Posts Tagged ‘Parker Ainsworth’

Meet 2019 NewSong finalist Parker Ainsworth

Tuesday, November 12th, 2019

NewSong is proud to introduce 2019 finalist Parker Ainsworth! The singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, CA will join his fellow finalists onstage at Isis Music Hall on Saturday Nov. 23 for the final competition. 

Parker’s song “Running for so long” was recently featured in the film The Peanut Butter Falcon (video below). His blend of Western folk and soul music earned him the Grand Prize at NewSong’s 6th Annual LEAF Competition in 2018.  

 

We asked Parker about his musical inspiration, songwriting process and what music news he has coming up in the Q&A below. 

Connect with Parker on his website, Facebook page, and Instagram. For more information on attending this event, please visit our Facebook event page. Purchase tickets here. 

What are your most significant musical/artistic inspirations?

Too many to name, really. I grew up on blues and country (Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, BB King, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, the classics); lots of old rock (Stones, Beatles, specifically George Harrison and John Lennon made a huge impression on me); and Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, of course, made an impact. Then I got deep into hip hop, house music and drum ‘n’ bass (Aphex Twin, Project Blowed, Tribe called Quest, Beastie Boys, Metalheads, Danny Tenaglia — pretty all over the place). Beck definitely blew my mind, and Nirvana as well. Lately, I’ve really enjoyed the older Staples singers recordings and a band called Tinariwen.
 

What is your songwriting process like?

Every song is different. Sometimes words come first; other times, it’s just a melody, or chord changes that evoke a feeling. The most important process for me these days is one of being present for the spark and not analyzing it until it’s become a fire. I’ve lost many potentially good ideas by judging them too early. Now I’m trying to be more curious and playful with things.
 

What was your reaction to being named a NewSong finalist?

I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity.
 

What music news would you like to share with readers?

The Peanut Butter Falcon, a gorgeously human film that I wrote a song for earlier this year is out now. I’m also playing a show at a The Troubadour in LA opening for an artist named Desi Valentine on Dec. 10. This will be my first time to play that venue, which is a legendary home for music in Los Angeles.
 
 
For more information on attending the NewSong Competition event, please visit our Facebook event page. Buy tickets here. 

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Announcing the 2019 NewSong Music Finalists.

Thursday, October 24th, 2019

Congratulations to the finalists in the 18th annual NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition. These eight finalists will network, showcase and compete in the live performance finals in Asheville, North Carolina at Isis Music Hall on Saturday November 23. 

YouTube Playlist of the 2019 NewSong Music Finalists:

 

For more information on attending this event, please visit our Facebook event page. Buy tickets here. 

 

 

Thank you to all who submitted their music this year, and we look forward to meeting our finalists next month! Learn more about each finalist and his or her music in the links below. 

 

Danielle Ponder — Rochester, NY

Danielle Ponder – Rochester, NY

 

 

Grant Maloy Smith — Kingston, RI

Grant Maloy Smith – Kingston, RI

 

Jae Jin — Wolftown, VA

Jae Jin – Wolftown, VA

 

Jobi Riccio — Brookline, MA

Jobi Riccio – Brookline, MA

 

Kelly Hoppenjans — Nashville, TN

Kelly Hoppenjans – Nashville, TN

 

Kyshona — Madison, TN

Kyshona – Madison, TN

 

Nathaniel Bellows — New York, NY

Nathaniel Bellows – New York, NY

 

Parker Ainsworth — Los Angeles, CA

Parker Ainsworth – Joshua Tree, CA 2019 LEAF Festival Competition Winner)

 

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LEAF Winner Parker Ainsworth returns to festival for grand prize performances

Friday, October 11th, 2019

Parker Ainsworth — the LA-based singer-songwriter who took the Grand Prize at NewSong’s 6th Annual LEAF Competition — will return to LEAF Saturday Oct. 19 for two intimate performances.

LEAF-goers can attend Ainsworth’s two sets on Saturday, Oct. 19 at The Barn at 3:15PM and the Jam Tavern at 8:45PM.

“Playing the Barn was such a magical experience,” says Ainsworth of the competition back in May 2019. “An open space full of music-loving folk, braving the elements to hear songs in their rawness. The event felt like it expanded me with the presence of genuine care … it pretty much blasted my heart wide open.”

He adds, “Talking with my fellow contestants reminded me that though this musical life can feel quite lonely at times, ultimately we’re never really alone. In fact, we’re unavoidably all in this together.”

Ainsworth was chosen from over 400 applicants to the LEAF competition and five other finalists. For the full LEAF schedule and lineup, click here. Those without LEAF tickets this year can catch Ainsworth at Isis Music Hall in West Asheville on Thursday Oct. 17. Tickets available here. 

In addition to the paid, featured performances at LEAF, Ainsworth also advances as a finalist in the 18th annual, international NewSong Showcase and Competition, held November 23 at Isis Music Hall in Asheville. The grand-prize winner of that contest will be awarded the opportunity to make a six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville and released on the NewSong Recordings label; and a performance showcase at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s coveted ASCAP Music Café.

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NEWSONG ARTIST ROUNDUP: Alexa Rose, Parker Ainsworth & more

Tuesday, August 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. 

 

Parker Ainsworth— “Running for So Long (House A Home)” ft. in indie film The Peanut Butter Falcon

2018 LEAF winner, Parker Ainsworth, performs the lead single from the motion picture The Peanut Butter Falcon, starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson and Zack Gottsagen. In theaters this August. 

From producer Butch Walker: ““When my good friend Tyler Nilson told me about The Peanut Butter Falcon, and played me the song his friend Parker Ainsworth co-wrote for the film, ‘Running For So Long (House a Home)’, I was very excited and couldn’t wait to start recording. I suggested to bring Paris Jackson on board for some accompaniment – she has been a family friend for many years and she had just recently done some backing vocals on a record of my own. Everyone involved thought that she was perfect for the song and her vocals gave it a very special note, just like I feel the movie is.”

 

Wilder Adkins— “Forever Yours” from new album, In This Pilgrim Way

Wilder Adkins, 2016 NewSong Grand Prize Winner, recently released a lovely new album titled, In This Pilgrim Way. We love the video, and we hope you give the album a listen on your preferred music platform. Vinyl records are available via the artist’s bandcamp page. 

From Adkins: “I actually started working on this album after losing my job right before getting married. I was feeling pretty down and frustrated, made all the worse by being in a time of transition and stress. I began making plans to record some of these old three-quarter hymns of comfort as a way of ministering to myself, but also sharing it with other who might need comforting. I’m already looking ahead to so many projects, but I’m glad to finally be able to put this album out into the world. Hopefully it will be a comfort to those who need it.” 

 

Alexa Rose— Title track for album Medicine for Living out now

From Alexa Rose via Wide Open Country: “This song is about a love that is failing and that moment when something is about to come to an end. That moment should still be appreciated and enjoyed because it’s still part of love,” Rose says in a press release. “I was trying to reason with myself about something that I had no control over. Medicine for Living is about realizing that all we can do is be loving and reach for love and that in itself can be healing.”

The artist has a show with fellow NewSong LEAF alum My One & Only at Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC Sunday Aug. 18. 

 

Alex Wong— forthcoming solo album to be released on Tone Tree music label

Alex Wong, a 2018 NewSong Competition finalist, recently announced plans to release his next solo album with the Nashville-based label, Tone Tree. The first single from the album, “Show Yourself,” comes out this Friday, August 16. Find it on your favorite music platform and follow Alex Wong on Instagram (@alexwongsounds) for updates. 

 

Submissions for 2019 NewSong Singer Songwriting Competition are open! 

 

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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Parker Ainsworth wins the sixth annual LEAF Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music

Tuesday, May 14th, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Western folk/soul artist Parker Ainsworth, from Los Angeles, has been named the winner of the sixth annual LEAF Festival Singer-Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music. Ainsworth, along with five other finalist singer-songwriters, was selected from more than 400 entries to this year’s contest. The finalists performed at LEAF Saturday, May 11, in front of a full house at the Barn venue. This year’s judges were Alli Marshall, arts editor at Mountain Xpress; Jeff Santiago, a local musician and operations manager at The Orange Peel; and Melissa Meyers, founder of Red Rover Booking, an Asheville-based talent agency.

Other finalists were Cat Terrones from San Pedro, CA; Demos Papadimas from Warren, OH; Krista Shows from Candler, NC; Kim Ware from Atlanta, GA; and Syd Caldera from Brooklyn, NY. Ainsworth, Ware and Caldera were the three songwriters selected to move on to the second and final round. Finalists were judged equally on their performance and songwriting ability.

“Playing the Barn was such a magical experience,” says Ainsworth. “An open space full of music-loving folk, braving the elements to hear songs in their rawness. The event felt like it expanded me with the presence of genuine care … it pretty much blasted my heart wide open.”

He adds, “Talking with my fellow contestants reminded me that though this musical life can feel quite lonely at times, ultimately we’re never really alone. In fact, we’re unavoidably all in this together.”

Ainsworth will release his new EP, Far Away, this summer.

“It’s always difficult to select a winner, considering the impressive pool of talent,” says Alli Marshall, who returned as a judge for the fourth time. “This year’s showcase included stunning, Appalachian-flavored balladry, sultry swing, and rootsy folk offerings. All six performers were engaging; each is likely to become a recognizable name in the near future.”

Marshall adds that Ainsworth made a smart move in enlisting Asheville-based musician Zack Kardon as his accompanist. Though the two had not meet previous to the LEAF contest, Kardon provided tasteful electric guitar textures to Ainsworth’s rhythmic and storied song craft. “Parker also made great song choices, sharing his Texas roots, gritty soundscapes, and a non-cliched take on the need for gun control,” says Marshall. “Plus, he invited the enthusiastic audience to share in a sing-along.”

As the winner of the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, Ainsworth will receive a paid, featured performance at the fall 2019 LEAF Festival (October 17-20, in Black Mountain, NC), including lodging and accommodations. Other Asheville-area dates are in the works.

Ainsworth also advances as a finalist in the 18th annual, international NewSong Showcase and Competition, held later this year. The grand-prize winner of that contest will be awarded the opportunity to make a six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville and released on the NewSong Recordings label; and a performance showcase at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s coveted ASCAP Music Café. The 2019 NewSong Music Contest is now accepting entries.

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