Posts Tagged ‘NewSongMusic’

2015 NewSong Music Finalist: The Shades

Thursday, December 17th, 2015

THE SHADES (CHICAGO, IL)

This series of features highlights the 2015 NewSong Music finalists. Each artist is invited to Lincoln Center on January 7th for the opportunity to win the #NSM Grand Prize. We sat down with each finalist to learn more about their music and background. Hope you enjoy!

BIO
The Shades consist of Andrew DeMuro, and brothers Phil & Mark Jacobson. Although still relatively new to the Chicago music scene, the group’s roots extend back to 2008 when all three members first connected at the University of Miami in Florida. Fans credit close, three-part harmonies as the element that makes The Shades’ music stand out. Their smooth vocals, refreshing arrangements and creative mash­ups have peaked the interest of fans of Crosby, Stills, & Nash, James Taylor, John Mayer & Ed Sheeran alike.

Having spent the past year gracing the likes of the House of Blues, Evanston SPACE, Mayne Stage and Schubas Tavern in Chicago, The Shades are currently writing and recording new music to share with fans across the Midwest and the Northeast. Having made their New York City debut at Rockwood Music Hall in August, the guys plan to return to the east coast for a tour of colleges & universities in early 2016. ‘Take You Home,’ the group’s first single release, premiered as American Songwriter Magazine’s Daily Discovery in November 2015, and can be streamed free on www.soundcloud.com/wetheshades.

Q: What is your songwriting process?
A: If the Beatles had been plumbers rather than songwriters, chances are we’d be working on toilets at the moment. They are THAT integral to who we are as artists. As far as our process, we like to write songs on Monday mornings, after a complete breakfast and a few cups of coffee. It usually starts with a simple chord progression, and ends with three or four complete lyric-overhauls. Most of the time in between is spent arranging vocal harmonies, which is definitely our favorite element of songwriting.

Q:What does it mean to you to be selected as a NewSong finalist, and what do you hope to get out of the experience?
A: For us, this is validation that we’re on to something, and motivation to continue working incredibly hard at our craft. Our goal will always be to play music for people until there is not an ear left who wants to hear it. Being selected as a finalist is an excuse for us to keep moving toward our goal, and to do it surrounded by really gifted songwriters. Also, we practiced the 3 H’s: Handshakes, High Fives, & Hugs. 

Q: How did you hear about New Song Music?
A: We’ve been following NewSong online for some time now. We made it a point to enter several songwriting contests in 2015, and due to the unique prize package and excellent opportunity for exposure, NewSong was at the top of our list.

Q: What is currently happening with your music?
A: We are in the process of recording our first EP, which we hope to release at right about the time the weather starts to get warm here in Chicago. Before that, we’ll be taking a tour of the Northeast and New England in early April to make new fans and do some serious promoting of our original tunes!

The Shades’ Links
WeTheShades.com + Facebook + YouTube + SoundCloud + Twitter + Instagram

2015 NewSong Music Finalist: Sarah Morris

Thursday, December 17th, 2015

SARAH MORRIS (SHOREVIEW, MN)

This series of features highlights the 2015 NewSong Music finalists. Each artist is invited to Lincoln Center on January 7th for the opportunity to win the #NSM Grand Prize. We sat down with each finalist to learn more about their music and background. Hope you enjoy!

BIO
Singer-songwriter Sarah Morris has a way of captivating her audiences with songs about the highs and lows of love. With a voice both cozy and commanding, Sarah allows us to feel every note. Her lyrics resonate with a combination of unflinching honesty and tenderness: portraits of love, loss, gratitude and regret.

Morris’ love for music grew from her parents record collection, with David Bowie, The Beatles, and Frank Sinatra songs helping to shape her musical DNA. She laid the groundwork for her career at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, followed by a post-graduation move to Nashville, TN. Now firmly planted in the Twin Cities music scene, Morris has been building a solid reputation with authentic songwriting and powerful performances. In recent years, Morris has settled into life as a wife and mother, both of which give a unique voice to her craft.

In September of 2015, Sarah released her 3rd album, “Ordinary Things” – a collection of songs that looks at little things that surround all of us; the daily ups and downs, love and loss, joy and anger, the desire for more, and the beauty that can be found in the smallest moments. Recorded at RiverRock Studios in Minneapolis with her band, “Ordinary Things” has received critical acclaim, with Chris Riemenschneider of the Star Tribune saying, ““Rootsy singer Sarah Morris offers a Norah Jones-like approach to Americana/alt-country, smoothing over its rough edges with a butter-velvety voice and an intimate songwriting style.”.

https://soundcloud.com/sarahmorrismusic/you-still-have-me

Q:What does it mean to you to be selected as a NewSong finalist, and what do you hope to get out of the experience?
A: I was thrilled – I AM thrilled! I love that NewSong aims to create a community of performing songwriters. It is such an honor to be included among such talented artists!

Well, one of my primary goals for 2016 is to get my music ‘out there’ more – as in, physically get myself out of my home state and play for new people, and meet new artists to collaborate with. So being selected as a NewSong finalist allows me to start my new year off in the best way – by keeping my promise to myself! Also, it means so much to me to know that someone listened to my songs and was moved by them in some way. I can’t wait to meet the other finalists, and see their performances. I am ready to be inspired!

Q: How did you hear about New Song Music?
A: I’ve been lucky enough to share two shows with Rachael Kilgour in the last year – in following her social media I saw her mentions of the LEAF Festival, and it brought me to the NewSong Music website.

Q: What is currently happening with your music?
A: I released my new album, “Ordinary Things”, in September 2015. I am sending it out to the Americana Music Association reporting stations in late January, and will be releasing a music video for my song, “Sway Me”. Goals for 2016 include two small tours, participating in 2 online weekly songwriting challenges, continuing my local performances, and working towards my next album (always!).

Q: What is your songwriting process?
A: I am a stay at home mother of two little ones. It’s taken me a while to figure out how to get the writing done while all-day parenting…because my kids are absolutely NOT interested in playing by themselves while I sit down with my guitar and a blank notebook 😉 I do most of my writing while on walks with the kids and my dog – I’ll get an idea, usually lyrics and melody together, and I just work through it on the walk. As soon as I get home I record anything I like on my phone. I begin every day by writing ‘morning pages’ (3 pages of free-form journaling before anyone else is up and sharing their thoughts with me!), and I process through my song ideas there. I usually don’t sit down with my guitar until the song is just about completed. Then, as soon as I have a completed song, I record a video of me performing the song in it’s super-raw state and I share it on facebook. I started this routine as part of an online weekly songwriting challenge, where we receive a writing prompt and have a week to compose a song around that prompt, and I’ve kept it up on my own – after I’ve lived with a song for a while it’s always fun to go back and see how it started out.

Sarah Morris’ Links
SarahMorrisMusic.com + Facebook + YouTube + SoundCloud + Twitter + Instagram

2015 NewSong Music Finalist: Ken Yates

Thursday, December 17th, 2015

KEN YATES (TORONTO, ONT)

KenYatesHeadShot

 

This series of features highlights the 2015 NewSong Music finalists. Each artist is invited to Lincoln Center on January 7th for the opportunity to win the #NSM Grand Prize. We sat down with each finalist to learn more about their music and background. Hope you enjoy!

BIO
Born and Raised in London, Ontario, Ken Yates moved to Boston to study songwriting at Berklee College of Music. It was there that he developed his skills as a songwriter, releasing his first album, “The Backseat EP”. Yates’ songwriting ability started getting notice right away, including attention from John Mayer, who posted a full page blog about Yates’ ability as a writer stating, “Ken Yates wrote a song called ‘I Don’t Wanna Fall In Love’… this song moved me when I first heard it and still does today”.

 

https://soundcloud.com/ken-yates/i-dont-wanna-fall-in-love

 

In 2013, he released his first full length album “twenty-three” with US record label Mishara Music. He has toured with many notable names including veteran singer/songwriter and mentor, Livingston Taylor, Sister Hazel, Peter Katz, and Liz Longley and has songs in heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s The Coffee House where he was nominated for The Coffee House Songwriter Discovery of the Year. He was recently chosen as The 2014 Colleen Peterson Award winner by the Ontario Arts Council for his song “The One That Got Away”.

Yates is currently working on his new album “Huntsville”, produced by Jim Bryson and set for release in 2016.

Q:What does it mean to you to be selected as a NewSong finalist, and what do you hope to get out of the experience?
A: Thrilled! It really means a lot to be selected knowing there were so many entries and a ton of great songs out there. I’m looking forward to getting to know the other 9 finalists and sharing the experience with them. Being a songwriter can be a lonely road sometimes, and I love that the NewSong contest creates an environment that allows artist to connect with each other and hopefully create lasting relationships.

Q: How did you hear about New Song Music?
A: I heard about it from a few past finalists who speak very highly of the NewSong Contest being a great community for artists.

Q: What is currently happening with your music?
A: I have a new album called “Huntsville” coming out in 2016. I don’t have a release date yet, but the song I submitted for the NewSong Contest will be the title track.

 

 

Q: What is your songwriting process?
A: Songs come to life in different ways, but I typically start with a guitar part that outlines a melody. Sometimes I’ll go for weeks singing that melody over and over until I have lyrical idea. Some lyrics come quicker than others, but I won’t start writing words until I think I have a good lyrical idea. When I first started writing, I mostly made up stories, but a lot of my newer songs either stem from my own experiences, or they come from real life stories I’ve heard about. Most importantly, I try to write every day. That kind of repetition is essential to coming up with good ideas.

Ken Yates’ Links
KenYates.com + Facebook + YouTube + SoundCloud + Twitter