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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. 

 

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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.”

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Crys Matthews releases new album, “These Old Hands” Oct. 11

Tuesday, October 1st, 2019

NEWSONG MUSIC COMPETITION GRAND PRIZE WINNER CRYS MATTHEWS RELEASES NEW ALBUM ON “NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY,” OCT. 11

 

“THESE OLD HANDS” RECORDED AT ECHO MOUNTAIN STUDIOS WITH NEWSONG RECORDINGS PRODUCER GAR RAGLAND AND RELEASED ON NEWSONG RECORDINGS

 

Pre-order These Old Hands on Bandcamp

Oct 1, 2019 (Asheville, NC) – Virginia-based singer-songwriter Crys Matthews is proud to announce the release of her new album, These Old Hands. The six-track record is slated for release Friday, October 11, 2019, on National Coming Out Day. The date is significant for the queer activist artist whose songwriting frequently draws from social justice themes and love in all its forms.

“This album is a sort of coming out of sorts for me,” explains Matthews. “I’ve been out as a lesbian since I was 18, but this album is one of the few times in my life I’ve actually felt vulnerable. Certainly, it’s the first time I’ve felt so vulnerable with regards to my music. It’s not love songs and hopeful protest songs — there are a lot of hard truths contained in between the lyrics of these songs.”

 

These Old Hands was recorded at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC and produced and mixed by Gar Ragland of NewSong Recordings. Matthews recorded the album as part of her 2017 NewSong Singer Songwriter Competition Grand Prize win. Matthews’s career has continued to thrive since that time, with performances at Sundance Film Festival, The Kennedy Center, and the songwriter’s first national tour in 2019.

Matthews describes her new collection of songs as a breakup album, featuring the songwriter’s signature blend of Americana, folk, jazz and funk punctuated by bold, honest lyrics. “Breakups are like any other type of loss; they’re grief-inducing, and so you can hear that cycle from heart-broken to healing,” she says. “Finding love and losing love are some of the most universally human things that we do.”

Pre-order These Old Hands on Bandcamp: http://bit.ly/These-Old-Hands

For up-to-date information on Crys Matthews, visit crysmatthews.com/ 

For more information about NewSong Recordings and the NewSong Music Competition, visit newsong-music.com/

For media requests, contact lea@newsong-music.com.

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‘Come Together’ Summer Concert Series begins July 10

Tuesday, July 9th, 2019

NewSong Music & Arts Brookfield present

‘Come Together’ Summer Concert Series

Arts Brookfield and NewSong Music are proud to announce the New York City summer outdoor concert series ‘Come Together: New original music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ last studio album, Abbey Road.’ The series is presented by Arts Brookfield and curated by NewSong Music.

‘Come Together’ features four free outdoor lunchtime concerts taking place every Wednesday, July 10-31 in and select Thursdays in July and August at Brookfield Place. Each Wednesday concert begins at 12:30 PM at One New York Plaza, located at 1 New York Plaza in New York City’s Financial District. Each Thursday night concert takes place 7-8:30 PM at Brookfield Place in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Manhattan. The lineup features some of North America’s most talented performing songwriters, and represents an eclectic array of styles and genres.

Come Together: Summer Music Series 

July 10: Kaiti Jones @ 1 NY Plaza
July 17: Crys Matthews @ 1 NY Plaza
July 18: Crys Matthews @ Brookfield Place 
July 24: Suzie Brown @ 1 NY Plaza
July 31: Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers @ 1 NY Plaza
Aug. 1: Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers @ Brookfield Place
Aug. 15: Slow Packer & For Def @ Brookfield Place 

All of the performers featured in the ‘Come Together’ series are members of the NewSong artist community:

Kaiti Jones (7/10 @ 1 NY Plaza)
(2018 NewSong Music Finalist)

A native of Portland, Maine, Kaiti Jones spent four years in Nashville, forming her sound in the backyard of Bob Dylan’s ballads and Flannery O’Connor’s southern gothic storytelling before returning north. Jones’ voice is simultaneously earthy and ethereal, carrying the listener a few feet off the ground on a cloud of rich, sophisticated melodies while whispering truth and contemplating the human condition through good old-fashioned storytelling.
kaitijonesmusic.com

 

Crys Matthews  (7/17 @ 1 NY Plaza & 7/18 at Brookfield Place)
(2017 NewSong Music Grand Prize Winner)

A southeastern North Carolina native who now calls Herndon, Virginia home, Crys Matthews blends Americana, folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass and funk into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies and punctuated by honest, original lyrics. Having been compared to everyone from Toshi Reagon to Tracy Chapman to Ruthie Foster, Matthews’ eclectic infusion of genres won her the grand prize in 2017 of the international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finals at New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
www.crysmatthews.com

Suzie Brown  (7/24 @ 1 NY Plaza)
(2018 NewSong Finalist)

A 1970s-inspired folk-pop songwriter, Suzie Brown has chased her unique muse for a decade, making modern-day roots music that nods to the soul singers, heartland rockers, and blues artists who came before her. Gluing the sound together is the unforced voice and honest, autobiographical songwriting of a Renaissance woman who’s not only an acclaimed musician, but also a part-time cardiologist and full-time mother. She dives into her personal life and subjects such as mortality, money, and motherhood on her sixth album, Under the Surface, which includes songs that have been named as finalists in the NewSong Music Competition, the Great American Songwriting Competition, and the International Acoustic Music Awards. www.suziebrownsongs.com.
 

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers  (7/31 @ 1 NY Plaza & 8/1 @ Brookfield Place)
(2018 NewSong Music Grand Prize Winner)

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers are a Nashville based indie rock band comprised of lovers and friends. Led by bassist and songwriter Mel Bryant, their screaming guitars are met with a unique feminine energy that is equal parts powerful and sensitive, groovy and grungy, memorable and true. Mel uses the gift of rock music to promote thoughtfulness, respect, justice and love throughout the human community. 
www.melbryantmusic.com

Slow Packer & For Def  (8/15 @ Brookfield Place)

Slow Packer is a musical project formed by songwriter and producer, Jack Victor. The project also includes collaborations with several other singers and instrumentalists. After the break-up of his band Midnight Snack in 2017, Victor continued to write songs and make recordings. In 2019 he decided to adopt the moniker Slow Packer to release this new music. A quote from Slow Packer: “Songs are made from starts and stops, periods of fullness followed by periods of emptiness. I’ve been around this cycle many times in the last few years. Each time, there is one song that is the inspiration for many others to come. This initial song becomes like a mission statement – a set of ideals and values – to expand upon.”

For Def is the “for fun” band of Jack, Maddie, and Mike of Slow Packer. It started as a weekly jam and has turned into a “real band” because they are working on a tape now. So far, a lot of the music has been improvised live but For Def is currently working towards through-composed tunes that are low-key contemplative and emotional and only go high-key a few times. Overall, you will probably think “nice, this is actually pretty chill. I could listen to this on a pleasant drive, maybe on the way to a hike or something like that.” There is electric guitar (Maddie), bass (Mike), drum set (Jack), and sometimes – on the demos they are working on – there is a lush synth pad in there too.

slowpacker.bandcamp.com.

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About Arts Brookfield

Arts Brookfield presents exciting, world-class cultural experiences to thousands of people for free each year in both indoor and outdoor public spaces at Brookfield’s premier buildings in Denver, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, Perth and Sydney. From concerts, theater and dance to film screenings and art exhibitions, Arts Brookfield brings public spaces to life through art.
ArtsBrookfield.com

 

About NewSong Music

NewSong Music is an independent artist development and music production company headquartered at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios. NewSong’s mission is to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists to introduce their music to a broader, international audience. Its programs include a record label (NewSong Recordings), artist management services, concert production and the annual, international NewSong performance and songwriting competition.
newsong-music.com

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NewSong Artist Roundup: Alice Howe, Ben Lubeck, & More

Monday, July 1st, 2019

There are so many talented artists who are part of the NewSong family — it can sometimes be difficult to keep up! That’s why each week, we compile a list of new releases, shows, and videos from past NewSong artists who we think deserve your attention. 

Thinking about submitting to this year’s NewSong Music Singer Songwriter Competition? The Early Bird Deadline is July 15th. Submit your music here. 

 

Alice Howe — Visions

 

2018 NewSong finalist Alice Howe released a new album, Visions, this spring, and it’s a beautiful collection that deserves a spot in your summer rotation.

Via alicehowe.com: “Vistas and the faces and emotions they summon unfurl with compelling grace on Visions, Howe’s anticipated debut album. A modern love letter to 60s and 70s folk and timeless blues, Visions pays homage without succumbing to imitation, and offers an intimate snapshot of a young artist discovering her own power.”

 

Ben Lubeck (Farewell Milwaukee) — “For You Again”

 

We met Ben Lubeck, frontman of the band Farewell Milwaukee, in 2010 when he was a finalist in the NewSong competition. He recently released a series of singles, one of which is the lovely “For You Again.”  This song, explains Ben, “explores the many emotional ups and downs of a couple’s relationship as they add members to their family and the daily practice of cultivating each other’s hearts through the complex and mundane parts of life.” Check out this song as well as his other singles, “Mrs. Bluebird” and “The Show,” on the artist’s website.

Ana Egge — “Cocaine Cowboys”

 

Ana Egge recently released a dreamy new single, “Cocaine Cowboys,” which premiered on PopMatters. 

Via PopMatters: “This one started out as a song in tribute to life on the road and the camaraderie and friendship of bandmates and it quickly crossed into territory of honky-tonk life on the road,” says Ana Egge, reflecting on her new single, ‘Cocaine Cowboys.’ Hailing from her upcoming album, Is It the Kiss, Egge’s latest is a mellow, sweetly ruminant folk tune that explores the romantic haze surrounding the stories of old-school country stars.”

Is It the Kiss is due for release in early September via StorySound Records. It is now available to pre-order.

‘Come Together’ series in NYC continues in July, August

Enjoy new original music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Beatle’s Abbey Road album on Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24 and 31, from 12:30 – 1:30 PM at One New York Plaza and Thursdays July 18, August 1 and August 15 at Brookfield Place. Performers include past NewSong finalists Kaiti Jones, Crys Matthews, Suzie Brown and Mel Bryant, as well as Asheville, NC-based bands Slow Packer and For Def. For event info, visit our Facebook page. 

 

Early Bird Deadline is July 15 for NewSong Music Competition 

We are proud of our ever-growing NewSong community and the support, camaraderie and networking that goes on among finalists stretching back through the competition’s 18 years.

Will this be the year you will submit your original music? The Early Bird Deadline is July 15! Visit our submissions page here. 

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NewSong Artist Roundup: Crys Matthews, Alex Wong, & more

Thursday, June 13th, 2019

There are so many talented artists who are part of the NewSong family — it can sometimes be difficult to keep up! That’s why each week, we compile a list of new releases, shows, and videos from past NewSong artists who we think deserve your attention. 

Crys Matthews — Singing OUT Tour 2019

2017 Grand Prize Winner, Crys Matthews, may be coming to a city near you this month for the The Singing OUT Tour 2.0 — a social justice-centered LGBTQ-supergroup composed of me, Heather Mae, Joe Stevens (formerly of Coyote Grace) and JJ Jones (formerly of Girlyman). 

Mae, a powerhouse performer and earthshaking vocalist, has turned her personal struggle with mental health and body image into an empowering message of self-love, a universal light force that shines for every audience member. Matthews is a powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality.” This group of immensely talented artists is on the road to celebrate Pride month, so show them some love! 

Alex Wong — “Landfall” premieres on The Bluegrass Situation

We got to know Alex Wong as a finalist in the 2018 NewSong competition, and we are thrilled to see his work recognized on The Bluegrass Situation this week. 

In The Artist’s Words: “When we set out to tell this story, we wanted people who listened to the album from beginning to end to feel like they were watching a movie… and we wanted ‘Landfall’ to feel like our establishing shot… As a song, it’s a birds eye view of our own introduction to the story of the village of Kivalina and how climate change was affecting so many in their situation. The chorus came out of our own ignorance of the scope of the issue… who would believe such a crazy thing could be happening right now?” — Alex Wong

Anais Mitchell — Hadestown takes home eight Tony Awards

Image result for anais mitchell tony

You may already know about the record-breaking Broadway musical Hadestown taking home eight Tonys, including Best Musical. But did you know that the show’s playwright, Anais Mitchell, was one of the earliest performers in the NewSong competition? So exciting to see this artist get the attention and feedback she deserves. If you can’t make it to Broadway, we suggest checking out the Hadestown playlist on Spotify. Read more about Hadestown and how its eight Tonys represented unprecedented victories for woman via Slate. 

Rose Cousins — Indian River Festival 6/28

We’re big Rose Cousins fans, and we think you should be too. Rose will perform June 28 at the Indian River Festival on Prince Edward Island. For those who haven’t yet heard of Rose and her powerful music, we suggest giving her 2017 album, Natural Conclusion, a listen. Learn more about the artist on her website. 

Submissions now open for the 2019 NewSong Competition

This year’s grand prize winner will receive an all-expense paid six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios and released on the NewSong Recordings label. 

The grand prize winner will also receive a performance showcase at the esteemed 2019 ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival (January 23 – February 3, 2020) in Park City, Utah, and a be booked for a paid, featured main stage performance at this summer’s Arts Brookfield Summer Plaza Series in New York City.

Submit your music here.

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Crys Matthews performs as part of ‘Come Together’ Series in NYC May 15

Tuesday, May 14th, 2019

There aren’t many albums that are more iconic or influential than the Beatles’ Abbey Road. Arts Brookfield and NewSong Music have come together to present the New York City spring outdoor concert series ‘Come Together: New original music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ last studio album. We are excited to welcome 2017 NewSong finalist Crys Matthews to perform this Wednesday, May 15. 

The ‘Come Together’ series features five free outdoor lunchtime concerts taking place every Wednesday in May. Each concert begins at 12:30 PM at the Grace Plaza, located at 1114 6th Avenue, just north of Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan. 

We took some time to talk to Crys to learn more about her songwriting and how she has been influenced by the the well-loved album. 

 

How has Abbey Road influenced you?

Abbey Road is such an iconic album and has influenced so many artists across so many genres. I remember listening to Musiq Soulchild’s version of “Something” back in college and being so obsessed with it. It’s such a simple song, but it is a textbook example of less being so much more. I hope to master that art some day.

 

What is your favorite Abbey Road song? 

“Something.”
 
 

 

What life and music news would you like to share? 

The Singing OUT Tour 2.0 — a social justice-centered LGBTQ-supergroup composed of me, Heather Mae, Joe Stevens (formerly of Coyote Grace) and JJ Jones (formerly of Girlyman) — is hitting the road in a couple of weeks to celebrate Pride month. All are welcome in our house!
 
WHAT IS THE SINGING OUT TOUR: Ask anyone in the know about the new generation of social justice music-makers and they’ll mention Heather Mae or Crys Matthews. Mae, a powerhouse performer and earthshaking vocalist, has turned her personal struggle with mental health and body image into an empowering message of self-love, a universal light force that shines for every audience member. Matthews is a powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality”. These two singer-songwriters have joined forces with JJ Jones (Girlyman) and Joe Stevens (Coyote Grace) for The Singing OUT Tour. With Jones’s “kinetically charged” percussion and Stevens’s multi-instrumentalist brilliance, the music will be a powerful as their collective message — stand up and sing out. 

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Weekly Roundup: NewSong Artist News 12/10-12/16

Monday, December 10th, 2018

We love to keep up with our past NewSong Music Contest finalists and winners, and, over the years, we have amassed a busy and hardworking group of musicians we admire. 

NewSong songwriters live and perform across the continent and beyond, their work spans multiple genres, and these artists are always putting out new material. To keep track of all their news and upcoming shows, we will be highlighting NewSong artists in our weekly roundup. 

We’ve put together a list of five shows, publications and recordings we think you should be paying attention to this week.

The NewSong Music Songwriting & Performance Competition will be held at Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC on Dec. 15. Purchase tickets here. RSVP for the Facebook Live webcast of the finals.

 

1. Meet our 2018 NEwSong competition Finalists (and judges!) on the blog 

We hope you have enjoyed meeting our 2018 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finalists on our blog this week. We’ve been sharing videos, artist links and interviews with all of the artists who will compete at Isis Music Hall on Dec. 15.

Visit the blog to read our interviews with Alex Wong; Alice Howe; Carly Taich; Kaiti Jones; Liz Frame, Mel Bryant and Suzie Brown, as well as an interview with our guest performer and 2016 grand prize winner, Wilder Adkins. 

Stay tuned this week for interviews with our judges.

2. Crys Matthews — New tour dates announced 

Crys Matthews, grand prize winner of the 2017 NewSong Music Competition, is back on the road, this time playing shows mostly in the Northeast, along songwriter Chris Pureka. Her first show is Thursday Dec. 13 at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. 

Vist Crys’s website for full list of tour dates. 

3. No depression Year-end readers poll — deadline is 12/14

No Depression’s annual year-end readers poll is now open for voting, and this year’s list includes a handful of albums from some of our favorite NewSong artists, past and present, with two releases from our own NewSong Recordings label: “Rough and Ready Heart” from Blue Yonder (NewSong Recordings, 2018); “Don’t Apologize” from Beth Snapp (NewSong Recordings, 2018); “Idaho” from 2017 NewSong finalist David Robert King; and “White Tiger” from NewSong 2007 finalist Ana Egge. 

Click here for album links and instructions on how to vote. 

4. Wilder Adkins —  guest performance at 2018 NewSong Music competition & Listen: ‘Christmas and chill’ spotify playlist

 

Birmingham, Alabama-based songwriter Wilder Adkins will travel to Asheville on Dec. 15 to be our guest performer at the 2018 NewSong Music Competition at Isis Music Hall.

Adkins received the grand prize in 2016 and has this to say about his NewSong win: “I really have gotten a lot of opportunities to play in some neat venues, and all that really pads the resumé. … Getting to record at Echo Mountain is cool – it’s a world class recording studio.”

Read the full interview with Adkins here, and be sure to check out his new Spotify playlist, “Christmas and Chill,” which features Adkins’s rendition of the traditional hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.”

 

5. NewSong founder Gar Ragland featured in “Capital at play” magazine

Curious about the history of NewSong Music? An article titled “Production Line” in Capital at Play Magazine, gives an in-depth view of the story behind the competition and record label, which has grown considerably since its beginnings as Mountain Stage NewSong Festival in 2001.

“Over the past 10 years or so it has become an increasingly well-respected for emerging artists,” says Ragland in the article. “Last year we had more than 5,000 artists enter the competition. I’m continually surprised by the caliber of artists we attract.” 

Read the full article here. 

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Weekly Roundup: NewSong Artist News 11/26-12/2

Monday, November 26th, 2018

We love to keep up with our past NewSong Music Contest finalists and winners, and, over the years, we have amassed a busy and hardworking group of musicians we admire. 

NewSong songwriters live and perform across the continent and beyond, their work spans multiple genres, and these artists are always putting out new material. To keep track of all their news and upcoming shows, we will be highlighting NewSong artists in our weekly roundup. 

We’ve put together a list of five shows, publications and recordings we think you should be paying attention to this week.

We are very excited to announce the NewSong Music Songwriting & Performance Competition will be held at Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC on Dec. 15. Finalists have been announced, and the full list can be found on our blog. Purchase tickets here. 

 

1. Robby Hecht — Support via Patreon

Nashville-based songwriter Robby Hecht, a 2008 NewSong finalist, is sharing two unreleased songs per month via his Patreon page. From Hecht: “I’ll be releasing a new song [November 25] as well as an extra bonus video for my birthday week that will be free for all members. If you’re a fan of my music, it really is a great way to get your ears on new songs, most of which I’ll probably never end up having on a record.”

“I believe that good songs have the power to take us to a place where we can celebrate our common truths and feel less isolated and alone.” – Robby Hecht

 

Support Robby Hecht via Patreon here. 

Listen to Robby Hechy on Spotify here. 

 

2. Lora Faye — Listen: “Waltzes”

 

This week, we’re throwing it way back to Lora Faye’s Waltzes, a 5-song EP recorded with NewSong Recordings in 2013. 

The Brooklyn native took first place at The Mountain Stage NewSong Contest in 2012. These days, Lora-Faye Åshuvud is now the award-winning composer, singer, and instrumentalist behind the band Arthur Moon. Lora-Faye writes many of her lyrics using cut up newspaper and magazine articles, and describes the process of composing the band’s experimental pop arrangements as similarly collage-like. Lora-Faye also curates Soundfly’s “Incorrect Music,” an online interview series with musicians. 

Listen to Waltzes on Spotify and Bandcamp. Listen to Arthur Moon on Spotify. 

 

3. David Berkeley — Listen: “The Faded Red and Blue”

David Berkeley, a 2010 NewSong finalist, released a new album this month: The Faded Red and Blue. Santa Fe-based songwriter and author David Berkeley writes songs capable of both breaking and mending the heart. The San Francisco Chroniclecalls him a “musical poet,” and the New York Times praises his “lustrous, melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake.”

Listen to The Faded Red and Blue on Spotify. 

 

4. brie Capone — Performs at New Belgium Brewery in Asheville, NC Dec. 7

 

2017 NewSong finalist Brie Capone will perform at New Belgium Brewery in her hometown of Asheville, NC for “Fat Tire Friday” on Dec. 7. Capone is a singer/songwriter and performer with belting female lead vocals and heartfelt, introspective lyricism. Brie’s 2018 EP ‘If I Let You In’  was recorded at Echo Mountain Studios. After returning from a nation wide run this past April and California tour in July, Brie has continued to promote her record with a run of shows in the Southeast.

Find event details for the Dec. 7 show here.

Listen to Brie Capone on Spotify here. 

 

5. NewSong Music Finals to take place in asheville, NC, dec. 15

 

 

 

Thank you to all who submitted their songs to this year’s NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition this year. The exciting process of selecting eight finalists is underway. Stay tuned for the results, coming soon! This year, the finals competition will be held December 15 in beautiful Asheville, NC at Isis Music Hall. Purchase tickets here. 

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Weekly roundup: NewSong Artist News 10/22-10/28

Monday, October 22nd, 2018

We love to keep up with our past NewSong Music Contest finalists and winners, and, over the years, we have amassed a busy and hardworking group of musicians we admire. 

NewSong songwriters live and perform across the continent and beyond, their work spans multiple genres, and these artists are always putting out new material. To keep track of all their news and upcoming shows, we will be highlighting NewSong artists in our weekly roundup. 

We’ve put together a list of five shows, publications and recordings we think you should be paying attention to this week. The deadline for the 2018 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is coming up! You have until Sunday, Nov. 4 to submit your original music.

 

1. David Robert King & Crys Matthews – “Have Mercy” video Release

 

David Robert King and Crys Matthews have officially released the video for their first song collaboration, “Have Mercy.” The song is a heartfelt and powerful response to family separation along the U.S. southern border. All proceeds from “Have Mercy” will benefit RAICES.org, a nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees in Texas. The song was recorded with producer Gar Ragland at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC. 

Watch “Have Mercy” on YouTube. Listen to David Robert King and Crys Matthews on Spotify. 

 

2. Kelly English records sophomore album at Echo Mountain Recording Studios

Kelly English will return to Asheville to record her sophomore album with producer Gar Ragland. Kelly was a finalist in the NewSong Music Contest and traveled to Asheville to compete at the Lake Eden Arts Festival in 2015. There, she found a home at Echo Mountain Recording Studios and eventually recorded her 2017 album, City Limits. A year later, she is returning with a host of new songs to record, and we can’t wait to see what is next for this talented artist.

Listen to Kelly English on Bandcamp and stay tuned for new music, coming soon.

3. Max Hatt / edda glass – Recording new album in seattle

Max Hatt / Edda Glass are recording a new album at David Lange Studios outside Seattle. The duo’s last album, Ocean of Birds, was recorded in 2016 with NewSong Recordings and has garnered praise from critics across the country. The band has been featured by NPR Mountain Stage, Sundance Film Festival, NYC’s Lincoln Center, & Daytrotter. This fall they’ve made a sweep of the highly competitive official juried showcases at Arts Midwest, South Arts PAE, and Arts Northwest, three top-tier booking conferences attended by major performing arts centers, presenters, agents, and artists. 

We look forward to their highly anticipated next album. In the meantime, listen to Max Hatt / Edda Glass on Spotify. 

4. Crys matthews – upcoming shows

Crys Matthews, Grand Prize Winner of the 2017 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, has some exciting shows coming up this week. You can find Crys at the Cellar Stage in Timonium, MD on Oct. 26 and The Living Room in Ardmore, PA on Oct. 27. This hardworking and eclectic songwriting is on tour through the fall, so check out her tour schedule to see if she’s stopping in a city near you. 

Listen to Crys Matthews on Spotify. 

5. 11/4 deadline approaching for NEWSONG MUSIC PERFORMANCE & SONGWRITING COMPETITION 


Now in its 17th year, the NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters across an array of genres.The final deadline to enter this year’s competition is Sunday, November 4.

To learn more and submit, click here.

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