Archive for the ‘Contest’ Category

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Jay Brown

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

Jay Brown is a roots music one-man-band from Black Mountain, North Carolina, who has been playing guitar and piano since the age of 7. A prolific songwriter, Jay’s performances draw from a couple hundred original songs, as well as countless covers from the roots of Americana and beyond. Jay has spent years traveling and playing around the U.S., absorbing our rich musical heritage and performing with artists such as Doc Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Etta Baker. Jay has also taken multiple trips to Ghana, West Africa, where he studied and performed traditional African music with the Ghanaians.

His eclectic musical tastes found expression in 1996, when he became a founding member of Lazybirds, a band that blends a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz and blues, country and rock ‘n roll, to create a fresh and soul stirring sound. Lazybirds have been a mainstay of the North Carolina roots music scene for nearly 30 years.

Jay also formed the Indian folk fusion band Shantavaani with his wife Aditi, which put out 3 classic albums during its 2 year period. Jay continues to perform with Aditi, blending Aditi’s Indian folk and classical influences with his own folk and original music. Aditi and Jay perform as a duo, and also with Joel Karabo Elliot in Roots Grown Deep. Aditi and Jay also recorded 2 critically acclaimed records with their friends Angie and Cas in The Appalucians

Jay and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?


Jay Brown: The short answer would be “roots and original music.” Heavily influenced by Doc Watson, American folk, blues, jazz, Indian, and African music.  

What is the first album you bought, and why?


Muddy Waters Folk Blues. As soon as I got my driver’s license I went to Charlemagne Records in Birmingham, a very cool record shop that’s since closed down, and asked the very groovy and knowledgeable owner what might be a good record to get me started in the world of the blues, and he directed my attention to Muddy Waters, and also Lightnin Hopkins. I took those records home and put them on and fell under their spell, and the depth and feeling of that music has probably been my biggest inspiration as a musician.

What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?


Billie Holiday, particularly with Lester Young playing behind her on sax. The sound of her voice, and the way Prez would dance around her with that mellow tone of pure jazz, and Billie clearly getting a kick out of it. The way they inspired each other is something I feel very deeply, and those two together have an eternal residence in my heart and mind.

What projects are you currently working on?

There are a few wrapping up just now. A solo album of original songs (with a few Dylan covers) that’ll be called In the Wake which will feature a few songs I wrote shortly after Helene, is just about ready. An album Aditi and I recorded (Aditi and Jay) is being mixed. We’re still pondering on a name for the album. Half of the album will be kirtan, and half will be American folk, but the overriding feel of the album is contemplative. Aditi and I also show up on the new album by the amazing world musician Joel Karabo Elliot. The Appalucians have a new album out as well which is yet to be released, called Skygazer. And Lazybirds have just gotten started recording an album of travelin songs, called Goin Places. So it appears our basement is soon to be taken over by boxes of CDs.

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Linda Dunnavant

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025

Linda Dunnavant is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter originally from Moultrie, GA. She calls her genre “dream folk Americana” and her songs are inspired by daydreams, delusions, second chances, old hurts, getting stuck, getting free, and the natural world. She released an EP in 2023 called Tiny Towns followed by an album in 2024 titled Hidden Lake.

Linda and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

 

NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?


Linda Dunnavant: I’d say somewhere between indie folk and Americana with a meditative, dreamlike quality. 

What is the first album you bought, and why?


I remember getting my dad to buy me Wynonna’s first solo album on cassette at Walmart when I was 8. I had heard one of the songs on the radio and I wanted to be able to listen to it whenever I wanted. I saw Wynonna a few years ago when The Judds reunion tour came to Nashville and my inner child was in heaven.

What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?


I was a huge choir nerd in high school. I was in 6 choirs at once my senior year, including a handbell choir. To this day, playing handbells is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m releasing a single called “Cicadas” inspired by the cicada-apocalypse we experienced in Nashville last May. I’m also in a songwriting group that forces me to write a new song every week. I’m so grateful to have the community and accountability to keep my creativity flowing. 

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Jackson Grimm

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025

Jackson Grimm is an accomplished and respected multi-instrumentalist and teacher in the Asheville music community. His songs marry folk pop melodies with the lonesome sound of traditional Appalachian music. It is no surprise that Jackson’s songwriting is representative of his musical birthplace, Western North Carolina, where Grimm studied Traditional Music at Warren Wilson College.

Jackson and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?


Jackson Grimm: I write songs influenced by the mountains of Appalachia. Folk and bluegrass arrangements inspired by pop melodies and poetic lyrics.

What is the first album you bought, and why?


I thiiiiink the first album I bought on my own was American Idiot by Greenday. Epic.

What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?


I’m heavily influenced by old ballads from the Celtic Isles.

What projects are you currently working on?

My main projects right now are with Holler Choir and Susto Stringband.

 

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Finn O’Sullivan

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025

Finn O’Sullivan is an indie folk/pop singer-songwriter based in Longmont, CO. She explores love and heartbreak, patriarchal privilege, the worlds of her favorite fictional characters, and the endless what ifs that keep her up at night. Finn writes and performs with equal parts depth of feeling and serious badassery. She has shared the stage with Langhorne Slim, Carsie Blanton, Rainbow Girls, and a host of local Colorado talent. The title song of her first LP, When the Power Comes Back On (2020), won the Song of the Year award in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest. 

Finn and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?


Finn O’Sullivan: I would say that my music is along the lines of indie folk/pop, the sort of thing you might get if you combined Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers into one musician.

What is the first album you bought, and why?


I think the first (or one of the first) albums I bought was Transangelic Exodus by Ezra Furman. She’s one of my all time favorite musicians and that album is one of my all time favorite albums, so as soon as I saw it I knew I had to get my hands on it. It’s a perfect example of a concept album that tells a story the whole way through, which I love. In a world that’s so focused on singles rather than whole albums, it’s really important to me to support artists who are still putting their heart and soul into conceptualizing and bringing to life a full project. It’s an album full of songs that felt so important to me at the time — love songs, protest songs, songs about belonging and not belonging, songs about wanting to bring down the man but still be able to keep the things and people you love safe, songs about queerness and finding your home and being weird and accepting that part of yourself with open arms. It’s perfect! 

What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?


I do this very niche and very nerdy thing where I write songs based on fictional characters. I’ve always been a big reader and a big TV show person, so sometimes those stories and characters stick in my head and I basically have no choice but to write a song about them! It’s a fun way to step out of my own head and put myself in the shoes of someone else. I feel like those are the songs where I surprise myself the most and learn the most about myself, which is funny because they initially start off not being about me or my life at all. 

What projects are you currently working on?

I’ve been getting more into self producing and home recording over the past year. I took a class in my last year of college last year that really helped open my eyes to the world of production a little more and I’ve been having so much fun experimenting with that. I’m currently working on a 5-song EP that will be completely self-recorded and produced. I’m hoping to have that out this summer! 

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Benjamin Burke

Monday, April 21st, 2025

Benjamin Burke is a folk-country singer and songwriter. Reminiscent of modern greats like Jason Isbell, as well as artists from days gone by like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Burke invokes the timeless appeal of a songwriter and his guitar. His songs are clever, earnest, and edgy, often drawing on imagery from his childhood in the Rocky Mountains. Burke’s award-winning single “How To Write A Song”, is a clever and heartfelt take on the classic breakup song, and will be the title track of his forthcoming album, to be released May 9, 2025. The album will also feature Burke’s song “The Day I Die,” winner of the Country category in the international 2024 Songdoor songwriting competition.

Benjamin and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?


Benjamin Burke: My music is acoustic-driven folk-country, with some rock influences. From a very young age I’ve been fascinated with clever lyrics, and I still can’t resist a clever lyrical hook. So if you haven’t heard my music before, you can expect acoustic guitar and some sort of lyrical twist in most songs. A lot of people have described my voice as “sweet,” reminiscent of the alternative-rock tenor singer-songwriters who really influenced me in my earlier years, like Matt Nathanson. My writing is closer to classic introspective singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne and Don Henley. For me it’s never been about the artist or the genre as much as it is about the writing—never the singer, always the song. Nonetheless I seem to have settled into a folk-country sound over time as my influences have converged.

What is the first album you bought, and why?

I bought both of Rascal Flatts’ first two albums at the same time. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. Rascal Flatts was such a huge player on country music radio at the time. I loved the way Gary LeVox’s voice sounded, and to this day I still think he’s one of the best singers out there. I remember singing “These Days” over and over again in my room thinking I sounded great (I’m quite sure my older sister would have disagreed).

What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?

Mid-2000s rock music played a huge role in my musical development—everyone from The Goo Goo Dolls to the All American Rejects. Their songwriting was so clever and self-aware. I was never really able to pull off those high notes, though. 

What projects are you currently working on?

I just released “Me Before You,” which is the final single off of my debut album, coming May 9. Promotion of the album has been my primary focus recently. I’m always writing, and I’ve already got an eye on a few more songs I want to release in the next year or so—but one thing at a time! I also produced the last four singles that Heather Edgley released (you can check out “Broken Promises” here), and am working with her on producing a few more singles and an album. 

Q&A with LEAF finalist Jackson Harden

Thursday, April 17th, 2025

Jackson Harden is a singer-songwriter from Utah, currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Combining elements of traditional folk, alt-country, and chamber pop, his music has a timeless quality that creates an airy, open atmosphere tinged with imagery of the vast desert landscapes and towering mountains of the western United States. His gentle vocal style, intimate songwriting, and intricate guitar picking are often compared to the likes of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. His debut EP Dakota Blue Moon was released in November of 2023.

Jackson and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

NewSong Music: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?

Jackson Harden: I’d say it’s a blend of traditional folk and ’60s pop with a modern twist. 

What is the first album you bought, and why?
American Idiot by Green Day. I was 8 years old and up to that point I mostly just heard church music and whatever was on pop radio. A kid on my block showed me some CDs from his collection including Green Day, Weezer, Nirvana, etc., and it rocked my world. I became obsessed with Green Day and had to get the CD.

What is one influence on your music that might surprise us?

I had a major pop-punk phase for most of my adolescence that has informed my songwriting, playing, and sensibilities to some degree, even today.
 
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my first full length album!

 

2025 LEAF Competition Finalists Announced

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2025 finalists of the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music:

Babe Club — Charleston, SC
Caroline Cotter — Ellsworth, ME
Finn O’Sullivan — Longmont, CO
Jackson Grimm — Swannanoa, NC
Andy Shaw — Columbus, OH
Jackson Harden — Concord, NC
Jenna Nicholls — New York, NY
Benjamin Burke — Washington, DC

They’ll be joining us here next month to network, showcase and compete at LEAF Retreat, on May 10, 2025 in Black Mountain, NC (right outside of Asheville).

Submissions now open to the 11th annual LEAF / NewSong Singer-Songwriter Competition

Monday, February 24th, 2025

The annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Showcase and Competition, now in its eleventh year, will take place at LEAF Global Arts Retreat, in Black Mountain, N.C., on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Submit your original songs HERE

The performance showcase and competition is a collaborative effort between NewSong Music and LEAF Global Arts. It aims to identify and recognize exceptional performers and songwriters from across the country. Eight finalists will be invited to perform, network, and compete at the LEAF Retreat (a more intimate iteration of LEAF’s annual fall festival) in May.

The winner of the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, selected from a panel of music industry judges, will earn a spot as one of only eight finalists at the annual International NewSong Competition, held in Asheville, N.C., in the fall. The winner will also return to the LEAF Global Arts Festival, held October 16-19, 2025, as a featured, paid performer.

Past winners include Admiral Radio, Jimmie Griffith, Noan Partly, and Moon Bride.

The deadline for Early Bird submissions is Sunday, March 2 (at which point submission prices increase). One early bird entrant will be selected as a finalist for the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition. (All other early bird entries will remain in consideration.) The final deadline to submit entries is Sunday, March 23, at 11:59 PM PST. This year’s eight finalists are scheduled to be announced on Facebook, Instagram, our website blog and newsletter on Wednesday, April 2.

Submit your original songs HERE

Meet the NewSong Competition Judges

Tuesday, January 7th, 2025

Now in its 24th year, the NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters today. This crowd-sourced effort seeks to identify the truly exceptional artists within our communities and to work closely with them to develop their careers and introduce their music to a broader, international audience while building a supportive community of performers and songwriters across all genres of music and levels of skill.

But, as important as songwriting skills and stage presence is to this competition, it’s our panel of esteemed judges — all members of the music industry — who have to make the difficult decision: What musical act will take home the grand prize.

This year’s judges, for the finale event on Saturday, March 15, include:

China Langford head shotChina Langford —China Langford is an events promoter, musician, and arts administrator currently based in Old Fort, NC. She owns and runs the independent live music production company Lonesome Station, originally founded in San Francisco in 2019, and now operating at multiple venues in the Asheville area. She recently opened the small music venue Lonesome Station Old Fort at Seeker Coffee. She grew up in Black Mountain surrounded by singer-songwriters and immersed in the rich musical landscape of Western NC. Her solo music is released under the name China Smith. 

 

A man wearing glasses and a blue shirt stands in front of an old building with blue siding.Claude Coleman Jr. — Best known as the drummer for the alternative rock group Ween. He has also worked with Eagles of Death Metal, Chocolate Genius, the Wooden Soldiers, Elysian Fields and 3 Input Woman, and has been a touring member of the Mike Dillon Band on multiple occasions. A multi-instrumentalist, Coleman is also the singer-songwriter for his own group Amandla. Since 2017, he has co-owned and actively managed SoundSpace@Rabbit’s, a music rehearsal and art studio facility inside of a 1947 Black-owned tourist court and soul food cafe’ known as Rabbit’s Motel, in the historically African American district of Southside, Asheville, North Carolina.

 

A man wearing a white shirt and glasses leans against a mixing board. Gar Ragland — Gar Ragland is a producer, musician, and president and co-founder of the NewSong Music Group. 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. It was there in 2001 that he started producing his fellow classmates’ demos and records, and co-founded NewSong Music. In 2005 Ragland moved to New York City, working out of his studio in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn. In 2012, he relocated with his wife and three children to Asheville, NC, to take up residence at Echo Mountain Recording Studios; and in 2020 founded Citizen Vinyl, presenting sponsor of NewSong Music. Ragland is a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys), and formerly served for five years as the board chair of the Asheville Area Arts Council (ArtsAVL).  

Q+A with NewSong Finalist Marcus Fetch

Saturday, January 4th, 2025

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.

Marcus will join seven other finalists to network and compete at the NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition finals on Saturday, March 15, at Citizen Vinyl. Find tickets here.

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

Marcus: Outside of my father’s love for the Beatles, my older sister blew my mind with alternative rock music as a kid. 

What inspired you to become a songwriter?

I learned how to express my emotions through writing songs as a young teen and never stopped. 

If you could partner with another living songwriter to co-write a song, who would it be? 

That’s a tough one! Would have to be Bob Dylan.

What attracted you to submit your song(s) to the NewSong Competition? 

Just wanted to put myself out there. 

Do you have any recent or forthcoming projects to tell us about? 

I’ve written a few beat poems to slow jazz piano lately. Inspired by Kerouc.