November 21st, 2023
NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is thrilled to announce that Natalie Price from Nashville, Tennessee, is the 2023 Grand Prize Winner. (Photos by Aaron Stone.)
During the Saturday, November 18, finals, Price showcased five songs with infectious hooks that felt like instant hits. Her grand prize package includes a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 500 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl.
“Natalie’s storytelling within her singing and songwriting held the audience in her grasp,” said LEAF Performing Arts Coordinator and NewSong judge Otto Vazquez. “Like puppets on a string, she had us either crying or chuckling, qualities of a truly masterful artist. Looking forward to seeing her soar.”
Learn more about Natalie Price’s self-described “Ameri-kinda” music here.
“I really enjoyed visiting Asheville, seeing Citizen Studios, and getting to know the other finalists. We had a great time together exploring the city and talking about music and life, “ said Price. “The contest itself was a great experience — the seats were full and everyone seemed engaged with what we were doing. Thank you to NewSong for hosting the event and having me out this year!”
The internationally recognized NewSong Music event, now in its 22nd year, is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters today. The Saturday, November 18, finale concert brought seven finalists — selected from nearly 500 entries, and from across the U.S. and Canada — to Asheville, NC, for an evening of songs and connection. The magical evening of singer-songwriter performances ran the gamut from soulful Americana to indie-pop and from country roots to Portuguese-infused melodies.
The 2023 runners up were: MaisCéu (Jimmie Griffith; Lenoir, NC) and Reece Sullivan (Lafayette, LA).
The full finalist lineup included: Beth // James (Mikaela and Jordan Burchill; Austin, TX); Cloudbelly (Corey Laitman, Turners Falls, MA); Senobia (Midway, GA); and Stacy Antonel (Nashville, TN).
Judges for the event, which took place at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville, included Garret K. Woodward, Otto Vazquez, Jamie Beck, and Gar Ragland. Learn more about the judges here.
As this year’s Grand Prize Winner, Natalie Price joins NewSong Music’s impressive roster of artists such as Crys Matthews, Rachael Kilgour, Michael Flynn, Jobi Riccio, AC Sapphire, and others.
