Posts Tagged ‘NewSong Recordings’

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NEWSONG FINALIST KRISTIAN PHILLIP VALENTINO TO RELEASE NEW EP ON NEWSONG RECORDINGS

Thursday, July 6th, 2023

Kristian Phillip Valentino, a 2022 NewSong Music Finalist, has been logging studio hours for his forthcoming album, Happily Ever After. This is a five-song collection of love songs, written for Valentino’s wife Holly. It’s also a follow up to his last album, For Everything, There is a Season, which ended with a break-up song. The EP will be released on the NewSong Recordings label on Friday, Sept. 22 and the first single  drops Thursday, July 27.

Valentino says that many listeners don’t know that the break-up on Season was real — and it was with Holly. Seasons was written and recorded after the couple parted ways, and for Valentino the project was a way to process the heartbreak. But that’s not how real-life worked out. Kristian and Holly found their way back to each other and are now happily married. That warranted a new collection of songs … though Valentino needed a nudge.

“When Holly and I got married, she wanted me to write a song for the ceremony,” he recalls. “I was pretty taken aback that she asked me to do that. I’d recorded it on my phone, honestly, and we played it before the wedding.” But that song, “Forever with you,” was the catalyst for finishing the couple’s story in verse.

Valentino came to Citizen Studios, located within Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville. The studio has historic ties to the Asheville music scene, as well as to Western North Carolina radio, and is helmed by Gar Ragland, the president and co-founder of NewSong Music, and founder and CEO of Citizen Vinyl. Initially Valentino had three songs, but he told Ragland that he wanted to record five.

The original set of songs included album opener “Out of My Head,” about the first time you see that person with whom you fall in love, and end track “Find You Sooner.” The two additional tunes both came in a surprising way to Valentino who admits he usually takes a while to write a song.

Kristian Phillip Valentino

Photo by Holly Giglietti

“It was midnight, I had my guitar in my hand, and I came across these chords,” he remembers. All of a sudden, the idea for “Taking My Time” came to him, and he completed it within 30 minutes. A few nights later the same thing happened. That time though “Stick Around” emerged as a cowrite with Holly. “We’d never done anything like that before,” Valentino says.

The musician started writing songs after the passing of his father and for years he used songwriting as a tool to process hard times. Now, he says, he’s able to balance the sad songs with happy ones.

Happily Ever After will be released on Friday, Sept. 22. Stay tuned for details on a record release show in Asheville. The EP’s first single, “Taking My Time,” drops Thursday, July 27. Follow @KPVSongs and @NewSongMusic to listen!

ABOUT KRISTIAN PHILLIP VALENTINO

 

 

 

KPV currently calls Asheville, N.C. home. His musical palette falls between the lines of indie folk, singer-songwriter and Americana. His lyrics are a healing balm from the daily struggle as they wash over you with a deep reverence. Valentino was a finalist at the 2022 LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, a collaboration between NewSong Music and LEAF Global Arts, and the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition.

ABOUT NEWSONG RECORDINGS

NewSong Recordings is a small label located in Asheville, NC and based out of Citizen Vinyl. It’s roster includes projects by Max Hatt / Edda Glass, Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers, Rachael Kilgour, Crys Matthews, Cardinal Sons, and more.

ABOUT NEWSONG MUSIC

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.

ABOUT CITIZEN VINYL

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 full-scale recording studio Citizen Studios, a vinyl-themed craft cocktail and coffee lounge, a record and art store, and more.

ABOUT CITIZEN STUDIOS

Citizen Studios is a classic space for timeless sounds; the modern analog rebirth of the historic WWNC radio station studios. The newly renovated space now consists of a large control room and a communal multipurpose room for recording, rehearsing and events. The studio is available for recording artists, engineers, producers and private functions

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Early Bird entries to NewSong Competition end July 24

Saturday, July 23rd, 2022

The ‘Early Bird’ discounted entry fee to enter this year’s NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition ends at 11:59 PM EDT this Sunday, July 24. Prices are currently 1 song: $40; 2 songs: $70; additional songs: $25 each.

The final deadline to enter the competition is Sunday, Sept. 18, but submission fees increase after July 24.

From the early entries, we will select one ‘Early Bird’ finalist, who will advance to this year’s live performance showcase and competition finals, which will take place on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

All entrants will remain in the running for the remaining finalist spots, which will be announced later in the year. To enter, you need an MP3 of each of your songs you’d like to submit, and a non-mobile device to upload your work. Production quality of the recording is not a determining factor for consideration in the contest so don’t be shy to go full DIY.

There is no limit to how many songs you may submit, so enter often and early to become a finalist and win the 2021 Grand Prize!

More about the competition: NewSong Music’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 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.

 

 

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Kelly English releases new single, “Free”

Friday, July 17th, 2020

“Free” on Spotify now

Kelly English’s tranquil and moving new single, “Free,” is available on all major music platforms today, July 17. The song is featured on the musician’s forthcoming sophomore album, “Savannah Theory,” a melancholy, indie-folk record produced and mixed by Gar Ragland. 

 “The idea of being ‘free’ from a specific person, or place, fits within my vision for the album because it supports the concept of creating a positive state of mind for yourself,” says English. “I wanted the song to be an electric guitar-driven ballad, again taking a lot of inspiration from artists like boygenius and Julien Baker.”

The stirring tune draws emotion from English’s crystal clear vocals, as well as her poignant lyricism. In one verse, the artist writes, “The cross ‘round your neck must be on fire // The muscles you move must get tired // from faking it so hard (yeah) // and taking it so far (yeah).” Watch the video for the full lyrics. 

Join Kelly live on Instagram (@KellyEnglishMusic) as she performs this new release, along with a couple of other tunes, Friday July 17th. Watch the lyric video for the single here. 

 

Follow Kelly for more updates:

 

Instagram: @kellyenglishmusic

Website: kellyenglishmusic.com

Youtube: youtube.com/alltimekellyy

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Kelly English releases new single “I’m Not Like That”

Friday, May 15th, 2020

The indie pop song is the first to be featured on sophomore album, “The Savannah Theory,” produced and mixed by Gar Ragland and released on NewSong Recordings.

 

May 15, 2020 (Asheville, NC) – Connecticut-based singer-songwriter Kelly English is proud to announce the release of the first single, “I’m Not Like That” on Friday, May 15. The song is the first to be featured on her forthcoming album, “The Savannah Theory.” The album was recorded with NewSong Recordings and produced by Gar Ragland at the esteemed Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC.

“I’m Not Like That,” is reminiscent of Courtney Barnett’s deadpan delivery and guitar riffs. Independent female pop artists, like Grimes, also count among English’s inspirations.

“I rented a cottage in the Berkshires and brought my guitar with me,” says English of her writing process. While the singer-songwriter stays true to her indie-folk roots on The Savannah Theory, fans of English’s first record, City Limits (NewSong Recordings, 2017), may be surprised to hear more electric guitar on this compilation.

The songwriter offers a fully realized version of herself in this collection of melancholy songs, with dark lyrics and instrumentation and an introspective, indie-pop lean. “You will hear my Fender Jazzmaster guitar featured on much of the album,” says English. “This record demonstrates an honest, sincere insight into the ups and downs of my relationships and life experiences.”

English’s songwriting, paired with her graceful vocals, earned her a finalist spot in the 2015 NewSong LEAF Competition. More recently, in 2019, she won first prize in the Singer/Songwriter category in the New England Songwriting Competition, of which Meghan Trainor is a past contest winner.

Watch “I’m Not Like That” on YouTube.

Listen to “I’m Not Like That” on Bandcamp.

Listen to “I’m Not Like That” on Spotify.

For up-to-date information on Kelly English, visit kellyenglish.bandcamp.com/music
For more information about NewSong Recordings, visit newsongrecordings.com
For media requests, contact lea@newsong-music.com.

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Wilder Adkins pays tribute to mothers everywhere with new single

Thursday, May 7th, 2020

Wilder Adkins pays tribute to mothers everywhere with new single

“Mother” out on NewSong Recordings May 8
 

May 7, 2020 (Asheville, NC) – Birmingham, AL-based singer-songwriter Wilder Adkins did not intend for his latest single, “Mother,” to be autobiographical. Instead, it’s a tribute to and a call for grace for mothers everywhere. The song was recorded live in the artist’s home during the pandemic, with accompanying musicians contributing remotely. 

Just in time for Mother’s Day, “Mother” will be available at your favorite streaming platform on May 8 from NewSong Recordings.

 

 

Autobiographical or not, the song draws influence from Adkins’ personal experience as a father. “I think parents can carry a lot of shame, but it’s a really hard job,” says Adkins. “I realize that more than ever now that I have two children of my own.” 

Undeterred by the challenges of recording during a global pandemic, vocals and guitar were recorded live in Adkin’s spare bedroom; backup vocals, keys and violin parts were recorded remotely in Nashville, with Bryan Segraves on keyboards; Collins McLaughlin on violin; and Janet Simpson on background vocals. The song was then mixed in Asheville by Gar Ragland.

Altogether, the song is a gentle and poignant acknowledgement of mothers, regardless of imperfections. The introspective melody calls to mind country-Americana lullaby, with a poetic lyricism typical of Adkin’s work. 

“This was a song that really began with just the first line,” says Adkins of the inspiration behind the tune. “My stepmom, who was the youngest of three girls, used to say that her mom could never just say her name without accidentally saying her sisters’ names first. So then I thought, ‘that’s just the order that their names are stored on your tongue.’ I don’t know that I really intended to write a serious song at first. I was kind of just thinking about trying to write a clever country song, but it sort of changed as I was working on it, into a song about grace.”

Adkins was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2016 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition and has since performed at esteemed venues, including The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Sundance Film Festival’s Sundance ASCAP Music Café, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

“I hope this song is an encouragement to all the mothers out there,” says Adkins. “And maybe it will encourage some folks to call their moms as well.”

Adkins debut album, Nightblooms, was released in 2009. Subsequently, he has released numerous singles and four full length albums – Nativity (2009); Oak & Apple (2011); Runaround (2013); Hope & Sorrow (2016); and last year’s In This Pilgrim Way (2019). 
 

Watch “Mother” on YouTube

Listen to “Mother” on Bandcamp

Listen to “Mother” on Spotify

For up-to-date information on Wilder Adkins, visit wilderadkins.com/. 

For more information about NewSong Recordings, visit newsongrecordings.com

For media requests, contact Lellie Capwell lellie@lpc-media.com

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Mel Bryant records new EP with NewSong Recordings

Saturday, January 18th, 2020

Mel Bryant records new EP at Echo Mountain Recording Studios.

 

The NewSong team was thrilled to welcome 2018 NewSong Grand Prize Winner, Mel Bryant, to Echo Mountain Recording Studios last month. The songwriter and her Nashville-based band, Mel Bryant and the Mercy Makers, were joined by producer and NewSong founder, Gar Ragland. Melding classic rock and contemporary indie influences, Bryant has compiled a group of songs that tackle big themes, ranging from love and relationships to social justice. 

The opportunity to record at Echo Mountain is part of the musician’s grand prize package, and the EP will be released on NewSong Recordings in 2020. 

Mel took a break from recording to answer a few questions about the upcoming record. 

How would you describe your vision for this new batch of songs?

Mel Bryant: A lot of the songs are justice focused, in a way. There is kind of a dichotomy between the songs that are about, you know, relationship stuff — the really relatable, personal things that everyone goes through … and the songs that zoom out a bit and look at more grand issues that are less personal and more political.

I like to think of things that are political, not in terms of candidates or government issues, but, instead, political as in a woman’s inability to walk alone on a street alone past midnight. That’s a political issue to me, and that is the kind of thing I like to write about. Or the fact that when I was in college, I was scared of being shot on my campus. That’s a political issue, and it’s something that we all have a stake in and we are all worried about and we all want to fix. Those are the things that are important to my music: things that matter. Sometimes things that matter are life and death situations, and sometimes things that matter are when I can’t communicate properly in my relationships. Making those statements in these songs was really important to me. 

 

What has it been like to record at Echo Mountain Recordings Studios?

This has definitely been our best treatment of a recording setup that we have ever had. The crew is so accommodating and patient. The energy in here is amazing. There is such a beautiful ambiance, and the availability of the gear they have here is like nothing we have been able to access before, so from that standpoint it’s been incredible. But also just the feeling of being in that cathedral with stained glass light coming through. And, of course, it sounds amazing. 

 

In terms of sound, how do these new recordings relate to the band’s past work? 

From a sound perspective, the EP is a marriage of the different sides that this band has been developing over the past few years. We definitely have one foot in really classic rock roots, blues, and delta music roots, coming from our guitarist, and then we have the more modern roots of my childhood musical influences and now. We are continually inspired by music being put out and indie rock influences. So certain songs are more in the classic rock tradition, and certain songs are in the modern. Our goal has been marrying those ideas within each song, and within the whole EP, showing that these two things can coexist to create something that isn’t derivative of classic rock or just another indie rock band. We are paying homage to the historic greats and constantly taking in new musical influences and applying that as well. 

For more about Mel Bryant and the Mercy Makers, visit the band’s website. Stay tuned for updates about the new EP release via NewSong Recordings in 2020!

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Crys Matthews releases new album, “These Old Hands” Oct. 11

Tuesday, October 1st, 2019

NEWSONG MUSIC COMPETITION GRAND PRIZE WINNER CRYS MATTHEWS RELEASES NEW ALBUM ON “NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY,” OCT. 11

 

“THESE OLD HANDS” RECORDED AT ECHO MOUNTAIN STUDIOS WITH NEWSONG RECORDINGS PRODUCER GAR RAGLAND AND RELEASED ON NEWSONG RECORDINGS

 

Pre-order These Old Hands on Bandcamp

Oct 1, 2019 (Asheville, NC) – Virginia-based singer-songwriter Crys Matthews is proud to announce the release of her new album, These Old Hands. The six-track record is slated for release Friday, October 11, 2019, on National Coming Out Day. The date is significant for the queer activist artist whose songwriting frequently draws from social justice themes and love in all its forms.

“This album is a sort of coming out of sorts for me,” explains Matthews. “I’ve been out as a lesbian since I was 18, but this album is one of the few times in my life I’ve actually felt vulnerable. Certainly, it’s the first time I’ve felt so vulnerable with regards to my music. It’s not love songs and hopeful protest songs — there are a lot of hard truths contained in between the lyrics of these songs.”

 

These Old Hands was recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC and produced and mixed by Gar Ragland of NewSong Recordings. Matthews recorded the album as part of her 2017 NewSong Singer Songwriter Competition Grand Prize win. Matthews’s career has continued to thrive since that time, with performances at Sundance Film Festival, The Kennedy Center, and the songwriter’s first national tour in 2019.

Matthews describes her new collection of songs as a breakup album, featuring the songwriter’s signature blend of Americana, folk, jazz and funk punctuated by bold, honest lyrics. “Breakups are like any other type of loss; they’re grief-inducing, and so you can hear that cycle from heart-broken to healing,” she says. “Finding love and losing love are some of the most universally human things that we do.”

Pre-order These Old Hands on Bandcamp: http://bit.ly/These-Old-Hands

For up-to-date information on Crys Matthews, visit crysmatthews.com/ 

For more information about NewSong Recordings and the NewSong Music Competition, visit newsong-music.com/

For media requests, contact lea@newsong-music.com.

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18th NewSong Music Competition returns to Asheville, NC this November

Wednesday, September 11th, 2019

 

 

NEWSONG MUSIC PRESENTS 18TH ANNUAL, INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE & SONGWRITING COMPETITION IN ASHEVILLE THIS NOVEMBER

 

EIGHT EMERGING ARTISTS FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA TO SHOWCASE & COMPETE
 
GRAND PRIZE WINNER RECEIVES AN EP RECORDING PROJECT AT ECHO MOUNTAIN RECORDING STUDIOS, RELEASED ON THE NEWSONG RECORDINGS LABEL
 
COMPETITION HELD AT ISIS MUSIC HALL IN ASHEVILLE, NC, SATURDAY, NOV. 23

 

Aug. 23, 2019 (Asheville, NC) – For the second year in a row, the live performance finals of the NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition will be held in Asheville, North Carolina at Isis Music Hall. NewSong Music has been headquartered in Asheville since 2012, but for most of its 18 years, the competition was held at the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. After a phenomenal, sold out event last year, NewSong founder, Gar Ragland, has elected to host the competition finals in Asheville indefinitely. 

“The success and reception we received in bringing the competition finals to Asheville for the first time last year truly exceeded our expectations,” says Ragland. “The support we received from the community here for last year’s finals – as evidenced by the sellout event and its deeply appreciative and engaging audience – affirmed for us that our hometown has indeed become one of the country’s best music towns. We’re excited to build upon last year’s momentum, and to continue to contribute to Asheville’s music scene in this way.”

Eight finalists – selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond – will come to Asheville to perform, compete and network with one another in the live showcase and competition finals at Isis Music Hall in Asheville on Saturday, November 23. Located in the city’s hip West Asheville neighborhood, Isis Music Hall is one of Asheville’s best sounding and most intimate music venues.

A panel of national music industry judges will select the overall winner of the competition. This year’s grand prize winner will receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Asheville own Echo Mountain Recording Studios and released on the NewSong Recordings label. The grand prize winner will also receive a performance showcase at the esteemed 2019 Sundance ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival (January 23 – February 2, 2020) in Park City, Utah and a featured performance in the 2020 Arts Brookfield ‘Summer Plaza’ series in New York City. All finalists will be strongly considered for future ‘NewSong Presents’ paid performances across the United States.

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.

WHAT: NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition Finals

WHERE: Isis Music Hall // 743 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC

WHEN: Saturday Nov. 23, 2019 // 8 pm

TICKETS: $15/$18 

 

2019 NewSong Competition Finalists ANNOUNCED

YouTube Playlist of the 2019 NewSong Music Finalists:

Danielle Ponder — Rochester, NY

Grant Maloy Smith — Kingston, RI

Jae Jin — Wolftown, VA

Jobi Riccio — Brookline, MA

Kelly Hoppenjans — Nashville, TN

Kyshona — Madison, TN

Nathaniel Bellows — New York, NY

 

Spotify Playlist of the 2019 NewSong Music Finalists:

 

About NewSong Music

NewSong Music is an independent artist development company headquartered in Asheville, NC. NewSong’s mission is to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists to introduce their music to a broader, international audience. Its programs include a boutique record label (NewSong Recordings), artist management services, concert production and the annual, international NewSong performance and songwriting competition. Its presenting partners include Arts Brookfield and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, the ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival.

 

For more information about NewSong Recordings and the NewSong Music Competition, visit newsong-music.com/

For media requests, contact Lea McLellan at leamclellan@newsong-music.com.

 

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Maureen Andary puts on her ‘Big Girl Pants’ for new album

Friday, September 6th, 2019

Eleven years after her debut solo album, Washington, D.C.-based songwriter Maureen Andary returned to the studio to record “Big Girl Pants.” Andary is a multi-instrumentalist, blending her stellar vocal harmonies with guitar, ukulele and flute on the recordings. Her new songs range from lighthearted tunes about marriage to heavier subjects, like loss and grief.  

Maureen took a break from recording at Echo Mountain Recording Studios to chat with us about the album, the inspiration behind the name, and her longtime connection with NewSong, which started when she was a finalist in 2008. “Gar has always helped me out,” says Andary. “And the whole contest kind of shaped who I was. So I thought, it’s been 11 years — time to get back to my solo roots. I thought it was perfect to collaborate with Gar to do that.”

 

So tell us about the new album, the inspiration behind it and the story you’re trying to tell. 

Well, the last time I came out with a record was 11 years ago in 2008, and I was 25. All of the songs on that album were about romance, and falling in love, and breaking up because that was what was going on in my life. But now, I’m 36, I’m married, and I have twin daughters that are 14 months. My father also passed away in 2015, which was a really challenging loss.

Losing a parent, getting married, giving birth to twin daughters — it was a lot of change. Now the things that have inspired me in the last six years are the things I’m working on to grow up. 

 

What is it about the name Big Girl Pants that appealed to you? 

It’s called Big Girl Pants because I feel like that’s a kind of brusque euphemism for “grow up,” … Like, “it’s time for me to put on my big girl pants.”  

Every day I have new challenges, and I have to pause and think: what is the adult way to deal with this, rather than just reacting. It’s really about pausing, being intentional, and grappling with challenges like mortality, parenting, marriage. It’s about putting on your big girl pants and moving forward. It’s also about being able to be happy and confident through it all. 

 

How would you describe the songs on the album?

There are songs in here about loss and grief, but there are also songs about choosing to laugh, choosing to move away from fear and towards acceptance. The song “My Intention” is about that. Some of them are silly, like I have a song about marriage called “You Fix Broken Stuff,” and it’s really a trivial look into what our lives are like and the balance that we strike. 

There’s this song “Good Luck,” that I thought was really important for this album because I’m in recovery, and I’ve been sober for 11 years. I have a really great life right now in large part because of [my recovery], but I really can’t take credit. … I just had good luck. Luck is a big factor in people’s lives because it’s scary and you can’t control it, but it’s important to recognize that and have some humility.

 

Gar Ragland is the producer on the album, and you’re recording at Echo Mountain Studios. How did that collaboration come about?

When I was newly sober as a 24 year old, I got a grant from the DC government to finish this album I was working on. … Once I was finished with album, I didn’t know what to do with it. … My mom actually took the album and submitted it to various contests. … She submitted it to NewSong, and I got an email and a phone call from Gar saying that I was an Early Bird Finalist. It was super validating, and most importantly, the contest had a live performance component in Charleston, WV where Mountain Stage is located, and so the plan was to go there and perform.

…

… [My accompanist Sara and I] loved all the other finalists, we jammed with them, and we had a blast. We didn’t win, but we just had a great time, and Gar kept in touch with us. We started a band after that, and we called it Sweater Set … It’s been an amazing project, but what really sparked it all was that weekend getaway at the NewSong contest. 

Over the years, Gar has given us various performance opportunities. I’ve performed at Lincoln Center with NewSong. I’ve performed at Bryant Park, the Performing Arts Center of North Carolina. … Gar has always helped me out, and the whole contest kind of shaped who I was. So I thought, it’s been 11 years — time to get back to my solo roots. I thought it was perfect to collaborate with Gar to do that. 

Learn more about Maureen Andary on her website. 

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NewSong Recordings Spotlight: Kelly English’s ‘City Limits’

Monday, June 24th, 2019
This week, we are checking in with up-and-coming songwriter Kelly English, who recorded her debut album, City Limits, with NewSong Recordings in 2017. We first met Kelly when she was a finalist in the NewSong competition in 2015, where she impressed judges with her strong vocals and intimate lyrics. NewSong Recordings is proud to release her sophomore album, The Savannah Theory, coming soon. 
 

 

What does your first album represent for you?

City Limits represents the passage from being a young songwriter, to finally finding my own original sound and sharing it with people. That album gave me confidence, as well as a renewed hunger to keep writing music. City Limits was also special to me because I got to work with Gar Ragland at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC. The process of working with Gar, and getting to release my album through NewSong Music, has been incredibly rewarding.
 

What can you tell us about the new album coming out?

My new upcoming album is called The Savanna Theory. I was lucky enough to get to work with Gar Ragland again on this project. The Savanna Theory takes a harder, darker look at the emotions associated with the aftermath of a relationship and the prospect of moving forward. The album has a dark, moody indie/folk sound. I used a lot of electric guitar on this album, which I was really excited to explore. I brought my Fender Jazzmaster down to Asheville, and Gar and I were able to create some really cool, new sounds for this record.
 

How do you feel like you have grown or changed as a musician since City Limits was released?

One way I have grown as a musician is in finding my own unique point of view and trusting it. City Limits is a really accurate snapshot of my life and my emotions at that time. I have continued to grow in that direction and draw from my own experiences. Releasing City Limits also gave me the confidence to be bold and original in my songwriting. It gave me the drive to continue refining and improving my songwriting craft.
 

What news do you have to share?

Since releasing City Limits, I have been performing around the CT tri-state area. I have been getting a great response to my original music, especially songs from the record. 
 
This past May, I competed as finalist in a songwriting contest based out of Cape Cod, MA called the Eventide Songwriting Competition, in which I took home first prize in the singer/songwriter category for my song “Selfish Like You.” It was a real honor to get to perform alongside other talented musicians, and to be recognized for my music. Meghan Trainor is a past winner of the competition.
 
I have some great festival gigs coming up this summer, including the Glastonbury Apple Harvest and Music Festival, as well as the Rose Arts Music Festival in Norwich, CT. I will also be performing at the free music event “Audio Feed” Live on Constitution Plaza in Hartford, CT this July.
 
To learn more about Kelly English and her music, visit the artist’s bandcamp page, and follow her Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

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