Tag Archive for "Q&A" - NewSong Music

Posts Tagged ‘Q&A’

Q&A with NewSong Finalists Admiral Radio

Sunday, September 8th, 2024

Admiral Radio is the husband-and-wife duo of Becca and Coty. Together, they aim to leave listeners better than they found them. With a personal sincerity and honest performance, you might shed a few tears and roll with laughter. The duo recently won first place at the 2024 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition and 2024 LEAF NewSong Songwriting Competition, and was a finalist in the legendary Kerrville New Folk Competition, International Songwriting Competition, and more. Admiral Radio is taking leaps of faith to share their songs and stories with listeners across the country, inviting you to gather ‘round the radio in modern times.

Admiral Radio was the grand prize winner of the 2024 LEAF / NewSong Competition, which advanced them into the finals of this year’s NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition.

NewSong: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before? 

Admiral Radio: Something that sounds just familiar enough that you can feel at ease, like an old favorite song your Nana used to hum down the hallway, but something new that you can’t quite place, that speaks to the times we’re in. Just two voices, close harmonies, and a guitar or two.

What is the first album you bought, and why?

Coty: Baha Men, because who really let the dogs out?
Becca: Selena, because Selena was a revolution and remains the queen of our hearts.

Becca and Coty of Admiral Radio in a bed of flowers.

What is one influence on your music that might surprise us? 

Neither of us really grew up with the music we write and play together today. We discovered the heart of folk, roots, and Americana music over time and as a shared journey, and continue to learn more everyday.

What projects are you currently working on?

We’re about to launch our new album and Patreon, an online platform that allows us to connect with our community without the algorithm’s nonsense. We’re excited to build a monthly writer’s circle there, host livestreams, and just share in those ordinary little tidbits together. The album we’re about to release on September 13 is called Good Things Take Time. It’s an ode to the passing of time and what we can do with it, and not to give up on yourself, no matter how slow you have to take it.

Share a musical adventure from this summer with us — could be a show you played, a tour you took, a recording you made, a concert you attended, etc. Tell us about an experience that really stood out for you.

We’ve been jaunting around the Midwest for most of the summer in Soulie, our white Kia Soul. It’s been quite the adjustment to stay out longer than a few days at a time, but we’ve learned a few hacks along the way like keeping healthy road snacks and eating a bagged lunch at rest areas. (It turns out there are some really beautiful rest stops out there.) We’ve been able to see and experience so much this summer, but the biggest highlight has been getting to know a new region of the country and its people. There are some truly genuine people out this way and we’ve been grateful to feel so much kindness and support. Music is the great connector and we’ve seen that time and time again this summer.

Tags: 2024 Finalists, Admiral Radio, NewSong Music Performance & Competition, Q&A
Posted in NewSong Music | 6 Comments »

Q+A with LEAF Songwriter Competition Finalist Andy Sydow

Tuesday, April 30th, 2024

In a career spanning more than a decade, Americana, rock, folk, singer-songwriter Andy Sydow has released several albums and singles, toured internationally, received Triple-A airplay (Alibi, 2022 and Keep On Driving, 2023), been a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Songwriter Competition (twice!), and supported numerous acts including Shane Smith & The Saints, Dick Dale, Chuck Prophet, Tab Benoit, Samantha Fish, Lucero, and Anders Osborne.

Andy is one of eight finalists selected to showcase and compete in the LEAF Singer Songwriter Competition, Presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Retreat on May 11.

NewSong Music: What is the most recent song you wrote and what inspired it?
Andy Sydow: Well, it’s still a working title, but right now it’s called “Jam On Toast.” It’s not about putting jam on toast, that’s just a line in the third verse that stuck out to me. It’s also an odd name for a song, and I like that! “Jam On Toast” is about getting stuck in a rut and going through the motions. I’ve struggled with feeling that way some lately so I guess I wrote it as a remedy for that. My friend Nic Clark co-wrote the song.

What was your journey to becoming a musician — are you classically trained or self-taught?
My parents put me in piano lessons in elementary school and I stuck with it through high school and then majored in jazz piano in college at CU Denver. I also played the saxophone in concert band and jazz band through high school, and my dad taught me guitar in high school as well. Growing up, we often went to this radio show in Boulder called “eTown.” I got to see so many amazing artists from week to week including Natalie Merchant, Jackie Greene, Ben Harper, and Keb’ Mo’. One show in particular that stands out was seeing Buddy Guy at “eTown” as a 10 year old. Buddy saw me in the audience and walked over and handed me his pick and let me play his polka dot guitar in the middle of a song! I didn’t know how to play at the time, but the rush of getting to be a part of the show really gave me the performance bug.

What music was playing in your house while you were growing up?
My parents had a pretty big CD collection to pick from! A few that come to mind as I’m thinking about it now are Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Petty, and Rush. I was also always big into movie soundtracks for the films I was watching as a kid. Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Jam and Shrek are a few that jump out off hand.

If you could co-write a song with anyone, who would it be, and why?
Dead or alive? Ok… I’ll answer both. Alive – Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. He words things in ways that are truly unique, yet the listener knows exactly what he’s saying. It’s poetic without being too cryptic. Dead – I’d love to write a wild, twisted rock anthem with Warren Zevon.

What has most surprised you about being a singer-songwriter?
The community is incredibly supportive. I don’t know what I expected when I got into this as a teenager, but it wasn’t this. The community is wonderful. It has also surprised me how many non-music related skills I’ve learned through this journey.

Tags: Andy Sydow, LEAF Songwriter Competition, Q&A
Posted in Contest | 14 Comments »

Q+A with LEAF Songwriter Competition Finalist Admiral Radio

Sunday, April 21st, 2024

Inspired by their 1941 wooden Admiral radio, this South Carolina-based husband and wife duo creates an Americana sound rooted in tradition that touches the heartstrings of the modern-day listener. With tight vocal harmonies, endearing storytelling and authentic energy, Becca and Coty hold a presence that is palpable and real, both on and off stage.

Admiral Radio is one of eight finalists selected to showcase and compete in the LEAF Singer Songwriter Competition, Presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Retreat on May 11.

NewSong Music: What is the most recent song you wrote and what inspired it?

Coty: Probably a song called ‘Kind To Myself.” We had just played at a festival and didn’t feel like we knocked it out of the park, so we were sort of beating ourselves up about it afterwards. Then a lady came over to us a few minutes later and started telling us how much she enjoyed our set. So the song is still a seedling, but it’s kind of a reminder to go easy on yourself.

What was your journey to becoming musicians — are you classically trained or self-taught?

Becca: Both of us are mostly self-taught. Coty’s first guitar was one he bought from Walmart while he worked there in high school. He would play in his room and watch videos on Myspace and Youtube of his favorite musicians repeatedly until he knew the songs. He mostly played in his room casually until we met waiting tables.

I grew up singing make believe songs and writing little ditties as a child. I learned how to play guitar in middle school with a few lessons, which helped my songwriting. I grew up singing along to John Lennon and Paul McCartney and got good at picking out harmonies that way.

The first night Coty and I hung out outside of work, we played guitar at his house. He wasn’t singing or writing at that point, but after awhile, I needed some backup on the shows I was playing solo and coaxed him into helping me. From there, his harmonies, vocal abilities, and songwriting have really gone bananas. The songs he writes bring me to tears.

What music was playing in your houses while you were growing up?

Becca: Coty’s mom is an ’80s baby, so in his house, Bon Jovi, Duran Duran, and Billy Idol were always on. For me, my parents are near opposite sides of the Baby Boomer era, so I like to say that my dad raised me on The Beatles and my mom raised me on R.E.M.

If you could co-write a song with anyone, who would it be, and why?

Becca: I’d like to write with Drew Holcomb. He just seems like a really down-to-earth person. I like that his songs can be straight-up fun, like a rockin’ Tom Petty tune, but others can be reminiscent of a heartfelt Jim Croce song.

Coty: Dolly, the one and only. She’s about as good as it gets.

What has most surprised you about being a singer-songwriter?

Becca: The good stuff seems to come from everyday life. It’s like you want to be a student with a pencil in your hand as often as possible. You never know when the teacher might say something that you’ll want to jot down.

Coty: Mostly surprised that people actually like it!

Tags: Admiral Radio, LEAF Global Arts Retreat, LEAF Songwriter Competition, Q&A
Posted in Contest, NewSong Music | 14 Comments »

Q+A with LEAF Songwriter Competition Finalist Nathan Storey

Friday, April 19th, 2024

Nathan Storey is a seasoned singer-songwriter from North Carolina. “He puts lush emotion and sincerity into each note making any listener sit up and take notice…his melodies and chord changes become hook laden delights,” as described by John Fonvielle, The Beat Magazine. In his songwriting, “Storey weaves intimate tunes, filled with emotion and powerful metaphor,” as detailed by Hunter Gardner of Charleston Grit. Storey toured the east coast at notable venues including Rockwood Music Hall in NYC, the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC and the River Arts Festival in Jacksonville, Fl.

Nathan is one of eight finalists selected to showcase and compete in the LEAF Singer Songwriter Competition, Presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Retreat on May 11.

NewSong Music: What is the most recent song you wrote and what inspired it?

Nathan Storey: I recently wrote a song about time called “Time is a Liar.” I began thinking about how we often think we have enough or not enough of it and I thought that was really interesting idea to explore.

What was your journey to becoming a musician — are you classically trained or self-taught?

I took guitar lessons when I was very young and started with simple chord progressions. I haven’t stopped playing since!

What music was playing in your house while you were growing up?

I grew up listening to a lot of church music as well as things like ’60s folk. Mom and Dad liked a lot of different things!

If you could co-write a song with anyone, who would it be, and why?

I admire a lot of songwriters from across the pond so I would be over the moon to write with guys like Foy Vance or Glen Hansard. Their raw lyrics and performances have always been really inspiring to me.

What has most surprised you about being a singer-song-writer?

I think that I’m not tired of it yet. For many many years now I’ve trusted myself to have something to say and with as interested I am in different things, I find that kind of surprising.

Tags: LEAF Global Arts Retreat, LEAF Songwriter Competition, Nathan Storey, Q&A
Posted in NewSong Music | 14 Comments »

Meet NewSong finalist Reece Sullivan

Saturday, October 7th, 2023

Originally from Arkansas, singer-songwriter Reece Sullivan now lives in Lafayette, La., and plays the surrounding states regularly. He’s reinvented himself many times: piano to guitar, classical to art rock, art rock to folk, flat picking to fingerpicking, solely songwriting to performing. In 2022, Reece released a full length album, Arkansas, and a single, The Riverband (Dockside). In 2023, he released a full-length acoustic album, Gethsemane, and a live EP, Live in the City of Gold. He’s putting the finishing touches on a new album, False Summits, which will be released early in 2024 and he has a single, “Song for Edward de Vere,” planned for November 2023, the 400th anniversary of the first Shakespearean Folio.

Reece is a finalist in the 2023 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, which will take place on Saturday, November 18, at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville, N.C. Learn more and purchase tickets HERE.

NewSong Music: What sort of music was playing in your house when you were growing up?

Reece: Not much! I had a very limited amount of vinyl that I remember playing such as an album by The Beach Boys, Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock N’ Roll,” and a kid’s song album. Other than that, one of my bigger and more fond memories of music was listening to what cassettes my dad played in his truck. I remember listening to the album An Innocent Man by Billy Joel and Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John. I loved those albums and the memories associated with them of riding with my dad singing along.

What was your journey to music?

I was classically trained. I started taking piano lessons when I was six; I still remember getting out of the car that day and the lessons, also. Though I did learn a lot like so, it wasn’t until I got an acoustic guitar at age 15 that I truly started learning music theory and playing by ear, which I had beforehand thought of as extremely mysterious. At age 20, I majored in piano performance, but I quit that after a mere year. My professor and I got along really well and would talk a lot about The Beatles and Beethoven, both of whom I greatly love, and he advised me to simply quit college if I knew I really only wanted to write music. Majoring in piano is a very time-consuming degree. I was practicing at least a couple hours a day for five or six days a week, and I felt even that wasn’t enough. It pained me because I was dedicating all that time to learning someone else’s music, however great it may’ve been, instead of working on my own. Thus, my professor’s suggestion that I quit, which I think of to this day as good advice.

What is the first song you wrote that you were proud of, and why?

I wrote my first song, “All I Wanted,” at my friend Jeff Fox’s house when I was 16. I still think of it a somewhat catchy tune and not all too bad. The lyrics were certainly extremely juvenile, but what can one expect at that age? As far as being satisfied with what I write, it’s a difficult thing. I feel no song is ever really perfect and can almost always be made better. Often it’s hard to figure out how to do that, though! I wrote a lot of stuff in my 20s that certainly showed talent and such, but there was a major shift in my music starting at the end of my 20s. I dedicated myself more fully to lyrics and aspects of the craft that I’d somewhat ignored up until then. When that phase started, I wrote an incredible amount of material; some of the material to arise from the early part of that phase I still enjoy and some of them I still play, but the first song to arrive where I realized I’d improved and that the improvement seemed lasting was a song titled “Suffering & Pain.” That song was released on the album “All For You, Dulcinea.” Though the vocals and production and recording quality on those songs was drastically lacking, I still really like “Suffering & Pain.”

What is your writing process like?

I believe in writing whether one is “in the mood” or not. So I try to generally treat it like an author would while writing a book. I tend to write predominantly on acoustic guitar, but I’ll sometimes write things on piano. Though there are definitely exceptions, I almost always get the music totally to my liking. This includes verses, choruses, bridges, breaks, and phrasing. After that, I write lyrics.

Share a musical adventure from this summer with us — an experience that really stood out for you.

I had a song place in this year’s ACORN Songwriting Competition, so I flew to Chicago to play the event, which is about an hour east, in the bottom part of Michigan, almost, but not quite, on Lake Michigan. Certainly traveling is one of my favorite things to be doing, no matter where I’m headed or why, though traveling for music is the best. I had also never been to Michigan or Wisconsin, so I took the chance to drive up into Wisconsin on a free day, which, combined with seeing Michigan, makes for 45 states I’ve been to. Louisiana was scorching hot, as it always is in the summer, so it bordered on magical being somewhere as cool and breezy as they are. The ACORN Theater did not disappoint. It’s an amazing, magical place that couldn’t look better, aesthetically. I had a great time playing and met a lot of good folks, one of which I may play some shows with in a few months. Meeting people through music is honestly one of the best parts to touring, and for me, I feel closer to people I meet through music than any of circumstance.

Tags: #WeAreNewSong, NewSong Music performance and songwriting competition, Q&A, Reece Sullivan, singer songwriter
Posted in NewSong Music | 6 Comments »