2016 NewSong grand prize winner Wilder Adkins releases peace anthem “Side By Side” on MLK Jr. Day
“This is a song about the city of Birmingham, Alabama and the struggles of the civil rights movement in the 1960s,” says Adkins, a Birmingham resident himself. “It is also an anthem for peace and a call to keep hoping and never give up fighting darkness with the power of light.”
ABOUT WILDER ADKINS Wilder Adkins songwriting gleans as much from the earthy poetry of Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver as it does from the works of folk luminaries Richard Thompson and Bruce Cockburn. His courtly-but-witty lyrics evoke a Deep South Shelley or Yeats, riding a joyful guitar dexterity.
Adkins hails from Marietta, GA, but now lives and writes in Birmingham, AL. He grew up listening to his dad play renditions of Neil Young and Van Morrison songs on an old Guild Jumbo Acoustic. Adkins’ songs, steeped in natural imagery, frequently touch upon the subjects of faith, doubt, and as the title of his new album would indicate, hope and sorrow.
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.
GOT SONGS? TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC!
The deadline to enter the 15th Annual NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition is TONIGHT (Monday, October 17) at 11:59pm PST. Ten finalists will be selected to compete at the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City this December for the grand prize, which includes featured prize performances in 2017 back at Lincoln Center AND the ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The winner will also receive a multi-day professional recording session at the award winning Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC.
As an entrant in the 2016 competition, you are also eligible for exclusive discounts on future recording sessions at Echo Mountain Recording Studios, and you and your music will be considered for additional recording and performance opportunities across the U.S.
Three questions with Early Bird Finalist: Middle Child
NewSong Music is proud to count the band Middle Child among our Early Bird Finalists. While each of these three musicians has immense talent — and two have established solo careers — the bandmates discovered that they were better together. And we are so glad they did.
Austin Max and Danny Silberstein began writing songs together after meeting at Berklee College of Music in 2013. Terrell Hines soon joined the band, filling in harmonies and playing drums. Together, the trio boasts a psychedelic R&B sound that is inspired by the likes of The Wrecking Crew, Frank Ocean, Paul Simon, and Al Green. Middle Child will release its first official single in the fall of 2016, and we can’t wait for the world to hear it.
We took the time to ask Danny some questions about the band. To learn more about Middle Child, visit middlechildofficialband.com.
What are your biggest inspirations as songwriters?
I think basic human emotions are really the common thread between each of our songs. When we write, we try to take a snapshot of way we are feeling at that point in time. Different harmonies and arrangements tend to evoke a variety of feelings and emotions, so we like to approach writing songs with an opening mind, both instrumentally and stylistically.
Why did you submit to the NewSong Music Competition?
We were inspired to submit after seeing that the Cardinal Sons had won the competition a while back. We’re fans of their Echo Choir EP, so we wanted to be involved with the people who helped create it.
What’s the one thing you would like people to know about Middle Child?
We are independent artists who came together to make something bigger than the three of us. We love music so much, and would love people to feel that in our music.
Three questions with Early Bird Finalist: Market Junction
Market Junction is the name under which Matt Parish and Justin Lofton share their insightful brand of Americana, and NewSong Music is excited to welcome the Houston, Texas-based duo as Early Bird Finalists.
The two friends currently have a single called “All I Really Need” on the Texas Region Radio chart, and they have secured opening spots for artists including Charlie Pride, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Little Texas. We think it’s only a matter of time before we start hearing more about Market Junction, and we are only too happy to welcome them to the NewSong stage.
We asked Matt and Justin a few questions about their songwriting. To learn more about the band, visit mktjct.com.
How would you describe your sound to those who have never heard you before?
We are Americana to our core. If you listen to our record, you will hear elements of folk, country and rock, but the foundation lies in our quest to tell a good story.
What fuels your songwriting?
Justin and I have been best friends for a long time. Our experiences together, along with our families, find their way into our writing. We are suckers for sad stories and hard times. Artistically, our goal is to paint a picture without drawing the lines too clearly.
What inspired you to submit to NewSong?
We had not heard about NewSong before, but the contest intrigued us. We were looking for a way to showcase our songwriting abilities on a national level, and NewSong seemed to be a good avenue for that.
Today is your last chance to save 20% on your song entries to the 2016 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition. Use promo code – NSM2016 – at checkout to get an instant discount. Submit Today #WhereGreatArtistsAreDiscovered
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.
NewSong finalist Blair Bodine will return to New York’s Lincoln Center on Thursday, September 8, opening for Rachael Kilgour
Blair Bodine is a New York City-based folk musician with an infectious energy and a true gift for storytelling through song. NewSong Music is excited to welcome this 2015 competition finalist back to the Lincoln Center stage as the opening act for Rachael Kilgour at Kilgour’s album release show on September 8th.
Bodine has a never-ending passion for songwriting that shows up in all areas of her life. In addition to writing and performing her original soul-stirring melodies, Bodine is passionate about music education. A Columbia University graduate, she wrote her thesis on Chinese Ethnomusicology. She currently works for Steven Van Zandt’s Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, writing curriculum for middle and high school teachers about the history of American popular music. In other words, Bodine isn’t your cookie cutter singer-songwriter — a fact that has earned the songwriter some much-deserved recognition in competitions and festivals across the country.
While Bodine didn’t take home the first place prize in last year’s competition, she’s still reaping the benefits of her experience with NewSong. She says the chance to perform at Lincoln Center (twice!) is the biggest perk. “Being a NewSong finalist can really help boost your confidence as a performer,” says Bodine. “You are given a great opportunity to play at an epic venue. As an artist, it is a true gift, and it helped propel me forward.”
The opportunity to make friends with fellow finalists and connect with other touring musicians is icing on the cake. “I am so excited to see Rachael Kilgour in September and hear songs from her new album,” says Bodine, who says she has stayed in touch with many of her fellow NewSong finalists. “They’re a great group of humans,” she adds.
To learn more about Blair Bodine, visit blairbodine.com. To learn more about her September 8th performance with Rachael Kilgour, visit lincolncenter.org.
2015 NewSong grand prize winner Rachel Kilgour returns to Lincoln Center
Rachael Kilgour stunned NewSong judges in 2015 with her passionate delivery of provocative songs that effortlessly blend artistry and activism. Her performance earned her the winning spot in last year’s competition, and that means Kilgour will return to Lincoln Center, along with fellow 2015 NewSong finalist Blair Bodine, on Thursday, September 8th.
Kilgour says that above all else, the NewSong Music competition was a way for her to reach new listeners and grow as a writer and performer. “We try to get better and better at communicating our human experience, and we try to find the right people to share it with,” says Kilgour. “That is our job as artists.”
Kilgour has also been hard at work recording over the past year and is eager to share her latest album, Rabbit in the Road (NewSong Recordings). We took some time to talk to the Minnesota-based songwriter to learn more about her life since last year’s win and her upcoming album release.
What about you upcoming show at Lincoln Center are you most excited about? I am looking forward to returning to the Lincoln Center on September 8th and so happy that Blair will be joining me! I am feeling pretty fortunate for the opportunity and so glad that I will be able to share my new album with the audience. There is quite a lot of nuance that goes into an artist’s performance, and there is something kind of jarring about picking your top three songs to share for a contest. It will be good to have the chance to move from song to song in an organic way — to tell a story.
It’s great to see you sharing the bill with last year’s NewSong finalist Blair Bodine. Are there any other relationships you have made through NewSong that have stayed with you? I think one of the most beneficial relationships I have gained through this experience is the one I have formed with Gar Ragland, the President of NewSong. Since January, Gar has put so much time and energy into helping me complete this album and plan for its release, and he has also introduced me to a number of influential people in the industry. I am so grateful to know him. I’ve also stayed in touch with a number of the other finalists since the contest, and I think we have all benefitted from those connections.
Part of your prize was performing at the ASCAP Music Cafe at the Sundance Film Festival. What was that like for you? Attending Sundance and performing at the ASCAP Music Cafe was an incredible experience. First off, I was so grateful for the opportunity to experience the festival itself. There was such respect for filmmaking as an art form in that setting — it was very encouraging. Having the chance to share my work with a brand new audience is always a gift, but performing on that particular stage was quite an honor. The listeners were engaged and seemed to really understand my performance, and that is all I care about at the end of the day.
Did anything about the NewSong competition surprise you? I was surprised to win, certainly! But I was also surprised by the amount of support NewSong offered each of the finalists and how well they maintained relationships with previous winners and finalists after all of these years. I think NewSong is doing a lot of important work to connect emerging artists with resources and with each other.
To learn more about Rachael Kilgour, visit rachaelkilgour.com. For more information about her upcoming performance at Lincoln Center, visit lincolncenter.org.
songwriting gleans as much from the earthy poetry of Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver as it does from the works of folk luminaries Richard Thompson and Bruce Cockburn. His courtly-but-witty lyrics evoke a Deep South Shelley or Yeats, riding a joyful guitar dexterity.
