion, religion, hardship, grit, joy, acceptance and the displacement of her friends and family off Shenandoah National Park into her captivating songs.
NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
Corrie Lynn Green: I would describe my music as an authentic, raw and unique sound and experience. My banjo style is unique to the folk songs I create. I break a lot of rules when it comes to any of the ways music is “supposed” to be. I just put forward what seems real and right to me as its being created. I tell stories that help heal me and help convey the story of the people I grew up with living the beautiful mountain way, often misunderstood, underestimated and ignored.
What is the first album you bought, and why?
The first album I ever purchased was on Vinyl and it was Prince, Purple Rain. It is still my all time favorite album. Regardless of musical genre Prince was an incredible instrumentalist and creator of songs never heard before. He always broke rules and did things completely his way. He had a vision and his music is timeless but also captures a perfect time in my life as I fell in love with music.
What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?
An influence on my music that may surprise you are bands like Beastie Boys, Tribe Called Quest, Moby, and Chris Isaak. These are not the main things I listen to but each of these styles existed somewhere in my time growing up and helped me break away from the idea that just because I had a very specific voice or that I played a very specific instrument I could experience and know music to have endless possibilities and I could go my own way following my heart to my authentic sound.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a new album with D.W. Fearn that will be very different from the first. I believe we are always growing and changing and having life experiences that shape our music and sound. I am also getting ready for a very cool summer of gigs including Redwing Roots Festival, FredFest, The Purple Fiddle, and in the fall The Northern Appalachian Folk Fest Inc.
The annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, now in its ninth year, will take place at Spring LEAF Retreat, in Black Mountain, N.C., on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Eight singer-songwriters have been selected from across the country to showcase, compete, and network at the competition.
LYLE DE VITRY (Asheville, NC)
Asheville based singer-songwriter Lyle de Vitry‘s thoughtfully crafted melodies and poetry are imaginative, visually arresting and thought provoking as he explores themes of nature, love, memory and the temporal. Lyle’s creative expression and inspiration are derived from a wide range of sonic spaces. A life of classical training, curious exploration of jazz, and a passion for traditional Appalachian music have each shaped his style into something fresh and innovative.
NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
I didn’t start buying vinyl until quite recently, actually. I don’t own many, but the first one I bought was Abysskiss by Adrianne Lenker. She’s one of my favorite songwriters and guitar players. That album is a masterpiece.
What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?
I’m an old-time musician, and although most of my music may not sound inspired by Appalachian old-time, I’ve noticed more and more of my songs have a similar trance quality to some of the fiddle tunes I love to play.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’ve been working on my debut album titled Door Within A Dream for the past year and a half. We’ve reached the mastering stage, so it’s nearly done! I also have a backlog of instrumental guitar music and a few piano compositions that I hope to record this spring/summer with some friends in Asheville. Additionally, I’ve been experimenting with writing choral music and arranging strings.
