Elysa Marden is a curator and producer based in NYC. She is currently the Co-Director of Art Brookfield, a national public arts program that produces, commissions, and presents music, dance, film, visual art and spoken word year-round and free to the public. She has had the pleasure of working with NewSong Music to present NewSong artists in Brookfield spaces in NYC and Denver for 8 years.
Meera Dugal is the Programming Manager for the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. The Atrium is home to over 100 free, extremely eclectic performances a year that are curated with the aim to reflect the diversity present in New York City. Originally from Charleston, Meera has a Bachelor of Arts from New York University’s Gallatin School where she studied ethnomusicology. Before coming to Lincoln Center, Meera worked with globalFEST, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, The Jazz Gallery, and Iraqi-American musician Amir ElSaffar. She is the manager for the New York-based traditional Moroccan Gnawa sextet Innov Gnawa and a member of Women of Color in the Arts.
Jomo Edwards is a roots-loving, Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is perhaps best known for his viral video series, “Guy On A Buffalo,” in which he wrote and overdubbed a new soundtrack for the film, Buffalo Rider. The irreverent wit and sardonic sense of humor apparent in the video series is just as pronounced in his songwriting.
Edwards often performs with his band, Possum Posse. The band’s latest record, Local Motive skews heavily toward roots rock & roll and old-school country. With song titles like “Farts Ain’t Funny” and “The Real Housewives of the West of Us,” you can bet that this songwriter has his own, singularly entertaining take on the classic genres.
We took the time to ask Edwards about his songwriting inspiration, career news and his hopes for the NewSong competition.
What is your songwriting process like, and where do you find inspiration?
I do my best work when given a deadline or assignment. I don’t usually spend weeks or months writing a song. I usually write my best songs in one sitting. Then, I begin playing them on an instrument, and don’t look back at the words I’ve written down, which usually allows me to develop more organic-sounding lyrics.
A few years ago, I also started attending a songwriting circle where an assignment was given each week. I was immediately hooked, and I have ended up writing a large number of songs from that group.
What does it mean to you to be a NewSong finalist, and what do you hope to gain from the experience?
For me, it means I’m not 100 percent crazy. I really believe in what I’m doing as a songwriter, but sometimes it can feel like there’s nobody else out there who understands and/or appreciates it.
What music news do you have to share with fans?
Earlier this year, my band, The Possum Posse, released a self-produced album called Local Motive. I’m pretty proud of it, and I think it captures the energy of our live shows. We’ve been playing most of the songs on that album live for a couple of years, so they organically developed their own arrangements. When we got into the studio, we were able to just play them the way we’d done many times before, and we were able to track most of the songs live.
To learn more about Jomo Edwards, visit thepossumposse.com and follow his band Jomo & The Possum Posse on Facebook.
Wilder Adkins, a Birmingham, Alabama-based folk musician, discovered that he was a NewSong finalist at a friend’s house in Cambridge, England. “I had just played a show at a 900-year-old church when I heard,” says Adkins. “So, suffice to say, it was a great bit of news to cap off a great evening.”
Adkin’s songwriting is steeped in earthy poetry and is imbued with a theosophical spirit. Thematically, his songs frequently touch upon faith, doubt and the natural world. He counts poets Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver among his influences, as well as Neil Young and Van Morrison. His aptly titled latest album, Hope and Sorrow, is a characteristic marrying of poetry and musicality.
We took the time to ask Adkins about his songwriting inspiration, career news and his hopes for the NewSong competition.
What is your songwriting process like, and where do you find inspiration?
Generally, I write about things that move me. Usually, the music comes first, but not always. Oftentimes it takes a while for a song to grow on me — even my own songs. In terms of musicians that inspire me, I love Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks. It’s one of my favorite albums. Recently, I played at a folk festival in Scotland hosted by another of my songwriting heroes, Dougie MacLean.
What does it mean to you to be a NewSong finalist, and what do you hope to gain from the experience?
It can be pretty hard for folk musicians to get attention these days, so it is really wonderful to receive that kind of recognition for my work. I’d love to connect with the NewSong family of artists and hopefully make plans for future shows and collaborations.
https://soundcloud.com/wilderadkins/bright-beautiful
What music news do you have to share with fans?
I put out a new album called Hope & Sorrow in 2016. I’ve also got an album of pirate music hopefully coming out soon.
To learn more about Wilder Atkins, visit wilderatkins.bandcamp.com and follow Wilder Music on Facebook and Twitter. You can also listen to his music on SoundCloud.
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Folk powerhouse pair The Small Glories are Cara Luft and JD Edwards, an energetic duo hailing from the Canadian prairies.
No Depression calls Luft’s songwriting “redemptive, earthy and rooted in realism” and the Globe and Mail says she “sings like an angel named Joni or Alanis…” Edwards is a magnetic live performer and prolific songwriter with an equally soulful voice. Together, they form a musical bond — not to mention some impressive harmonies — that caught the ears of NewSong judges.
We took time to ask Luft and Edwards about their songwriting inspiration, as well as their upcoming international shows. To learn more about the band, visit thesmallglories.com.
What music-related news do you have to share with readers?
Our debut, full-length album, Wondrous Traveler, was released in 2016. The album was just nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards: English Songwriter of the Year and New/Emerging Artist of the Year. We’ve been touring around the globe (Canada, USA, Netherlands, UK) and showcasing at fabulous music conferences such as the Americana Music Conference in Nashville. We recently played the Sisters Folk Festival, which was our second US festival and have just been offered our first major European festival at Tonder in Denmark. We are also excited to play our first Australian festival at Woodford Folk Festival.
What is your songwriting process like, and where do you find inspiration?
We write individually and collectively, and we also co-write with other artists. Sometimes we start with lyrics; other times, we start with music or a melody line and expand from there. We write about personal experiences, while remaining aware of that fine line between the personal and the universal. (We want to write songs about things so others can relate.) We look to our families, friends and communities for inspiration, as well as our landscape and geography. We are so often inspired by hearing other people’s stories.
What do you hope to get out of your experience as a NewSong finalist?
It seems like a wonderful way to meet other emerging acts and songwriters. So we see participating in the NewSong Music competition as a networking opportunity and an opportunity to reach a wider audience base.
To learn more about The Small Glories, you can also listen to the band on SoundCloud, and YouTube.
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Ashley McMillen is a country-inspired singer songwriter based out of Nashville, Tennessee who caught the attention of NewSong judges with her striking vocals and original take on contemporary country music. In addition to being an award-winning songwriter and vocalist, McMillen made a name for herself as a radio personality on Hitkicker 99.7 Central Virginia’s Country.
McMillen has been pursuing her musical dream since childhood. The West Virginia native has come a long way since her parents snuck her into karaoke bars to sing Etta James, Reba McIntire, Pat Benatar, and Patsy Cline.
We took some time to learn more about McMillen’s inspiration and her hopes for this year’s NewSong Music competition. To learn more about this promising musician, visit her website at ashleymcmillen.com.
How did you first react to the news that you were a NewSong Music finalist?
I actually first saw that NewSong shared my photo on Facebook and, knowing that I had submitted to the contest, I thought, “Wow, they’re promoting some of the entries … they must have liked some of my stuff.” Then, as I did a little more research, I learned that my photo was shared because I WAS A FINALIST! I was absolutely blown away. I’ve submitted to the competition before, and I know what an honor it is to be considered for such a prestigious event. So, I am excited, honored, nervous, and everything in between. Most of all, I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to share my music and lyrics with an even larger audience. Songwriters write and perform because it is a part of our being, and when people listen, it makes our souls very happy.
What is your songwriting process like, and where do you find inspiration?
When I was young, music was always in my head. It was as if I was living my life to an original soundtrack. I had no idea that others felt differently until I got older. Music is in my soul, pumping through my veins. I write songs all the time. I hum melodies in the car that later become a chorus to one of my songs. I talk to myself while grocery shopping, for example, and come up with some really cool song hooks. It’s just always there. I have old shoe boxes full of song ideas, phrases, etc. just waiting to be finished. I have to transfer my iPhone data often to make space for more notes and voice memos. I really enjoy meeting a co-writer with similar ideas because, when we put all of our own notes together, we sometimes come up with some amazing tunes. My songwriting inspiration is absolutely Lori McKenna. My life inspiration is my mother, Lisa McMillen.
What do you hope to get out of your experience as a finalist?
I am so incredibly excited and humbled to be selected as one of twelve finalists in such a prestigious competition. I am looking forward to connecting with the other writers and performers because there is always so much to learn. They are all so talented, and I am excited to share all of our music together in New York.
To learn more about Ashley McMillen visit ashleymcmillen.com and follow Ashley McMillen Music on Facebook. You can also listen to her music on SoundCloud, and YouTube. Stay tuned for her newest single, “Little Bitty Ring,” coming soon!
J Shogren Shanghai’d is a “catawampus american” band from Centennial, Wyoming. Shogren has a long and interesting resume, having a career in economics and politics, as well as impressing audiences with his well-worn voice and brilliant storytelling through song. We are eager to invite this refreshing Americana artist to the NewSong stage.
When asked about his songwriting inspiration, Shogren says to simply “play and play some more, and when the muse shows up, run with her as long as you can — and listen.” He shared more wise words when asked about how his past informs his music, as well as what we can expect from his latest album, Why So Blue, Bird?
You have a fascinating backstory as an economics professor, former advisor to both President Clinton and the King of Sweden, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner as a member of the United Nations Team working on climate change. How do these experiences inform your songwriting?
Science affects art, and art affects science. It is a two-way street. The precision you need in science helps with songwriting. The vision and emotion you need in songwriting helps you be more creative in doing science. It all works together for me. Arts, or science — or both? I choose both.
Your latest album, Why So Blue, Bird?, was released this fall. Can you tell us what sets this album apart from your previous works?
Why so Blue, Bird? is a concept album, and it is my most cohesive record to date. It is a stripped-down, four-piece band album, with few overdubs and very little ornamentation. The subject matter is immigrants and family. My family immigrated from sweden in 1984 or so and carved a homestead in the middle of the deepest dark forests of northern Minnesota. These songs take the viewpoint of many members of my family, men and women, who eked out a living up there. They were normal folks working hard trying to make a good life for themselves and those who followed. The lyrics and backstory for each song is found at www.jshogren.com.
What does being a NewSong finalist mean for you?
To me, this means meeting more folks who appreciate the power of the song, both the creative process and the joy in listening.
To learn more about J Shogren Shanghai’d, visit www.jshogren.com and follow J Shogren Shanghai’d on Facebook. You can also listen to his music on SoundCloud, and YouTube.
Brad Cole is a New York City-based folk musician who pens songs about the human condition with wit and raw insight. Hints of roots, old school bossa and rhythm and blues set this singer-songwriter apart, and his soulful lyricism thoroughly impressed NewSong judges.
Cole is a musician poised to take off: in the last eighteen months, he has played over one hundred shows and has shared the stage with artists including Chris Stapleton, Shovels and Rope, Ingrid Michaelson, and more.
We asked Cole about his songwriting process, as well as his hopes and expectations for the NewSong finalist showcase at Lincoln Center. To learn more about this exciting musician and to listen to his latest album, Lay it Down, visit his website at bradcolemusic.com.
What is your songwriting process like, and where do you find inspiration?
I look at the world around me for inspiration, and I guess most of that lyrical inspiration comes from those who have fallen and attempted to pull themselves up to a better place. I probably have a new melody idea every day, so it’s usually a matter of putting those inspirations together with a musical expression that is cool and feels good. Then I give myself time to write and finish. Probably the last songwriting muse to inspire me is Patty Griffin.
What made you decide to submit to NewSong, and what does it mean to you to be a finalist in this year’s competition?
I was in the crowd last year, and the show was inspiring. I loved it. Of course I feel honored that this special tune has been recognized by such a well respected group. As far as music curators go, NewSong is the real deal, so I know I’ll be with a great mix of players in a room full of listeners, so that’s huge. Beyond that, just want to be able to share what I do with a new audience.
What is going on your career that readers should know about?
I released Lay It Down in 2016, and the reception has been amazing. So I’ll be touring the US in 2017, primarily east coast, mid south, midwest, southwest and California. I have an April residency planned for Chicago at The Hideout every Wednesday night, and I’m putting the final plans together for a NYC residency this spring 2017.
To learn more about Brad Cole, visit bradcolemusic.com and follow Brad Cole Music on Facebook and Instagram.
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NewSong Music is proud to announce that the grand prize winner of this year’s competition will perform at the upcoming 2017 Sundance Film Festival, as part of the highly coveted ASCAP Music Café showcase.
Past NewSong winner Joe Shirley of the indie rock band Cardinal Sons calls the prize “amazing” — both in terms of the performance opportunity and simply being able to attend the renowned festival. “We played our set, and realized Pat Sansone and John Stirratt of Wilco and The Autumn Defense (heroes of ours) were standing at the back of the venue and listening to our show,” recalls Shirley. “What a trip!”
“Apart from playing the set to a packed room of festival-goers, just being at Sundance was also a great experience with everything it offers,” says Shirley. “It gave us an opportunity to play in front of a community of people who appreciate good art and are looking to be moved by something.”
Past grand prize winners Rachel Kilgour (2015) and Max Hatt of the jazz-americana duo Max Hatt/Edda Glass (2014) agreed on how attentive and receptive the audience was. “There was such respect for filmmaking as an artform in that setting,” says Kilgour. “It was very encouraging.” Kilgour performed at the Music Café in 2016.
“The ASCAP Music Café puts music at the center of a premier movie festival,” adds Hatt.. “It’s a listening room with a hip audience including major players in both the film and music industry.”
Erik Philbrook, ASCAP Vice President and Creative Director recognizes how important this opportunity can be to a musician — whether they are established touring musicians or just starting out. “As an integral program of the Sundance Film Festival, the Sundance ASCAP Music Café is one of the country’s premier showcases for established and emerging singer-songwriters,” says Philbrook. “It celebrates the marriage of music and film and offers filmmakers an excellent opportunity for music discovery.”
Philbrook goes on to count recent NewSong winners among the Music Cafe’s most memorable performers. “We’re excited to discover the next great artist to perform at the 2017 festival,” he says.
