GOT SONGS? TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC!
The deadline to enter the 15th Annual NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is TONIGHT (Monday, October 17) at 11:59pm PST. Ten finalists will be selected to compete at the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City this December for the grand prize, which includes featured prize performances in 2017 back at Lincoln Center AND the ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The winner will also receive a multi-day professional recording session at the award winning Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC.
As an entrant in the 2016 competition, you are also eligible for exclusive discounts on future recording sessions at Echo Mountain Recording Studios, and you and your music will be considered for additional recording and performance opportunities across the U.S.
Win the 2016 NewSong Music Competition and YOU will get to perform at the Sundance Film Festival’s prestigious ASCAP Music Café
JUST ANNOUNCED: The grand prize winner of this year’s 15th Annual NewSong Music Showcase & Competition will now be featured at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival’s prestigious ASCAP Music Café, following in the tradition of previous #NewSongMusic grand prize winners Max Hatt/Edda Glass, Rachael Kilgour and The Cardinal Sons. Learn More.
“The ASCAP and NewSong Music collaboration continues to deliver some of the Music Cafe’s most memorable performances. We’re excited to discover the next great artist to perform at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.” – Erik Philbrook, ASCAP VP & Creative Director
We are giving you an extra 48 hours to submit your music!
We’re extending the deadline 48 hours for you to get those new songs submitted into this year’s program over the weekend. The new deadline is now this Monday, October 17 at 11:59 PM EDT.
Three questions with Early Bird Finalist: Middle Child
NewSong Music is proud to count the band Middle Child among our Early Bird Finalists. While each of these three musicians has immense talent — and two have established solo careers — the bandmates discovered that they were better together. And we are so glad they did.
Austin Max and Danny Silberstein began writing songs together after meeting at Berklee College of Music in 2013. Terrell Hines soon joined the band, filling in harmonies and playing drums. Together, the trio boasts a psychedelic R&B sound that is inspired by the likes of The Wrecking Crew, Frank Ocean, Paul Simon, and Al Green. Middle Child will release its first official single in the fall of 2016, and we can’t wait for the world to hear it.
We took the time to ask Danny some questions about the band. To learn more about Middle Child, visit middlechildofficialband.com.
What are your biggest inspirations as songwriters?
I think basic human emotions are really the common thread between each of our songs. When we write, we try to take a snapshot of way we are feeling at that point in time. Different harmonies and arrangements tend to evoke a variety of feelings and emotions, so we like to approach writing songs with an opening mind, both instrumentally and stylistically.
Why did you submit to the NewSong Music Competition?
We were inspired to submit after seeing that the Cardinal Sons had won the competition a while back. We’re fans of their Echo Choir EP, so we wanted to be involved with the people who helped create it.
What’s the one thing you would like people to know about Middle Child?
We are independent artists who came together to make something bigger than the three of us. We love music so much, and would love people to feel that in our music.
Three questions with Early Bird Finalist: Market Junction
Market Junction is the name under which Matt Parish and Justin Lofton share their insightful brand of Americana, and NewSong Music is excited to welcome the Houston, Texas-based duo as Early Bird Finalists.
The two friends currently have a single called “All I Really Need” on the Texas Region Radio chart, and they have secured opening spots for artists including Charlie Pride, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Little Texas. We think it’s only a matter of time before we start hearing more about Market Junction, and we are only too happy to welcome them to the NewSong stage.
We asked Matt and Justin a few questions about their songwriting. To learn more about the band, visit mktjct.com.
How would you describe your sound to those who have never heard you before?
We are Americana to our core. If you listen to our record, you will hear elements of folk, country and rock, but the foundation lies in our quest to tell a good story.
What fuels your songwriting?
Justin and I have been best friends for a long time. Our experiences together, along with our families, find their way into our writing. We are suckers for sad stories and hard times. Artistically, our goal is to paint a picture without drawing the lines too clearly.
What inspired you to submit to NewSong?
We had not heard about NewSong before, but the contest intrigued us. We were looking for a way to showcase our songwriting abilities on a national level, and NewSong seemed to be a good avenue for that.
Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your music into the 2016 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition. The final deadline for this year’s competition is October 15, 2016 at 11:59pm EST.
KORBY LENKER DISCUSSES CAREER AND LASTING FRIENDSHIPS MADE AT NEWSONG MUSIC COMPETITION
Korby Lenker, performing in the 2014 NewSong finals at New York’s Lincoln Center
Korby Lenker is an accomplished Nashville-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and past NewSong finalist. His music features sounds ranging from folksy, indie-pop songs to hard rock funk tunes, and his albums have garnered him praise from SPIN Magazine and the BBC’s Bob Harris. READ MORE
Watch Videos From Some Of The 2016 NewSong Finalists
Korby Lenker, performing in the 2014 NewSong finals at New York’s Lincoln Center
Korby Lenker is an accomplished Nashville-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and past NewSong finalist who is no stranger to songwriting competitions. His music features sounds ranging from folksy, indie-pop songs to hard rock funk tunes, and his albums have garnered him praise from SPIN Magazine, the BBC’s Bob Harris, as well as opening slots for acts ranging from Willie Nelson to Ray LaMontagne, and Nickel Creek to Keith Urban. Most recently, in September 2016, Lenker took home the first place prize in the esteemed Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter’s Showcase.
Lenker’s undeniable talent as a songwriter, paired with his successes as a short story writer and even filmmaker, assure us that this NewSong finalist is on the road to even bigger and better things. We took some time to talk with Lenker about his experience with NewSong Music, and how the connections he made during the competition impacted his career.
What inspired you to submit your work to NewSong Music Competition?
As a professional touring singer-songwriter, I’m always looking for ways to get my music out there and have it be recognized. I had heard of the NewSong competition from a friend who had entered the year before, so I went for it.
What are some of the networking opportunities that you encountered through NewSong?
The best part of NewSong was the dinner the night before. It was only a couple hours, so we didn’t have a lot of time, but somehow I was able to make several new friends who I have since both toured with and have included on recordings. There were artists like me from all over the country, not just people who were doing it, but people who were GOOD. The dinner the night before made it easy to get to know each other.
Would you recommend that other artists submit to NewSong? Why?
I would recommend any singer songwriter serious about their career to submit to NewSong. It’s fun to play Lincoln Center, and the contest and concert itself was run very efficiently and professionally. It was a few years ago for me, but I still carry fond memories, and have relationships to this day that were forged that weekend in NYC.
Lenker is currently recording his latest album titled, Thousand Springs. To learn more about the upcoming album, as well as keep up to date on performances, visit korbylenker.com.
NewSong alum and past finalist Queen Esther recently gave us a BTS view in the day of the life of this talented singer/songwriter during a recent performance at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
2016 NewSong Music Finalist Ethan Crump Returns to LEAF on October 22
Ethan Crump is a Hartwell, Georgia-based musician who pens country-folk songs with a world weariness and wisdom beyond his nineteen years. The singer-songwriter’s straightforward yet poignant tunes caught the attention of judges at last year’s NewSong Music competition at the Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) in Black Mountain, North Carolina. He won first place that day, which means festival-goers will have another chance to watch this promising young musician perform at LEAF on Saturday, October 22, 2016.
Crump released his debut EP, Hellfire and Amazing Grace, this summer. He counts John Prine and Guy Clark among his influences, but says his rural country upbringing — including afternoons spent with his grandmother — had more impact on his songwriting than anything else. The EP’s impressive title track is inspired by his grandparents, who were born into the Great Depression.
Crump says that he isn’t “competitively inclined,” but he submitted his songs to NewSong Music anyway, at the urging of a friend who had participated in past years. “Despite my preconceived notion that competitions are always intense and combative — I grew up in a football town — the overall atmosphere was relaxed,” says Crump. “The other finalists were very amiable and supportive.”
Not only did Crump secure himself slot in the 2016 LEAF lineup, but he also says the competition opened up other doors for him. “Aside from it being an excellent experience as a performer, [NewSong] introduces you to a network of great people involved in the music scene around Asheville,” he says. Crump will open for folk musician Jeff Black at Isis Music Hall in Asheville on Wednesday, October 5th.
LEAF-goers will not want to miss Crump’s Saturday, October 22nd performance at 12:15 pm at the barn stage. For more information on LEAF, visit theleaf.org. For more information on Ethan Crump, including his tour schedule, visit ethancrump.com.
Today is your last chance to save 20% on your song entries to the 2016 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition. Use promo code – NSM2016 – at checkout to get an instant discount. Submit Today #WhereGreatArtistsAreDiscovered
2015 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition grand prize winner Rachael Kilgour returned to Lincoln Center on September 8th along with 2015 finalist Blair Bodine. Photo credit: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Lincoln Center’s Jordana Phokompe | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
NewSong Music Director Gar Ragland introducing the artists| David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Rachael Kilgour | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair Bodine | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Darial Sneed
Blair, Gar & Rachael in the green room | David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center | Photo: Meera Dugal
