November 4th, 2019
Mel Bryant returns as guest performer for 2019 NewSong Finals
NewSong is proud to announce that Mel Bryant — winner of the 2018 NewSong Competition — will return to Asheville this November as a guest performer for this year’s final competition.
The 18th NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition final event takes place at Isis Music Hall on Saturday, November 23. Tickets available here.
We are thrilled to have Bryant return to the Isis stage. We recently asked the artist about her music career post-win, as well as her advice for the new group of finalists.
“Focus less on yourself and more on who you’re surrounded by,” says Bryant. “The best thing about the NewSong Competition, aside from the amazing prizes and the beautiful show that’s put on for the finale, is the community created by all the wonderful musicians that have come through this program.”
NewSong: It’s been a year since you won the 2018 NewSong competition! Could you give us the highlight reel of what you have been up to?
Mel Bryant: Since winning the 2018 NewSong Competition, there’s been a great many amazing opportunities provided by NewSong, and truthfully most, if not all, of the highlights for the year have been thanks to NewSong. Performing at Sundance Film Festival in January was both musically inspiring and environmentally thrilling, from the beautiful snow kissed slopes and the exhilarating movie screenings to the magnificent people that we met and performed for along the way. Over the summer, we were able to build not one but TWO full tours from Nashville to New York City, with Arts Brookfield shows at the center of both, providing incredible stages, amazing sound, and wonderful audiences that often returned for multiple dates of our tours! Because of those NYC shows, I’ve been hearing from international fans asking about new music and when they’ll hear from us again.
That being said, we’ve made serious strides in our own studio in Nashville for our debut album as a band, and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We hope to have the album set for release in January, with a single coming out very soon. We’ve had dozens of successful shows and lots of wonderful times making new music and meeting new collaborators, and we are especially excited to meet and hear the finalists this year. I’m sure it’ll be another highlight to add to the reel!
How did winning the NewSong competition affect you personally? How has it affected your career?
Winning the NewSong competition was an immensely needed confidence boost in a time when I can personally get mired in self criticism of my music and the value of my art. It feels so wonderful to know there are really amazing people in the NewSong family that are rooting for me and helping to bolster my belief in myself. It has given me so much freedom and power to carry on making more music and consistently improving and honing my craft in order to present the best version of my music when we go to record the NewSong EP. we’ve been looking forward to it all year and we cannot wait to get into Echo Mountain and lay down our newest, best songs.
What advice do you have for this year’s finalists?
My advice to this year’s finalists is to focus less on yourself and more on who you’re surrounded by. The best thing about the NewSong Competition, aside from the amazing prizes and the beautiful show that’s put on for the finale, is the community created by all the wonderful musicians that have come through this program. Collaboration is the heart of the greatest music I know, and even if it’s just a source of inspiration or a new cowriter, the friendships we make like this are what keeps the world of music turning.
Anything else you would like to share?
I just wanted to send a big huge thank you to the NewSong folks and an equally big congratulations to this year’s finalists! I’m so excited for this show and I’m honored to be a part of it once again!
Learn more about Mel Bryant on her website. Listen to her music on Spotify.
