Kelly English’s tranquil and moving new single, “Free,” is available on all major music platforms today, July 17. The song is featured on the musician’s forthcoming sophomore album, “Savannah Theory,” a melancholy, indie-folk record produced and mixed by Gar Ragland.
“The idea of being ‘free’ from a specific person, or place, fits within my vision for the album because it supports the concept of creating a positive state of mind for yourself,” says English. “I wanted the song to be an electric guitar-driven ballad, again taking a lot of inspiration from artists like boygenius and Julien Baker.”
The stirring tune draws emotion from English’s crystal clear vocals, as well as her poignant lyricism. In one verse, the artist writes, “The cross ‘round your neck must be on fire // The muscles you move must get tired // from faking it so hard (yeah) // and taking it so far (yeah).” Watch the video for the full lyrics.
Join Kelly live on Instagram (@KellyEnglishMusic) as she performs this new release, along with a couple of other tunes, Friday July 17th. Watch the lyric video for the single here.
The indie pop song is the first to be featured on sophomore album, “The Savannah Theory,” produced and mixed by Gar Ragland and released on NewSong Recordings.
May 15, 2020 (Asheville, NC) – Connecticut-based singer-songwriter Kelly English is proud to announce the release of the first single, “I’m Not Like That” on Friday, May 15. The song is the first to be featured on her forthcoming album, “The Savannah Theory.” The album was recorded with NewSong Recordings and produced by Gar Ragland at the esteemed Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC.
“I’m Not Like That,” is reminiscent of Courtney Barnett’s deadpan delivery and guitar riffs. Independent female pop artists, like Grimes, also count among English’s inspirations.
“I rented a cottage in the Berkshires and brought my guitar with me,” says English of her writing process. While the singer-songwriter stays true to her indie-folk roots on The Savannah Theory, fans of English’s first record, City Limits (NewSong Recordings, 2017), may be surprised to hear more electric guitar on this compilation.
The songwriter offers a fully realized version of herself in this collection of melancholy songs, with dark lyrics and instrumentation and an introspective, indie-pop lean. “You will hear my Fender Jazzmaster guitar featured on much of the album,” says English. “This record demonstrates an honest, sincere insight into the ups and downs of my relationships and life experiences.”
English’s songwriting, paired with her graceful vocals, earned her a finalist spot in the 2015 NewSong LEAF Competition. More recently, in 2019, she won first prize in the Singer/Songwriter category in the New England Songwriting Competition, of which Meghan Trainor is a past contest winner.
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? Submit your music here.
We are loving 2019 LEAF finalist Kim Ware’s new single “His Name Was the Color That I Loved” from her forthcoming album Prose and Consciousness. We got to know Kim and her band, The Good Graces, when she was a finalist in our LEAF Singer Songwriter Competition this spring.
In fact, the new single was one of the songs she played onstage in the Barn at LEAF. Kim’s emotional, heart-on-her-sleeve songwriting leaves a mark, and we are eagerly anticipating the October 2019 release of the full album.
Blair Bodine — World Cafe Live June 25
Blair Bodine performs at the NewSong Competition showcase at Lincoln Center in 2015.
Blair Bodine, a NewSong finalist in 2015, will perform on the World Cafe Live this Tuesday, June 25 at 8PM. In addition to being a NewSong finalist, Blair was the winner of American Songwriter Magazine Grand Prize for lyric writing, earning her the description of “a songbird with heart.” Learn more about the event here.
Suzie Brown — “Under the Surface”
Parade Magazine was the latest to recognize 2018 NewSong finalist Suzie Brown’s talent when the magazine premiered her new single, “Under the Surface.”
Via Parade: “Brown shares, ‘It’s so easy to get sucked into the illusion everyone else’s life is picture perfect, especially now in the age of social media. How many times has each of us looked at someone else and wondered why our own life doesn’t measure up, only to realize later that that person was secretly falling apart? This song is a reminder that you really never know what’s going on just under the surface.'”
NewSong Recordings Spotlight: Kelly English // City Limits
We are excited to feature Kelly English and her debut album, City Limits, on the blog this week. Kelly recorded the album with NewSong Recordings in 2017, and she has been back in the studio recently to record her next project, coming soon.
“City Limits represents the passage from being a young songwriter, to finally finding my own original sound and sharing it with people,” says Kelly. “That album gave me confidence, as well as a renewed hunger to keep writing music.” Read our full interview with Kelly here.
Submissions now open 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? Visit our submissions page here.
This week, we are checking in with up-and-coming songwriter Kelly English, who recorded her debut album, City Limits, with NewSong Recordings in 2017. We first met Kelly when she was a finalist in the NewSong competition in 2015, where she impressed judges with her strong vocals and intimate lyrics. NewSong Recordings is proud to release her sophomore album, The Savannah Theory, coming soon.
What does your first album represent for you?
City Limits represents the passage from being a young songwriter, to finally finding my own original sound and sharing it with people. That album gave me confidence, as well as a renewed hunger to keep writing music. City Limits was also special to me because I got to work with Gar Ragland at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC. The process of working with Gar, and getting to release my album through NewSong Music, has been incredibly rewarding.
What can you tell us about the new album coming out?
My new upcoming album is called The Savanna Theory. I was lucky enough to get to work with Gar Ragland again on this project. The Savanna Theory takes a harder, darker look at the emotions associated with the aftermath of a relationship and the prospect of moving forward. The album has a dark, moody indie/folk sound. I used a lot of electric guitar on this album, which I was really excited to explore. I brought my Fender Jazzmaster down to Asheville, and Gar and I were able to create some really cool, new sounds for this record.
How do you feel like you have grown or changed as a musician since City Limits was released?
One way I have grown as a musician is in finding my own unique point of view and trusting it. City Limits is a really accurate snapshot of my life and my emotions at that time. I have continued to grow in that direction and draw from my own experiences. Releasing City Limits also gave me the confidence to be bold and original in my songwriting. It gave me the drive to continue refining and improving my songwriting craft.
What news do you have to share?
Since releasing City Limits, I have been performing around the CT tri-state area. I have been getting a great response to my original music, especially songs from the record.
This past May, I competed as finalist in a songwriting contest based out of Cape Cod, MA called the Eventide Songwriting Competition, in which I took home first prize in the singer/songwriter category for my song “Selfish Like You.” It was a real honor to get to perform alongside other talented musicians, and to be recognized for my music. Meghan Trainor is a past winner of the competition.
I have some great festival gigs coming up this summer, including the Glastonbury Apple Harvest and Music Festival, as well as the Rose Arts Music Festival in Norwich, CT. I will also be performing at the free music event “Audio Feed” Live on Constitution Plaza in Hartford, CT this July.
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 also want to extend our thanks to all who submitted to the NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition. The submission period closed Sunday, Nov. 4, and we are very much looking forward to listening to your songs!
1. NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting competition to take place at isis music hall 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 submission period closed Sunday, Nov. 4, and we now start the exciting process of selecting a total of eight finalists to compete in the live performance finals, held on December 15 in beautiful Asheville, NC at Isis Music Hall.
2. Wilder adkins — ListeN: “Marietta” // artist to record grand prize record at echo Mountain Studios
Wilder Adkins, winner of the 2016 NewSong Music Competition, returns to Echo Mountain Studios later this week to record music for his grand prize album. The album is slated for release next spring. In the meantime, we encourage you to listen to “Marietta,” one of the Bruce Springsteen covers the Adkins released this fall.
From Popdust: “The idea to cover such an iconic tune popped into his mind when he was asked to pay tribute to Springsteen at an ATL Collective concert in 2017. Adkins tells Popdust, ‘Someone told me at the show that I was too melancholy and not angry enough to sing Springsteen’s version of ‘I’m Goin’ Down,’ so I rewrote the verses to make it all my own,’ he said.”
Fans of 2015 NewSong Music grand prize winner can now pre-order the artist’s new album, “Game Changer,” on bandcamp. The aptly titled work examines the artist’s tentative first steps into a new world, post-heartbreak. With a clear head, Kilgour touches on the complicated nature of romance and relationship, sets up a stunning defense of queer love, and reassesses her priorities as a citizen of a changing wider world.
Recorded in Asheville, NC at Echo Mountain Studios and produced by Gar Ragland, the EP will be released on NewSong Recordings and features captivating string arrangements by violinist Sara Pajunen.
4. kelly english — Listen: “Bite The hand” (boygenius cover)
Kelly English returned to Echo Mountain Recording Studios in October to record her sophomore album with NewSong Recordings. Just this week, she released a cover of the boygenius song, “Bite the Hand.”
English competed at the NewSong LEAF Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition where she met producer Gar Ragland and toured Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC. English says her experience competing at LEAF was an “eye opener” that pushed her to keep pursuing her career as a musician.
Listen to her first album, City Limits, on Spotify.
5. Beth snapp — Performs 11/10 at White Birch
Beth Snapp continues to perform in support of her recent EP release, Don’t Apologize. The new EP, tellingly titled Don’t Apologize is a collection of soothing and supple melodies, underscored by a bracing backing band, it offers astute observations about the challenges, expectations and ability to overcome obstacles — either self-imposed or those that result from outside interference.
This week, you can catch her at White Birch in Abington, VA on Saturday, Nov. 10 and another show Friday, Nov. 16 at the Down Home in Johnson, TN.
For more information about this week’s show, visit the Facebook event page. Listen to Beth Snapp on Spotify.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1. Ordinary Elephant – new album announced, kickstarter in progress
If they aren’t already, Ordinary Elephant should be in your music rotation. After being awarded the Folk Alliance International Artist of the Year award, the 2016 LEAF Contest finalists recently announced that they’re heading in to the studio with producer Neilson Hubbard to record their next album.
Hubbard has produced albums by Mary Gauthier, Sam Baker, Glen Phillips, and Amy Speace. “After meeting with him,” says the band, “we’re confident that our visions are aligning, and that he’s going to help us serve these songs, giving them only what they are asking for. This means that overall this record will be fairly stripped down, highlighting the emotional intensity of our live performances.”
Pre-order your copy of the band’s new album and support the project via Kickstarter.
Listen to Ordinary Elephant’s latest on Spotify. Learn more about the duo on the band’s website.
2. Andy palmer – new music video For “The Switch”
Andy Palmer announced the release of a new video for his song “The Switch,” created by award winning digital, animation and claymation artist John Grigsby. The striking video has been accepted in film festivals across the country. In addition to the film release, Andy announced his indefinite hiatus from the music industry and invites fans to join him at his last show (for now) at the Walnut Room in Denver, CO on Oct. 20.
Andy Palmer and Brie Capone shared a bill at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in August 2017 as part of NewSong’s ‘Exploration of Song’ series there. Watch a video of Brie and Andy singing Andy’s song “Off” on YouTube.
Brie Capone is keeping busy this fall with a full lineup of shows. This week, you will find her at Isis Music Hall on Oct. 7th, performing songs from Carole King’s “Tapestry” album, with Asheville musician Jesse Barry and others.
Recorded and released in 1971, “Tapestry” is one of the best selling albums of all time. It received four Grammy Awards in 1972. With an all-star lineup of musicians including Peggy Ratusz, Kelly Jones, Aaron Price, Zack Page, Micah Thomas, Dean Mitchell, & Kate Kinney Barber, this is bound to be another night to remember.
Kelly English is a singer-songwriter from Hartford, Connecticut. A finalist in the 2015 NewSong Songwriting Contest, Kelly traveled to Asheville to compete at the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition. There, she found a home at Echo Mountain Recording Studios and partnered with Gar Ragland and NewSong Recordings to record and release “City Limits.” The debut album was released a year ago, in October 2017.
Kelly will return to Asheville later this month to record songs for her follow up album, and we can’t wait to hear what’s next from this talented artist.
Purchase “City Limits” on Bandcamp. Listen to Kelly’s music on Spotify.
5. SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2018 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. To learn more and submit, click here.
NewSong Music alum Kelly English records debut album at Echo Mountain Recording Studios
When Kelly English travelled the Lake Eden Arts Festival in Black Mountain, North Carolina to compete in the NewSong Presents: LEAF Festival Singer-Songwriter competition last year, she was a relative newcomer to the songwriting scene. Before her submission caught the attention of NewSong judges, she had only performed at coffee shops and talent shows in her Connecticut hometown.
Fast forward to a year later, and English is just wrapping up recording her first full-length album with NewSong founder and music producer, Gar Ragland, at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC. Further proof that finalists don’t have to win the NewSong competition for the experience to have a major impact.
“Day one of recording was awesome,” says English on her second day of recording. “I was nervous coming in because I’ve never recorded on this scale before, but Gar was so helpful. Yesterday was such a good day, so I was excited coming in today.”
English toured Echo Mountain when she was in the area for LEAF last fall, but the idea of recording an album at the award-winning studio was just a dream at that point. “I didn’t think that [making an album here] was going to happen, but after the contest, I stayed in touch with Gar, and we decided to record together,” she says. “Gar understands my music and likes my writing, and after visiting the studio last year, I knew I wanted to record here.”
As an entrant to last year’s NewSong Competition, she was able to take advantage of the exclusive, discounted recording package that Echo Mountain offers to NewSong entrants.
English says her experience competing at LEAF was an “eye opener” that pushed her to keep pursuing her career as a musician. “It was so cool,” says the artist of her LEAF performance. “It was the biggest crowd I’ve played to. People were so kind and so into it. You could tell that people were rooting you on as you were competing.”
While English has songs recorded on her YouTube channels and bandcamp page, this is her first album. Putting out a full-length record feels like a natural next step in her career as a musician. “I just hope to play out more and get more people to listen,” she says.
