Posts Tagged ‘NewSong Music Finalists’

Announcing the 2026 NewSong Finalists

Friday, September 25th, 2026

Fist, a heartfelt thanks to ALL of the talented musicians and songwriters who have participated in this year’s program! The dedication to your craft has continued to inspire us for the last quarter century.

And, a huge congratulations to this year’s finalists, who will join us in Asheville, NC, to perform, network and compete for the grand prize of the 25th annual NewSong Music Competition, presented by Citizen Vinyl and held Sunday, October 25 at The Grey Eagle. 

Andrew Hoyt (Chicago, IL)

Andrew Hoyt is a full-time touring singer-songwriter blending folk, pop, and acoustic vibes into a sound that’s both warm and unique. His latest EP, Kind of Paradise, features songs co-written with acclaimed artists Matt Wertz and Andy Davis, weaving heartfelt lyrics with melodies that feel like sunshine and nostalgia. Andrew celebrated the release with a full-band show at The Basement in Nashville.

Artemis Montague (Rockville, MD) 

Artemis Montague is a Producer, Musical Theatre Writer as well as the creator of the blog, “Reflections of a Life Renewed.” They have over 200 songs, one of which was a finalist for the 2022 Write Out Loud Contest (“friend”), received an AudioFemme Agenda Grant in May 2023 to record an EP of original music, and have released two songs – “could you (I’m yours)” and “gets none” – as an independent singer-songwriter.

Bad Hints (Lancaster, PA) 

Bad Hints is the project of singer-songwriter Jes Plain, whose most recent single is “Action Potential.” Of the song, Jes writes, “On the day I wrote Action Potential, I played my guitar so loud it felt like it would swallow me whole. The words ‘wall of sound’ were always in my mind for this one.” Bad Hints released Pure Show in 2024, the single “Things in the Dark” last October, has an album release slated for November.

Jason Piquette (Black Mountain, NC) 

Jason Piquette is an indie folk singer-songwriter from Florida, creating heartfelt songs that blend warm acoustic sounds with honest, reflective lyrics. His music explores themes of hope, connection, and finding light in everyday moments. With tracks like “Hearts for Sale,” “Drop the Gun,” and “From the Ground,” Jason invites listeners into an intimate space where emotion and storytelling meet.

Kate Waters (Houston, TX) 

Hope—specifically the kind that’s hard fought-for—is the undercurrent of Kate Waters’ new full-length album. She finds light in every hardship, and never spares us the dirty, difficult work of searching for it. That honesty to the process lends even her most anthemic offerings a human authenticity, the feeling that we’ve stood by her side in every battle, and she, ours. So when Waters promises a happy ending on the stunning single “It Gets Better,” we believe her.

Logan Vath** (Norfolk, VA) 

A 2026 Kerrville New Folk Winner, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Finalist; Rocky Mountain Singer Songwriter Festival Finalist, and winner of CF Martin’s “Lifespan” songwriting competition, Logan continues to perform at singer/songwriter festivals nationally: including showcases at 30A Songwriter Festival,  and an invitation to The Foundation Stage at the acclaimed Newport Folk Festival.
**2026 Early Bird Finalist

Sara Beth Go (Nashville, TN) 

Sara Beth is a 2025 Kerrville New Folk winner, a 2024 Kerrville New Folk finalist, and a top five finalist in the 2025 Rocky Mountain Songwriting Contest. Drawing from her colorful upbringing in New Orleans, she began creating stop-motion animations in 2022 to accompany her music. The result is a live show that feels less like a performance and more like an experience — something akin to a really good therapy session.

Your Friend Rachel (Brooklyn, NY)

Your Friend Rachel is first and foremost a crafter. Of lyrics, melodies, stories, and art made from trash. Her songs speak to the dissonance of being human in an increasingly inhuman world. A songwriter since childhood, her work blossomed in collaboration with spouse Pat Oberstaedt, a multi-hyphenate instrumentalist and music producer. Your Friend Rachel’s debut album Silly Little Human is currently in production.

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Q&A with 2025 NewSong Finalist Susan Anderson

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025

Susan Anderson is a singer, songwriter, and violin player. She has performed across the country as a classical, jazz, punk, bluegrass, children’s-music, sacred-ritual, folk and country artist. Equally at home in a concert hall as an intimate jazz club or DIY basement space, Susan has always embraced the expansive creativity and endless possibilities that music has allowed her to explore.

Susan and seven other finalists will gather in Asheville on Thursday, December 11, to connect and perform at the 24th annual NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, held at The Grey Eagle. Tickets are on sale HERE.

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

Susan: My mom is a piano player, so the foundation of my musical DNA are the songs that she was playing while I was growing up. There were songs that I knew really well like Fats Waller’s “Honeysuckle Rose,” or Kurt Weill’s “Speak Low,” or practically Carole King’s entire catalog that I had never heard a recording of. I just learned them all from her playing. Later, when I learned to read music I would play out of her music books and make my own arrangements of the songs, still, without ever hearing a real recording of any of the songs. As a family, we listened to a lot of Oldies, Country and Classical music. You were just as likely to hear George Strait as you were Dvorak 9 cranked to 11 on our family stereo. Driving to violin lessons, my mom, sister, and I were singing along to The Commitments soundtrack, or the Oldies or Country stations. That’s also how I learned how to sing harmony.

What was your journey to music — were you classically trained? From a family of musicians? Self-taught?
 
We had a lot of instruments in the house when I was growing up. When I was 3, I found a full size violin and wouldn’t leave it alone. It was way too big for me, so I would haul it into the kitchen, pull out the silverware drawer, balance the neck of the violin on the drawer, then go to town on the open strings.  My mom would wheel our upright piano into the kitchen to accompany me as I sawed away on the open strings. Our biggest hit was a rousing rendition of “Hey Diddle Diddle the Cat and the Fiddle.” After a few months of this, my parents saw that I was genuinely interested in learning how to play and got me lessons. Since then, I just never stopped. Classical violin lessons were consistent throughout my schooling, but I also studied jazz violin, took piano lessons, and started playing in bands when I was in college. I kept looking for any opportunity to play. I actually didn’t start writing music until I was out of college and performing my own music is the newest part of my musical journey.

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

 
I’m not sure if there’s a specific song that I can pinpoint that I was first proud of, but something that really makes me feel good is when people comment on my lyrics. I feel really accomplished when I find a good turn of phrase, or can get a metaphor to span a couple verses, or find that one line that turns everything in a direction you weren’t expecting. It might be because I considered myself an instrumentalist for decades before I considered myself a songwriter, but I feel a special sense of pride when I really nail a lyric that speaks to someone.

What is your writing process like? 

 
Lyrics almost always come to me first, and it’s almost always a chorus. I always joke that I could never teach someone how to write a song, because my method is to just think a lot. All of the time. Occasionally, I’ll get a general idea or theme for a song and go from there, but usually it’s one line that is part of a chorus that gets everything started. I’m really fortunate that I’m able to write in my head, without an instrument. I worked as a preschool teacher for a long time, and there are a lot of my songs that were written while I was walking around the playground watching the kids. Then, when I’d have the chance, I could sit down at the piano and get everything out of my head. Now that I have more time, I don’t have to do as much mental writing, but I do get all of my best ideas when I’m driving when there’s nary an instrument in sight. I’ve always been a night owl and can usually be found playing and writing music until the wee small hours of the morning. 

Share a musical adventure from this summer with us.

 
This actually happened in the early fall, but I had a really great opportunity to perform solo fiddle and vocal on Phillip Rhodes’ “Concerto for Bluegrass Band and Orchestra” with the Blue Ridge Orchestra. The concerto is a fantastic piece written for bluegrass band and full symphony orchestra that mixes traditional bluegrass tunes with themes from Beethoven and a little bit of everything else in between! I’ve played violin concertos with orchestras before, but never imagined that I would have the opportunity to play fiddle in that setting. The piece was played as the finale of a concert programmed around remembering, rebuilding and reimagining after hurricane Helene. The entire experience was really special and I feel really fortunate that I was able to have that opportunity. 

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Q&A with 2025 NewSong Finalist Alex Sheh

Wednesday, October 29th, 2025
Alex Sheh is a singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His music blends elements of jazz, blues, folk, and pop. His soulful vocals and expressive guitar playing create a warm and inviting atmosphere for listeners. Whether playing original music or timeless classics, Alex brings passion and depth to every performance. He believes in the power of music to share our stories and uplift each other.
 
Alex and and 7 other finalists will gather in Asheville on December 11 to perform at the 24th annual NewSong Competition.
 
 
NewSong Music: What sort of music was playing in your house when you were growing up?
 
Alex Sheh: My parents love music and singing. Mandarin pop music would be playing in the house and they often hosted karaoke parties with their friends. My older sister, an actress and a big fan of musical theater, introduced me to Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and others. I remember listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Jobim, the Oldies station, and Top 40.
 
What was your journey to music? 
 
My music journey started with classical piano and violin lessons as a child. Then I started learning guitar in seventh grade and everything changed – I became very focused on music and started writing songs shortly after. I sang in choirs through high school and participated in the Madrigal choir, which deepened my love for songs. I received my Bachelor’s in music composition from U.C. San Diego, where I studied classical guitar and piano. After graduating, I took private lessons in voice and jazz guitar. Later, I would study jazz piano, bass, and drums.
 
What is the first song you wrote that you were proud of, and why?
 
My first song that I was proud of is called “So Easy.” It was the first song that I wrote, at 13 years old, when my technique was limited. Everything about music felt new and exciting, and it was written instinctively, in a flash of inspiration. It was a song that my friends and family loved, and I loved seeing them connect with the music. This was when I caught the songwriting bug.
 
 
What is your writing process like?
 
My writing process is to improvise the vocal melody while accompanying myself on guitar or piano. Sometimes a specific guitar or piano part will appear first and influence the melody, but they are developed together. I compose by singing and playing into a DAW, so that I can let the ideas flow freely and then listen back and review the material. I sing improvised lyrics when writing, sometimes gibberish, but often these improvised lyrics reveal where the song should go. The music is completed first, and then the lyrics are finalized after. Song ideas can come from many places — my own experiences and learnings, stories that my friends and family share about their lives, music that I love, movies, etc. When I feel emotionally connected to a subject, then I search for the song and try to stay true to its emotional center.
 
Share a musical adventure from this summer with us — tell us about an experience that really stood out for you.
 
My biggest musical adventure this summer was initiated by my piano teacher, Julie Bonk, who is also a great songwriter. She suggested that I participate in the RealPeopleRealSongs Challenge, a 12-week songwriting challenge led by Cary Cooper, an accomplished songwriter who gives back to the songwriting community through her mentorship. Every Sunday we received a one-word prompt that we would use to write and record a song that week. I learned so much through this challenge. The weekly deadline helped me push through limiting beliefs and awaken the songwriter within me.  I met many talented songwriters through this group, and learned from them by observing how they approached each prompt both musically and lyrically.
 

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Announcing the finalists for the 2024 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition!

Saturday, December 14th, 2024

Thank you to all of the talented musicians who submitted, and to the music fans who follow along. And special thanks for your patience and understanding as we recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene here in Asheville. We’re sorry we needed to reschedule and postpone the finals until January, yet we’re very excited to celebrate these wonderful artists and their music as our community recovers.

This year’s NewSong Music Finalists are:

Eliza Edens

(Brooklyn, NY) — On Eliza Edens’ sophomore album We’ll Become the Flowers, she seeks to understand what happens after the end. Whether grappling with heartache or a loved one’s mortality, the Brooklyn-based songwriter re-imagines endings not as finite events but as devotional experiences that give way to new beginnings. Edens takes inspiration from folk luminaries such as Nick Drake, Karen Dalton and Elizabeth Cotten.

Paula Boggs

(Seattle, WA) — Paula Boggs has written and recorded four full-length albums fronting the Paula Boggs Band, and has also recorded two EPs. She is a voting member and a Governor of The Recording Academy, Pacific Northwest Chapter Board, and member of the Americana Music Association.

R.O. Shapiro*

(Los Altos, CA) — R.O. (Raphael Odell) Shapiro started performing at an early age, first with dance and then musical theater, before picking up guitar at the end of high school. R.O. is currently based in Northern California, and always on the lookout for new communities and stages where he can share his authentic warmth and wit.

* 2024 Early Bird Finalist

Rai Omri

(Carbondale, CO) — Rai Omri is a Western Colorado-based songwriter inspired by dreams, stories, old melodies, ambient sound, and the natural world. In 2023, she was named a Finalist in Kerrville Folk Festival’s Grassy Hill New Folk Competition. Her first EP, Astral Plains, explores the dream world, the cycle of death and rebirth, and life in a small town.

Admiral Radio**

(Columbia, SC) — Admiral Radio is the husband-and-wife duo of Becca and Coty. Together, they aim to leave listeners better than they found them. The duo recently won first place at the 2024 Tucson Folk and was a finalist in the legendary Kerrville New Folk Competition.

** 2024 LEAF Competition Winner

Erika Lewis

(Asheville, NC) — Known for her lengthy tenure touring and busking with beloved New Orleans jazz band Tuba Skinny, prolific songwriter and singer Erika Lewis has been churning out American originals all her own for the past several years. From classic country to cosmic Americana to dreamy indie folk, Lewis continues to dip her toes more deeply into an ever-expanding pool of roots music styles. Her new record A Walk Around the Sun is a testament to Lewis’ songwriting prowess and exceptional vocal ability.

Marcus Fetch

(Birmingham, AL) — Marcus Fetch’s songs are heartfelt and raw, with lyrics that paint unique life experiences. Red House is a coming-of-age album that squeezes every last drop of angst out of one’s late twenties. Breaking away from friends and the party scene, soul searching through late nights, house parties, and wild road trips. Fetch unleashes this powerful musical performance writing and recording almost the entire album himself.

Lindsay Foote

(Somerville, MA) — Lindsay Foote is a singer-songwriter and producer from Boston. Her heartfelt music has been featured on CBS and recognized in several national songwriting competitions. When she’s not songwriting, Lindsay spends her time rock climbing, hosting dinner parties, and trying to keep her house plants alive.

Tickets are on sale now for the NewSong Music Competition Finale at Citizen Vinyl: Join us for an evening of songs and connection on Saturday, March 15. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE.

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