Archive for the ‘NewSong Music’ Category

Announcing the 2022 NewSong Competition Finalists

Thursday, October 20th, 2022

We are thrilled to announce the finalists for this year’s NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition!

AC Sapphire(Portland, Ore.) Her cosmic sound blends disparate elements into an ethereal folk rock while her strong voice shakes listeners awake as she spins her passionate, dust-blasted tales.

Ash & Eric(Worcester, Mass.) Ash & Eric are two dreamers forever committed to making music for their listeners that is honest, intentional, and beautiful. The pair continues to say “YES” to the power of vulnerability, simplicity, and new starts.

Brittany Ann Tranbaugh(Philadelphia, Penn.) In ‘Quarter Life Crisis Haircut.’ she tackles a wide range of topics including her sixth grade queer awakening, an awkward run-in with an old acquaintance, and the impossibility of true folk music authenticity in this day and age.

Indus Adams — (San Antonio, Tex.) An entrepreneur by day, Indus turned two years of Covid quarantine into an intensive woodshedding period where he worked on music and songwriting. Music is his great love and the chance to pursue it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, he says.

Cozi anda Flounder(Dallas, Tex.) This Cosmic Country duo centers on a father (Ezra) and daughter (Cosi) songwriting team. “It’s like a conversation between generations, put to music,” says Ezra.

Mikalyn — (Guelph, Ontario) Mikalyn’s signature alt-pop stylings boldly blur lines between genres and eras. As an established singer-songwriter her journey had a significant boost when a Brazilian record label discovered her original, piano-driven songs on Soundcloud and offered to transform them into EDM hits

Justin Cross(Birmingham, Ala.) Writing songs has always been a means of expression for Cross, but becoming a father brought a new dimension to his lyrical, musical and creative direction. “A lot of the songs have become expressions of what I want to say to my sons and leave behind for them,” he says.

They will be joined by our Earl-Bird Finalist, The Singer and The Songwriter, a California-based duo who met and began writing and performing music together in 2006. Together, Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran — a queer mixed-race-Mexican-American and first-generation-Vietnamese-American, respectively — won the West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest, were nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Song at the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards and, this year, were named as a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition for Emerging Folk Artists at the Kerrville Folk Festival.

Thanks so much to everyone who submitted songs to this year’s NewSong Music Competition!

Entries to the 21st annual NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition closed at 11:59 PM on Sunday, Sept 18. We are overwhelmed by the talent of the singer-songwriters who entered their original work to this year’s competition.

This year’s eight finalists will convene in Asheville, N.C. on Saturday, Dec. 3 to network, celebrate, showcase and compete in this very special 21st annual live event, hosted by our presenting sponsor, Citizen Vinyl.

Tickets will be available soon.

Announcing the 2022 Arts Brookfield NYC Autumn ‘In Search of a Song: The Tour’ Concert Series Lineup

Tuesday, August 30th, 2022

We are proud to announce the New York City autumn outdoor concert series. The venue tour is presented by Arts Brookfield, and curated by NewSong Music.

The series features free outdoor lunchtime concerts taking place every Wednesday and Thursday from Sept. 21 through Oct. 13.

Each Wednesday concert begins at 12:30 PM at Manhattan West, located at 385 9th Ave, near Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.

Thursday shows start at 12:30 PM at One New York Plaza, located at 1 New York Plaza in New York City’s Financial District. The lineup features some of North America’s most talented performing songwriters and represents an eclectic array of styles and genres.

All the performers featured in the concert series are members of the NewSong artist community.

QUEEN ESTHER
• 
Wed, Sep 21, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thurs, Sept 22, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

OLIVIA ELLEN LLOYD
• 
Wed, Sep 28, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thurs, Sep 29, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

JAE JIN
• 
Wed, Oct 5, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thur, Oct 6, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

MICHAEL FLYNN
• 
Wed, Oct 12, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Manhattan West
• Thur, Oct 13, 12:30 – 1:30PM @One New York Plaza

About the Artists:

QUEEN ESTHER

(pictured above)

Described as “the unknown queen of Americana” (Feedback, Norway), Queen Esther’s most recent work includes a performance with her western swing collective The Black Rose of Texas at Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City initiative. She was a 2015 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalist.

Queen Esther received a grant from the NYC Women’s Fund for her forthcoming alt-Americana album Blackbirding. Within the song cycle, she uses the Gettysburg battlefield to make reclamation driven Americana from a Black Southern feminist perspective. The album will be released by spring 2023.

Queen Esther is a proud member of Actor’s Equity, SAG/AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild and The Recording Academy. Her critically acclaimed 2021 Black Americana album Gild The Black Lily is the fourth release on her imprint EL Recordings. Her 2018 TED Talk “The True Origins of Country Music” continues to reverberate throughout the Americana community.

OLIVIA ELLEN LLOYD

After releasing her debut album Loose Cannon in February 2021, Olivia Ellen Lloyd has been on a steady diet of writing, touring, and honing her bandleading chops at some of Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Americana institutions (Skinny Dennis, Luckydog, and Pete’s Candy Store). Her self-funded and independently released debut has been quietly winding its way into the hearts and minds of Country and Americana music lovers all over the world.

Lloyd is a West Virginia native and proud of it. Raised by a musician and a public-school educator her sound is a combination of her deeply rooted past and her fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants present. Olivia was a 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalist.

MICHAEL FLYNN

Michael Flynn is an Americana-adjacent singer-songwriter based in Western North Carolina. His songs have been featured on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Shameless, and on commercials for useful products like cars and shampoo. He’s also won a few awards for songwriting, most recently grand prize in the 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. His band Slow Runner has released five full-length albums, an EP, and several singles. The group spent some time on one of SonyBMG’s labels and have toured internationally with artists such as The Avett Brothers, Josh Ritter, Built to Spill, and William Fitzsimmons.

Michael has released three solo albums, including Survive With Me, the most recent, in 2020. That year also brought the release of a new EP called endlings, an unvarnished collection of songs that at various points evoke the following emotions: sadness, happiness, regret, romance, optimism, pessimism … you get the idea. Michael consistently threatens to write a self-help book called Stop Trying to Look Like What You Used To Look Like And Just Look Like What You Look Like but none of his friends think he’ll follow through.

JAE JIN

Jae Jin is an independent global recording artist, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor (SAG-AFTRA), and storyteller from Baltimore, MD. He has self-released three full-length albums of original music for which he has received Grammy consideration, numerous accolades, and songwriting awards (including the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Award and first place in the International Songwriting Competition).

He has performed nearly 600 concerts in 136 cities globally. Jae is also the recipient of a prestigious Creator Award through WeWork for his original music and powerful life story. He continues to share both around the world. Jae was a 2019 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalist.

ABOUT ARTS BROOKFIELD

Arts Brookfield supports innovation in music, dance, theater, film, and visual art by pushing boundaries to create unique works of art and cultural experiences presented for free. Thriving for over three decades, the program gathers communities around creativity by animating Brookfield Properties’ public spaces.

Q+A with Early Bird Finalist The Singer and The Songwriter

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

California-based duo The Singer and The Songwriter, aka Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran, were recently chosen as the first finalist in this year’s NewSong Performance and Songwriting Competition!



The identities of Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran — a queer mixed-race-Mexican-American and first-generation-Vietnamese-American, respectively — inform their music. Together they create eclectic and heartfelt songs that tell emotionally honest and compelling stories. Their unique and vibrant style is sophisticated but playful.

The California-based duo met and began writing and performing music together in 2006. Together Rachel and Thu won the West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest, were nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Song at the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards and, this year, were named as a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition for Emerging Folk Artists at the Kerrville Folk Festival.

We caught up with Rachel and Thu to learn a little bit more about their original music project.

NewSong: You’ve been having an amazing year, with being named a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition for Emerging Folk Artists at the Kerrville Folk Festival and then being chosen as the NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition Early Bird Finalist. Why do you think the stars are aligning right now?

RACHEL: Thank you! We feel that alignment too and I think it’s because we’re feeling in musical integrity. With this latest set of music we have finally caught up to the musicians we have always hoped we would be. We have been in constant pursuit of the best version of our musical selves. This looks like constantly honing our skills as songwriters and working our respective crafts; me with singing, Thu with guitar. We’re clear on our perspective as folk musicians and deliberate in the stories we want to tell. When we tell an honest story and give that story a simple, clear musical home, folks connect with it. Early on we often unintentionally hid our lyrics behind more flashy production, but as we’ve become more precise lyricists we’re able to put forward work that is unencumbered. The music that’s gaining some notoriety from Kerrville and now NewSong are all story songs that don’t have any obligations but to directly and honestly tell a story. 

You have been creative partners for 16 years. What has been key to establishing and nurturing trust and communication in that relationship? 

RACHEL: Has it really been 16 years?! This has been sweet to reflect on. Our trust and communication is something we’ve intentionally worked on over our long collaboration together and it hasn’t always come easily to us. We know that it’s in the music’s best interest if the stewards of that music are in sync with themselves and each other. We know that if we are in rupture, the music will suffer (say bickering for two hours and then trying to play a show together…) Over the years, we’ve become better attuned to one another’s needs even (and especially) when they’re different than our own. For instance, I know that Thu prefers to rehearse a ton before shows, whereas I prefer to rest my voice. I get really nervous before a show so I need a lot of ritual and warm-up, and Thu doesn’t really need that. So over time, we have found ways to communicate our needs and make enough space for each of us to be operating at our best. So now, for instance, we rehearse early and often (not right before a show), and we have some warm-up rituals that we do together that ground us. For us, this kind of compromise is a reflection of our individual commitment to the band and to the music. The more I acknowledge and embrace the needs of my bandmate, the more it feels like I’m leaning in towards the music. And I trust that Thu is leaning in equal and opposite measure which creates an equilibrium that, I think, has kept our band sustainable for all these years. 

During the pandemic you developed a system to bring music to people as they quarantined. Is there anything you gained from that experience that you plan to continue in your post-pandemic performance?

THU: There’s this thing that we heard Susan Gibson say that really stuck with us which is, “Your music is a service, not a product.” That ended up being such a perfect articulation of what we learned from doing The Songmobile. When the pandemic first hit, and we were feeling so powerless, it was Rachel’s idea to just put a battery-powered speaker in the car and drive around the Bay Area, playing private concerts to individual families from their houses’ driveways. It was such a straight-forward solution and I think the reason it worked is because it really got to the heart of music: it’s the connection between the music and the listener. It was an important reminder that when we perform, we get to be of service to the audience. I love being able to focus on that idea when we perform because it helps me take my ego out of the equation, and allows me to just connect to the music and the listener.

You recently shared a bill with another duo from the NewSong Music family — Ordinary Elephant. What does it mean to you to be part of a community of songwriters and performers such as NewSong?

THU: It means the world to us to be part of this community! When we look at the list of past NewSong finalists, they are songwriters that we genuinely admire and we have discovered some personal favorite artists by keeping up with NewSong each year! It’s an amazing feeling to be considered peers with artists you’ve loved for years.

Any updates on the planned release of your new album, Dreams! The Dead! Ghost! Future?

THU: We are in the process of approving the masters right now! It’s been a long journey for this album since it got stalled by the pandemic, but we are so excited for how it’s turned out. All the songs that we submitted to NewSong will be on this new album so we’re hoping that our participation in NewSong will get more folks excited about the record! As of now, we’re planning on releasing it sometime in 2023. More soon, we promise!

Submissions are still open, through Sept. 18, for the 2022 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. Enter your original songs here.

This year’s Early Bird Finalist is The Singer and The Songwriter

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022

CONGRATULATIONS to stand-out duo The Singer and The Songwriter aka Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran on being the first finalist named in this year’s NewSong Performance and Songwriting Competition!



After a marathon of listening sessions this summer, carefully reviewing each entry submitted, we could have filled the entire slate of finalists with all of the excellence that’s come in so far.



Thank you to everyone who has submitted so far, for being part of this project & community. We couldn’t do this without you.



All ‘Early Bird’ entrants are still being considered for the remaining finalist spots, and we are accepting submissions through September 18.

Thank you to everyone who has submitted so far, for being part of this project & community. We couldn’t do this without you.



All ‘Early Bird’ entrants are still being considered for the remaining finalist spots, and we are accepting submissions through September 18.

The identities of Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran — a queer mixed-race-Mexican-American and first-generation-Vietnamese-American, respectively — inform their music. Together they create eclectic and heartfelt songs that tell emotionally honest and compelling stories. Their unique and vibrant style is sophisticated but playful.

The California-based duo met and began writing and performing music together in 2006. Together Rachel and Thu won the West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest, were nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Song at the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards and, this year, were named as a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition for Emerging Folk Artists at the Kerrville Folk Festival. This year they also plan to release their fourth album, Dreams! The Dead! Ghost! Future.

It’s not too late! Submit YOUR original songs to this year’s NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. Submissions are being accepted through Sunday, September 18, with a finale performance scheduled for Saturday, December 3, at Citizen Vinyl.

Announcing the new #WeAreNewSong video series

Thursday, August 4th, 2022

New video series features 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalists

This week we launched the first installment in a weekly series of performances and interviews with NewSong finalists, filmed at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville, N.C. The first video features Charlie Belle.

Charlie Belle is an indie-pop band from Austin Texas formed by siblings Jendayi Bonds and Gyasi Bonds. The duo performed as a finalist act in the 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition, held at Citizen Vinyl. Charlie Belle was one of eight finalists to compete for the annual NewSong Music grand prize.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow the series. New videos will release each Friday.Love these videos? Consider submitting YOUR original songs to this year’s NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. Submissions are being accepted through Sunday, September 18, with a finale performance scheduled for Saturday, December 3, at Citizen Vinyl.

Early Bird entries to NewSong Competition end July 24

Saturday, July 23rd, 2022

The ‘Early Bird’ discounted entry fee to enter this year’s NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition ends at 11:59 PM EDT this Sunday, July 24. Prices are currently 1 song: $40; 2 songs: $70; additional songs: $25 each.

The final deadline to enter the competition is Sunday, Sept. 18, but submission fees increase after July 24.

From the early entries, we will select one ‘Early Bird’ finalist, who will advance to this year’s live performance showcase and competition finals, which will take place on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

All entrants will remain in the running for the remaining finalist spots, which will be announced later in the year. To enter, you need an MP3 of each of your songs you’d like to submit, and a non-mobile device to upload your work. Production quality of the recording is not a determining factor for consideration in the contest so don’t be shy to go full DIY.

There is no limit to how many songs you may submit, so enter often and early to become a finalist and win the 2021 Grand Prize!

More about the competition: NewSong Music’s curated showcases have been a fixture in the national music scene since 2001. The competition finals, formerly staged in New York City at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, relocated to Asheville, N.C. in 2017.

Eight finalists, selected from online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical magic to Asheville where they will perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner to receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 300 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl, and a featured, paid performance at Arts Brookfield’s Summer Concert Series in New York City in the summer of 2023.

Past NewSong winners and standouts include Ingrid Michaelson, Meghan Trainor, Max Hatt/Edda Glass, Grace Potter, and Crys Matthews.

 

 

Michael Flynn’s NewSong Music Residency at Citizen Vinyl Runs Throughout July

Tuesday, June 28th, 2022

Musician Michael Flynn, the 2021 grand-prize winner of the NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition, is the artist in residence at Citizen Vinyl throughout July 2022. Performance dates are Fridays, July 1st, 8th, 15th, and 29th.

“Citizen Vinyl has such an intoxicating atmosphere of history and progressive art; just being in that building is deeply inspiring,” he says, “I can’t wait to play music in it every week for a month.”On Friday, July 22nd, Flynn will perform a special in-the-round style session with 2021 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition finalists Olivia Lloyd and Jay Filson, also at Citizen Vinyl. All concerts begin at 5pm and are free to attend.

As part of his grand prize package, Flynn was awarded the opportunity to record at Citizen Studios. The modern analog mixing and tracking room was originally the live performance studio for WWNC radio broadcasts. Flynn’s album-in-process is “a collection of songs that indulge in a lot of my favorite musical ideas—80s synths, folk instruments, woodwinds, etc.—like an Americana band that got their boarding gate confused and accidentally ended up on a flight to outer space,” he says. “Lyrically it was mostly written at the bedside of a loved one succumbing to pancreatic cancer, so it’s a harrowing exploration of life and death and love and grace. Flynn calls Saluda, N.C. home. His songs have been featured on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Shameless and his most recent EP is Endlings. On Monday, July 25, he’ll release the single “Wishing Tree (Stolen Spoons Remix).” The original track, says Flynn, was a “sparse banjo meditation on frustrations with the music industry.” It was remixed by Los Angeles-based producer Stolen Spoons.

Flynn’s residency coincides with acceptance of submissions for the 2022 NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition, sponsored by Citizen Vinyl. Eight finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical magic to Asheville where they will perform, compete, and connect with one another. The NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finale will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2022 at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

Discounted ‘Early Bird’ entries are now open (1 song: $40; 2 songs: $70; additional songs: $25 each). Entry prices increase after Sunday, July 24, with the final deadline for submissions on Sunday, September 18, 2022. To submit your original music, visit newsong-music.com/contest.

Learn more about Michael Flynn at michaelflynn.com. For up-to-date information on the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, visit newsong-music.com. To learn more about Citizen Vinyl, visit citizenvinyl.com.

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2022 NEWSONG MUSIC PERFORMANCE & SONGWRITING COMPETITION

Thursday, June 16th, 2022

NewSong Music is now accepting original song entries for its 21st annual performance and songwriting competition, presented by Citizen Vinyl. The program’s curated showcases have been a fixture in the national music scene since 2001. The competition finals, formerly staged in New York City at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, relocated to Asheville, N.C. in 2017.

2018 NewSong grand prize winner Mel Bryant recording at Echo Mountain Studios

Eight finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical magic to Asheville where they will perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner to  receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 300 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl, and a featured, paid performance at Arts Brookfield’s Summer Concert Series in New York City in the summer of 2023.

Past NewSong winners and standouts include Ingrid Michaelson, Meghan Trainor, Max Hatt/Edda Glass, Grace Potter, and Crys Matthews.

Discounted ‘Early Bird’ entries are now open (1 song: $40; 2 songs: $70; additional songs: $25 each). Entry prices increase after Sunday, July 24, with the final deadline for submissions on Sunday, September 18, 2022. To submit your original music, visit newsong-music.com/contest. Finalists will be notified via email and announced through NewSong Music’s website and social media channels on Monday, October 18, 2022.

Mark your calendar for the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finale, which will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2022 at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

NewSong Music is an independent music organization that aims to build a supportive community of performers and songwriters across various genres of music and skill levels, while identifying truly exceptional artists and introducing their music to a broader international audience.

Citizen Vinyl was established by NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland. It opened October 2020 as Asheville’s first vinyl manufacturing facility. Citizen Vinyl boasts a variety of amenities including a full-scale recording studio, a vinyl-themed craft cocktail and coffee lounge, a record and art store, and more.

For up-to-date information on the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, visit newsong-music.com. To learn more about Citizen Vinyl, visit citizenvinyl.com

 

Crys Matthews’ “Changemakers” wins song of the year at 2022 International Folk Music Awards

Saturday, May 21st, 2022

Crys Matthews’ “Changemakers” garnered song of the year honors at the 2022 International Folk Music Awards, presented Wednesday, May 18. Wednesday was also the opening night of the 34th annual Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

Matthews is the 2017 NewSong Singer-Songwriter Competition Grand Prize winner. As part of her prize, she recorded the six-track album These Old Hands at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC. It was produced by Gar Ragland of NewSong Recordings and released on Friday, October 11, 2019 in celebration of National Coming Out Day. The date was significant for the queer activist artist whose songwriting frequently draws on themes of social justice and the myriad expressions of love. 

Since winning the International NewSong Competition, Matthews has performed at the Sundance Film Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, and The Kennedy Center. In her TedTalk “Sing, Don’t Shout—An Alternative Approach,” Matthews spoke about being raised in a small town in southeastern North Carolina by an A.M.E. preacher, and how she witnessed the power of music from an early age.

Changemakers is Matthew’s latest effort. The record delves into heavy topics such as immigration, the opioid crisis, Black Lives Matter, and gun safety. But it’s also about hope: “As a social-justice songwriter, it is my duty to keep breathing that hope and encouragement into the people who listen to my music,” Matthews says on her website.

Matthews performed on the 2022 International Folk Music Awards show, as did fellow nominees John Smith and Diana Jones (also a former NewSong Recordings artist). Allison Russell was awarded artist of the year and album of the year. Russell and Matthews were both featured last year on the Adobe And Teardrops Podcast “Juneteenth Pride w/ Terry Blade.”

Sadie Gufstason-Zook: Winner of 2022 NewSong LEAF Showcase

Tuesday, May 17th, 2022

NEWSONG MUSIC ANNOUNCES WINNER OF 8TH ANNUAL
LEAF FESTIVAL SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE & COMPETITION

Sadie Gustafson-Zook wins this year’s LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition and Showcase.

At the event, held Saturday, May 14, at the LEAF Retreat, Gustafson-Zook’s expansive vocal range, unique songwriting, and intricately lilting melodies were on all display. Her songs included the charmingly relatable “Maybe I Don’t Know,” the mesmerizing love song “Lean in More,” and the crowd-pleasing sing-along, “Your Love Makes Me Smile.”

“Performing at the contest was definitely a highlight of the weekend for me,” says Gustafson-Zook. “There was a good crowd assembled for the showcase and they were very attentive and receptive to the music (which always makes performing easier). It felt really nice to be recognized for my songwriting and I’m excited to continue my relationship with the LEAF and NewSong communities!”
 

The singer-songwriter, who is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee, earned a spot as one of only eight finalists at the annual International NewSong Competition, held in Asheville in the fall. Gustafson-Zook will also return to the Fall LEAF Festival, held October 20-23, 2022, as a featured, paid performer.

Award-round runners up:

Participating finalists:

Judges for the event, culled from Asheville, N.C.’s music industry professionals, included Coppa Stone, Jenny Fares, and Alli Marshall.

“This was a joyful celebration of creative community,” says Marshall. “It was incredibly difficult to choose a winner from this varied and talented collection of artists.”

Genres ran the gamut from indie-pop and soulful folk-rock to Americana and lyrical hip-hop. Seven finalists and their accompanists traveled from as far as Los Angeles to share their songs with a full house of attentive listeners.

“I think the real winners were the audience members who were treated to such a stellar concert,” Marshall continues. “And the musicians themselves quickly bonded, cheering each other on. This didn’t feel like a contest — it felt like family.”

The LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition is a collaborative effort between NewSong Music and LEAF Community Arts. It aims to identify and recognize exceptional performers and songwriters from across the country.

About NewSong Music

Now in its 21st year, NewSong Music is an independent artist development organization and independent record label. Its mission is to identify and celebrate truly exceptional artists, and to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres of music.

About LEAF Community Arts

LEAF Community Arts is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to connect cultures and create community through music and arts. LEAF is comprised of two key cultural arts education programs, LEAF Schools & Streets and LEAF International, as well as two signature events, LEAF Festival and LEAF Downtown.  Attendance at LEAF Festival provides a family-friendly weekend experience infused with music and arts while supporting the long-term vision of the organization. Since 1995, LEAF has served over 200,000+ youth with programs in over 15 community locations and in 10 countries worldwide.  Learn more at www.theLEAF.org.