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.
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.
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
*We are throwing a fun Asheville-style gathering outside on historic, shady, tree-lined Church Street from 5pm until the show begins at 8pm. Make a night of it and come downtown early to hang in the great urban outdoors for a few pre-show local beers and grub from some fave food trucks, followed by absolutely impeccable acoustics in the Sanctuary venue for this wonderful night of bluegrass. Sounds like a pretty perfect summer date or family night out to us!
Born and raised in Europe, brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger started singing and playing instruments at a very young age. Growing up in a family where music was an important part of life, they were exposed to a wide diversity of musical influences. The brothers were performing regularly by the time they were eleven and twelve years old, and they began their professional career in 1979. Jens’ and Uwe’s first public performances were as a duo, and in just a few years they were busking on the streets of cities throughout eastern and western Europe.
CBS Records contracted with Jens and Uwe when Jens was just seventeen years old, and shortly thereafter, the Krugers hosted a radio show on SRG SSR, the Swiss Public broadcast group. Several years later, the brothers teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg, a native of New York City who also had a very extensive musical upbringing in classical and jazz music (studying with jazz great Milt Hinton), thus forming a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. Together, they established the incomparable sound that The Kruger Brothers are known for today. The trio moved to the United States in 2002 and is based in Wilkesboro, NC.
Since their formal introduction to American audiences in 1997, The Kruger Brothers’ remarkable discipline, creativity and their ability to infuse classical music into folk music has resulted in a unique sound that has made them a fixture within the world of acoustic music. The honesty of their writing has since become a hallmark of the trio’s work.
In their ever-expanding body of work – Jens Kruger (banjo and vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar and lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg (bass and vocals) – The Kruger Brothers personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. Their original music is crafted around their discerning taste, and the result is unpretentious, cultivated, and delightfully fresh.
In addition to their regular concert schedule, The Kruger Brothers perform these classical pieces regularly with select symphony orchestras and string quartets throughout the country.
Through their numerous CD releases, radio and television performances, lectures, and collaborative efforts, The Kruger Brothers’ powerful artistic statement continues to inspire and enlighten audiences and musicians around the world.
February 12, 2016. Montreal songwriter and producer Chris Velan is preparing to release his sixth LP, Glow, on March 4 via NewSong Recordings. He will be supporting the release with a string of tour dates across Canada. Tour dates can be found below.
Audiences are invited to an advance listen of the first single “un-American Gothic,” plus an advanced viewing of the ethereal new video for the title track “Glow.”
Glow is the first album Velan’s made in his hometown since 2005. Co-produced with Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Basia Bulat, Wolf Parade, Vic Chestnutt), Velan was joined in studio by an all-star band of local musicians; Jamie Thompson (Islands, The Unicorns) sitting at the drums, Morgan Moore (Barr Brothers, Blood and Glass) on bass, Max Henry (Suuns) playing keys, with Ariel Engle (AroarA) and Ngabo Kiroko (Dear Denizen) providing backup vocals.
Glow is the most accomplished, seamless mingling of Velan’s musical predilections – dancing from quiet, intimate passages, growing on pulse smooth rhythms. It’s a DNA that draws from his singer-songwriter craft as much as from West African guitar pop, vintage-era rock steady, and dance-floor eighties rock. The latter of which is embodied by the first single, “un-American Gothic”.
The songs on Glow want to pull back the curtain and let the light in. They’re about taking that long, unflinching look in the mirror, shattering mythologies, both personal and collective, and naming the lies that keep us caged. Whether refusing the clean-up job of a prophet in “Listen, Elijah”, or invoking grace in “Call Me Into Your Heart”, Velan’s latest collection of songs seems intent on finding joy at the end of the world – where no matter how frightening the outcome, the end is never the end, just a great new beginning.
It’s a path of inquiry that began for Velan on his previous album, The Long Goodbye, a raw and confessional reckoning with the break-up of a long-term relationship. While echoes of that ache remain in his latest release, Velan’s writing now looks forward with a faith in the blossoming power of love, connection, and the other intangibles that sustain life and will.
In addition to writing and recording Glow, Velan has kept busy in the studio with numerous other projects. Over the course of the last year he produced a debut album for Vermont chanteuse Francesca Blanchard, traveled to Haiti to record the Haitian collective Lakou Mizik’s first release, and joined Montreal afro-rock outfit Dear Denizen on guitar.
Glow is available for pre-order now on Pledge Music, along with other exclusive items.
Mar 23 – Vancouver, BC – Railway Club w/ David Beckingham (Hey, Ocean!) Apr 6 – Montreal, QC – Divan Orange Apr 9 – Sutton, QC – Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier Apr 12 – Toronto, ON – The Burdock Apr 15 – Halifax, NS – Company House May 2-8 – Toronto, ON – CMW
GLOW TRACK LIST
01 As They Are 02 Call Me Into Your Heart 03 un-American Gothic 04 El Zonte 05 Listen, Elijah 06 Steal You Away 07 Ever So Slightly 08 Great New Beginnings 09 Making It Up To You 10 Fortune 11 Glow 12 Bad Behaviour 13 Perfect World
February 12, 2016. Montreal songwriter and producer Chris Velan is preparing to release his sixth LP, Glow, on March 4 via NewSong Recordings. To support the release, Velan will be performing a string of tour dates across Canada. Tour dates can be found below.
In the meantime, audiences are treated to an advance listen to the first single “un-American Gothic” and to the ethereal new video for the title track “Glow”.
Glow is the first album Velan’s made in his hometown since 2005. Co-produced with Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Basia Bulat, Wolf Parade, Vic Chestnutt), Velan was joined in studio by an all-star band of local musicians; Jamie Thompson (Islands, The Unicorns) sitting at the drums, Morgan Moore (Barr Brothers, Blood and Glass) on bass, Max Henry (Suuns) playing keys, with Ariel Engle (AroarA) and Ngabo Kiroko (Dear Denizen) providing backup vocals.
Glow is the most accomplished, seamless mingling of Velan’s musical predilections – dancing from quiet, intimate passages, growing on pulse smooth rhythms. It’s a DNA that draws from his singer-songwriter craft as much as from West African guitar pop, vintage-era rock steady, and dance-floor eighties rock. The latter of which is embodied by the first single, “un-American Gothic”.
The songs on Glow want to pull back the curtain and let the light in. They’re about taking that long, unflinching look in the mirror, shattering mythologies, both personal and collective, and naming the lies that keep us caged. Whether refusing the clean-up job of a prophet in “Listen, Elijah”, or invoking grace in “Call Me Into Your Heart”, Velan’s latest collection of songs seems intent on finding joy at the end of the world – where no matter how frightening the outcome, the end is never the end, just a great new beginning.
It’s a path of inquiry that began for Velan on his previous album, The Long Goodbye, a raw and confessional reckoning with the break-up of a long-term relationship. While echoes of that ache remain in his latest release, Velan’s writing now looks forward with a faith in the blossoming power of love, connection, and the other intangibles that sustain life and will.
In addition to writing and recording Glow, Velan has kept busy in the studio with numerous other projects. Over the course of the last year he produced a debut album for Vermont chanteuse Francesca Blanchard, traveled to Haiti to record the Haitian collective Lakou Mizik’sfirst release, and joined Montreal afro-rock outfit Dear Denizen on guitar.
Glow is available for pre-order now on Pledge Music, along with other exclusive items.
Mar 23 – Vancouver, BC – Railway Club w/ David Beckingham (Hey, Ocean!) Apr 6 – Montreal, QC – Divan Orange Apr 9 – Sutton, QC – Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier Apr 12 – Toronto, ON – The Burdock Apr 15 – Halifax, NS – Company House May 2-8 – Toronto, ON – CMW
GLOW TRACK LIST
01 As They Are 02 Call Me Into Your Heart 03 un-American Gothic 04 El Zonte 05 Listen, Elijah 06 Steal You Away 07 Ever So Slightly 08 Great New Beginnings 09 Making It Up To You 10 Fortune 11 Glow 12 Bad Behaviour 13 Perfect World
Ahead of the NewSong Music Showcase & Competition Finals, we wanted to introduce the judges of this year’s event. We are honored to have Erik Philbrook (ASCAP), Michael Selverne, Jordana Phokompe (Lincoln Center), and Gar Ragland (NewSong Music) as the judges of this year’s event. Learn more about each judge below:
ERIK PHILBROOK, ASCAP
Erik Philbrook serves as ASCAP’s AVP of Marketing and Communications and Editor in Chief of its Playback magazine. In addition to writing editorial, producing video and managing content for ASCAP’s various media channels, he has interviewed and written about many of today’s leading songwriters and composers from across the musical spectrum, from legendary icons to today’s emerging artists. He has helped lead ASCAP’s advocacy efforts in protecting songwriter rights in the digital age. And he has played an essential role in the success of high-profile ASCAP events such as the Sundance ASCAP Music Café and the ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO, where he has interviewed on stage many top music creators, including Tom Petty, John Mayer, Bon Jovi, ELO’s Jeff Lynne, Ingrid Michaelson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Steve Lillywhite and many others. In addition, Philbrook is a songwriter and musician himself, having recorded three acclaimed albums with his band The Brilliant Mistakes.
MICHAEL SELVERNE
Michael Selverne is a 35 year veteran of the music business. A trained musician, Mr. Selverne has a diverse career as a musician, producer, publisher, manager, attorney and executive. Currently, Mr. Selverne is producing a record for the Asheville NC Symphony Orchestra featuring artists such as the Steep Canyon Rangers and Rising Appalachia. Among the many gold and platinum artists with whom Mr. Selverne has worked are: Motley Crue, India.Arie, Hootie and the Blowfish, Guns and Roses, Live, the Wu-Tang Clan, the Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, La Toya Jackson, Donald Fagen/Steely Dan, Hanson.
JORDANA PHOKOMPE, LINCOLN CENTER
Jordana Phokompe is the Director of the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center and is responsible for programing its free weekly performance series. Since joining Lincoln Center in 2009, Jordana has developed new programs for the Atrium including Poet-Linc, LCDJ, and AtriumFlix. Previously, she was a consultant for artists and festivals in the U.S., Europe, and Africa and served as the Associate Producer for MAPP International Productions from 2001-2008. During her tenure at MAPP she co-created the Africa Contemporary Arts Consortium. Jordana received her BA from the New School for Social Research and her MFA from Brooklyn College.
GAR RAGLAND, NEWSONG MUSIC
Gar Ragland is a music producer, composer, manager and the president and co-founder of NewSong Music. A native North Carolinian (Winston-Salem), Gar began his music career while an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, sharing bills with acts that include the Dave Matthews Band, Gov’t Mule and the Aquarium Rescue Unit. After working several years in Washington, DC as an environmental economist for the policy think tank Resources for the Future, Ragland relocated to Boston to study composition and improvisation at the New England Conservatory with MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award winning pianist, composer and educator Ran Blake. He then moved to New York City to open NewSong’s Brooklyn studio and office, and eight years later moved to Asheville, NC with his family in 2012 to set up shop at Echo Mountain Recording Studios. He is a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys), and is the current board chair of the Asheville Area Arts Council.
Sarah Kervin has taken over the @newsongmusic Instagram account for the next 48 hours. She is going to give all of you a BTS peek into the NewSong Music Showcase & Competition Finals, meeting the other finalists, and hanging around her Brooklyn music scene. Follow along here and make sure your follow her Instagram at @skervinofficial!
This series of features highlights the 2015 NewSong Music finalists. Each artist is invited to Lincoln Center on January 7th for the opportunity to win the #NSM Grand Prize. We sat down with each finalist to learn more about their music and background. Hope you enjoy! #wheregreatartistsarediscovered #newsongmusic
BIO Jaime Garamella has been accused of “combining the quirky song craft of Elvis Costello and Ben Folds with the stylistic vigor of Ryan Adams or Fountains Of Wayne“, and it’s said he “resembles The Spin Doctors, but keeps things fresh with a unique sound and a clear knack for writing lyrics and hooks that are far from boilerplate.” The NYC-based songwriter has a Jekyll-and-Hyde approach — on one hand, writing timeless acoustic tunes steeped in American soul, country, folk, and blues; on the other, jumping off the top of the Marshall stack with his alt-rock band, The Spanish Channel, who have drawn comparisons to Foo Fighters, Maroon 5, and Stone Temple Pilots.
A Regional Finalist in the 2014 NewSong/Mountain Stage Contest, Jaime has recorded two albums and several EPs of his songs. He has also written music for other artists, indie films, documentaries, TV commercials, radio jingles, and even the theme song for a pro hockey team. As a singer, he has appeared at Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall as well as in TV commercials, radio jingles, and even a PBS Kids album. He’s played guitar with bluesman Roy Roberts and rapper Big Daddy Kane. He’s toured nationally both solo and with his band, The Spanish Channel, supporting national acts including Tim Reynolds (of Dave Matthews Band) & TR3 and Alex Skolnick of Testament. It’s live shows where Jaime’s high energy, charisma, and ability to connect with an audience really bring the music to life.
Raised in Connecticut, Jaime has lived in North Carolina, Tokyo, and Boston, and now calls New York City home. When he’s not performing, he teaches voice, guitar, and bass and runs the Vocal program at NYC Guitar School.
