Posts Tagged ‘singer songwriter’

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Jay Brown

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

Jay Brown is a roots music one-man-band from Black Mountain, North Carolina, who has been playing guitar and piano since the age of 7. A prolific songwriter, Jay’s performances draw from a couple hundred original songs, as well as countless covers from the roots of Americana and beyond. Jay has spent years traveling and playing around the U.S., absorbing our rich musical heritage and performing with artists such as Doc Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Etta Baker. Jay has also taken multiple trips to Ghana, West Africa, where he studied and performed traditional African music with the Ghanaians.

His eclectic musical tastes found expression in 1996, when he became a founding member of Lazybirds, a band that blends a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz and blues, country and rock ‘n roll, to create a fresh and soul stirring sound. Lazybirds have been a mainstay of the North Carolina roots music scene for nearly 30 years.

Jay also formed the Indian folk fusion band Shantavaani with his wife Aditi, which put out 3 classic albums during its 2 year period. Jay continues to perform with Aditi, blending Aditi’s Indian folk and classical influences with his own folk and original music. Aditi and Jay perform as a duo, and also with Joel Karabo Elliot in Roots Grown Deep. Aditi and Jay also recorded 2 critically acclaimed records with their friends Angie and Cas in The Appalucians

Jay and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

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


Jay Brown: The short answer would be “roots and original music.” Heavily influenced by Doc Watson, American folk, blues, jazz, Indian, and African music.  

What is the first album you bought, and why?


Muddy Waters Folk Blues. As soon as I got my driver’s license I went to Charlemagne Records in Birmingham, a very cool record shop that’s since closed down, and asked the very groovy and knowledgeable owner what might be a good record to get me started in the world of the blues, and he directed my attention to Muddy Waters, and also Lightnin Hopkins. I took those records home and put them on and fell under their spell, and the depth and feeling of that music has probably been my biggest inspiration as a musician.

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


Billie Holiday, particularly with Lester Young playing behind her on sax. The sound of her voice, and the way Prez would dance around her with that mellow tone of pure jazz, and Billie clearly getting a kick out of it. The way they inspired each other is something I feel very deeply, and those two together have an eternal residence in my heart and mind.

What projects are you currently working on?

There are a few wrapping up just now. A solo album of original songs (with a few Dylan covers) that’ll be called In the Wake which will feature a few songs I wrote shortly after Helene, is just about ready. An album Aditi and I recorded (Aditi and Jay) is being mixed. We’re still pondering on a name for the album. Half of the album will be kirtan, and half will be American folk, but the overriding feel of the album is contemplative. Aditi and I also show up on the new album by the amazing world musician Joel Karabo Elliot. The Appalucians have a new album out as well which is yet to be released, called Skygazer. And Lazybirds have just gotten started recording an album of travelin songs, called Goin Places. So it appears our basement is soon to be taken over by boxes of CDs.

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Jackson Grimm

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025

Jackson Grimm is an accomplished and respected multi-instrumentalist and teacher in the Asheville music community. His songs marry folk pop melodies with the lonesome sound of traditional Appalachian music. It is no surprise that Jackson’s songwriting is representative of his musical birthplace, Western North Carolina, where Grimm studied Traditional Music at Warren Wilson College.

Jackson and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

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


Jackson Grimm: I write songs influenced by the mountains of Appalachia. Folk and bluegrass arrangements inspired by pop melodies and poetic lyrics.

What is the first album you bought, and why?


I thiiiiink the first album I bought on my own was American Idiot by Greenday. Epic.

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


I’m heavily influenced by old ballads from the Celtic Isles.

What projects are you currently working on?

My main projects right now are with Holler Choir and Susto Stringband.

 

Q&A with LEAF Finalist Benjamin Burke

Monday, April 21st, 2025

Benjamin Burke is a folk-country singer and songwriter. Reminiscent of modern greats like Jason Isbell, as well as artists from days gone by like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Burke invokes the timeless appeal of a songwriter and his guitar. His songs are clever, earnest, and edgy, often drawing on imagery from his childhood in the Rocky Mountains. Burke’s award-winning single “How To Write A Song”, is a clever and heartfelt take on the classic breakup song, and will be the title track of his forthcoming album, to be released May 9, 2025. The album will also feature Burke’s song “The Day I Die,” winner of the Country category in the international 2024 Songdoor songwriting competition.

Benjamin and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

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


Benjamin Burke: My music is acoustic-driven folk-country, with some rock influences. From a very young age I’ve been fascinated with clever lyrics, and I still can’t resist a clever lyrical hook. So if you haven’t heard my music before, you can expect acoustic guitar and some sort of lyrical twist in most songs. A lot of people have described my voice as “sweet,” reminiscent of the alternative-rock tenor singer-songwriters who really influenced me in my earlier years, like Matt Nathanson. My writing is closer to classic introspective singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne and Don Henley. For me it’s never been about the artist or the genre as much as it is about the writing—never the singer, always the song. Nonetheless I seem to have settled into a folk-country sound over time as my influences have converged.

What is the first album you bought, and why?

I bought both of Rascal Flatts’ first two albums at the same time. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. Rascal Flatts was such a huge player on country music radio at the time. I loved the way Gary LeVox’s voice sounded, and to this day I still think he’s one of the best singers out there. I remember singing “These Days” over and over again in my room thinking I sounded great (I’m quite sure my older sister would have disagreed).

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

Mid-2000s rock music played a huge role in my musical development—everyone from The Goo Goo Dolls to the All American Rejects. Their songwriting was so clever and self-aware. I was never really able to pull off those high notes, though. 

What projects are you currently working on?

I just released “Me Before You,” which is the final single off of my debut album, coming May 9. Promotion of the album has been my primary focus recently. I’m always writing, and I’ve already got an eye on a few more songs I want to release in the next year or so—but one thing at a time! I also produced the last four singles that Heather Edgley released (you can check out “Broken Promises” here), and am working with her on producing a few more singles and an album. 

Q&A with LEAF finalist Jackson Harden

Thursday, April 17th, 2025

Jackson Harden is a singer-songwriter from Utah, currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Combining elements of traditional folk, alt-country, and chamber pop, his music has a timeless quality that creates an airy, open atmosphere tinged with imagery of the vast desert landscapes and towering mountains of the western United States. His gentle vocal style, intimate songwriting, and intricate guitar picking are often compared to the likes of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. His debut EP Dakota Blue Moon was released in November of 2023.

Jackson and seven other finalists will perform, network, and compete at the 11th annual LEAF Performance & Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Global Arts Retreat on Saturday, May 10.

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

Jackson Harden: I’d say it’s a blend of traditional folk and ’60s pop with a modern twist. 

What is the first album you bought, and why?
American Idiot by Green Day. I was 8 years old and up to that point I mostly just heard church music and whatever was on pop radio. A kid on my block showed me some CDs from his collection including Green Day, Weezer, Nirvana, etc., and it rocked my world. I became obsessed with Green Day and had to get the CD.

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

I had a major pop-punk phase for most of my adolescence that has informed my songwriting, playing, and sensibilities to some degree, even today.
 
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my first full length album!

 

Q&A with NewSong finalist Eliza Edens

Saturday, December 21st, 2024

On Eliza Edens’ sophomore album We’ll Become the Flowers, she seeks to understand what happens after the end. Whether grappling with heartache or a loved one’s mortality, the Brooklyn-based songwriter re-imagines endings not as finite events but as devotional experiences that give way to new beginnings. Edens takes inspiration from folk luminaries such as Nick Drake, Karen Dalton and Elizabeth Cotten.

Eliza will join seven other finalists to network and compete at the NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition finals on Saturday, March 15, at Citizen Vinyl. Find tickets here.

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

Eliza: The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Peter, Paul & Mary, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Eva Cassidy, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Norah Jones, Canned Heat, Bonnie Raitt, and lots of classical music.

What inspired you to become a songwriter?

The absolute magic and mystery of music. I was always so mystified as a child when I saw someone playing a guitar or a piano. I wanted to learn how I could make beautiful sounds with my hands on those instruments too. So I suppose, mystery. I am still uncovering the mystery of music and songs.

If you could partner with another living songwriter to co-write a song, who would it be?

Stevie Wonder

What attracted you to submit your song(s) to the NewSong Competition?

I read about it somewhere online and submitted on a whim!

Do you have any recent or forthcoming projects to tell us about?

I am currently working on a new batch of songs about queerness and grief. They are very genre-diverse and a lot of fun!

Q&A with NewSong finalist Rai Omri

Thursday, December 19th, 2024

Rai Omri is a Western Colorado-based songwriter inspired by dreams, stories, old melodies, ambient sound, and the natural world. In 2023, she was named a Finalist in Kerrville Folk Festival’s Grassy Hill New Folk Competition. Her first EP, Astral Plains, explores the dream world, the cycle of death and rebirth, and life in a small town.

Rai will join seven other finalists to network and compete at the NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition finals on Saturday, March 15, at Citizen Vinyl. Find tickets here.

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

Rai: My mom loved listening to Gillian Welch and John Prine on long drives. My dad loved Bob Dylan, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Leonard Cohen, Bob Marley, lots of Arabic music – a bunch of different stuff. He and I did a lot of dancing.

What inspired you to become a songwriter?

It was a hodgepodge of things – there wasn’t really one seminal moment. I had this amazing elementary school music teacher, Mr. Mayer, who made me love music. I loved poetry and took some poetry classes in college – I got very lucky and had a brilliant poet/teacher, Dave Mason. At the same time, I was getting into old folk songs and the history of folk music. I couldn’t really play guitar back then, but I started going to this guitar summer camp for grown-ups, Puget Sound Guitar Workshop. I had already been writing a little, but one year I worked up the courage to take a songwriting class there with Patrice Haan, who’s incredible and created a really safe space to share and create. I’ve been going to guitar camp for 10 years now. All that and just listening to music I loved and admiring people’s songcraft.

If you could partner with another living songwriter to co-write a song, who would it be?

This is so hard. Honestly, it’s gotta be Dolly. I had a dream once that she came over to me and said, “Girl, you’ve got everything going for you — you should just go for it!” I was in a good mood for, like, a week after that – I had been blessed with a visitation from Dolly. I don’t think I write in the style that she does, but I’d love to learn from her. She’s a genius and a legend, and I’d also just want to meet her and hang out. There are LOTS of dream co-writes though, so many people I’d want to learn from.

What attracted you to submit your song(s) to the NewSong Competition?

I heard about the competition through friends. Jackson Emmer encouraged me to start submitting to things, and Olivia Ellen Lloyd was a NewSong finalist. They’re both awesome songwriters.

Do you have any recent or forthcoming projects to tell us about?

Yes! I’m recording an EP right now which will be out sometime next year, so stay tuned. I also recently recorded a couple live songs at this place called The Tank – it’s a huge, seven-story empty metal water tank out in rural Northwestern Colorado. It has something like a 40-second natural reverb. I had a transcendent time in there. I’ll be releasing those songs in the New Year, too. If anyone wants to keep up on things coming out, I have an email list you can sign up for at raiomri.com or on Instagram!

Q&A with NewSong Earlybird Finalist R.O. Shapiro

Tuesday, September 24th, 2024

R.O. (Raphael Odell) Shapiro started performing at an early age, first with dance and then musical theater, before picking up guitar at the end of high school. He forming the band Odell Fox with Jenner Fox and they started touring almost immediately, cultivating an energetic and intimate live show experience that R.O. has continued to build upon as a solo artist. The band parted ways at the end of 2017 and R.O., then in Austin, developed the full-band, electrified sound that you can hear on 2021’s King Electric Sessions, his first release since leaving Odell Fox. R.O. is currently based in Northern California, and always on the lookout for new communities and stages where he can share his authentic warmth and wit.

R.O. is this year’s early bird finalist and will join seven other finalists to network and compete at the NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition finals on Saturday, November 16, at Citizen Vinyl. Find tickets here.
 
NewSong Music: What sort of music was playing in your house when you were growing up?

R.O. Shapiro: A lot of jazz — Louis, Miles, Monk… Ella and Billie. And classic rock — Beatles, Stones, Grateful Dead, Steely Dan. 

What was your journey to music — were you classically trained? From a family of musicians? Self-taught?

I grew up doing a lot of musical theater, that’s really how I started singing. I didn’t pick up guitar until my senior year of high school, but as soon as I got a few chords down I started writing my own songs almost immediately.

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

I think I was proud of the first songs I wrote! Of course, I wouldn’t want to play them now, but I know I felt immense satisfaction from finishing them, and sharing them with my friends. I’m still totally hooked on that feeling.

 


What is your writing process like — do you write lyrics first, or music? Do you compose on a particular instrument? Do you need to write in a particular space or do song ideas come to you at random times?

The beginnings of a song almost always come when I’m absentmindedly messing around on my guitar. I’ll find a lick or progression that I like, a melody to go with it, and then eventually some words affix themselves based on the rhythm or cadence of the musical phrase. More often than not, these lyrics will be related in some way to whatever thoughts or feelings which are already bouncing around the front of my brain. That’s how I find the germ of a song, and I expand it from there, usually in sporadic quiet moments over the course of weeks, months, or years.

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.

I actually started booking and promoting shows, even running sound, at a venue in Caspar, CA, a tiny town on the coast between Mendocino and Fort Bragg, three hours north of San Francisco. It’s now called Good Bones Kitchen, but used to be the Caspar Inn, a legendary roadhouse for decades drawing acts like Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, and J.J. Cale. It’s been an amazing honor to work to restart the music program in that historic space, and really exciting to learn new skills and and gain a much better understanding of the ins and outs of the production side of our industry.  

Early Bird finalist selected — R.O. Shapiro from Los Altos, CA!

Wednesday, September 4th, 2024

CONGRATULATIONS to soulful Americana artist R.O. Shapiro on being selected the ‘Early Bird’ finalist in this year’s NewSong Performance & Songwriting Competition. R.O. (Raphael Odell) Shapiro is a purveyor of original Americana music, carefully crafted and soulfully sung. With Jenner Fox he formed the band Odell Fox. The duo started touring almost immediately, cultivating an energetic and intimate live show experience that R.O. has continued to build upon as a solo artist. In Austin, TX, they released two records, the Moon Shiner EP in 2016, and Thank You in 2017.

When the band parted ways, R.O. stayed in Austin, gigging regularly in the hallowed venues of that world famous music scene. It was then he developed the full-band, electrified sound that you can hear on 2021’s King Electric Sessions, his first release since leaving Odell Fox.

In recent years he has typically played solo, touring regularly in the Northeast, California, and Pacific Northwest including Alaska and Vancouver Island. R.O. is a winner of the 2022 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk songwriting contest, and recently recorded with producer/instrumentalist Phil Cook (Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger.) He is currently based in Northern California.

Submit YOUR original songs to this year’s NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition. We have extended the deadline and are accepting submissions through Sunday, September 15.

Submissions are open for the 2024 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition

Tuesday, June 4th, 2024

NewSong Music is now accepting original song entries for its 23rd annual Performance and Songwriting Competition, presented by Citizen Vinyl. The program’s curated showcases have been a fixture in the national music scene since 2001. The competition finals, formerly staged in New York City at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, relocated to Asheville, N.C. in 2017.

SUBMIT YOUR SONGS HERE

Eight finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical magic to Asheville where they will perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner to  receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 300 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl, and a featured, paid performance at Arts Brookfield’s Summer Concert Series in New York City in the summer of 2025.

Past NewSong winners and standouts include Ingrid Michaelson, Grace Potter, Crys Matthews, Jobi Riccio, and Slow Runner. The 2023 Grand Prize Winner was Natalie Price.

Discounted ‘Early Bird’ entries are now open (1 song: $45; 2 songs: $80; additional songs: $30 each). Entry prices increase after Sunday, June 30, with the final deadline for submissions on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST. To submit your original music, visit newsong-music.com/contest. This year’s eight finalists are scheduled to be announced on Facebook, Instagram, our website blog, and newsletter on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

SUBMIT YOUR SONGS HERE

Mark your calendar for the 2024 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finale, which will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

For up-to-date information on the 2024 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, visit newsong-music.com. To learn more about Citizen Vinyl, visit citizenvinyl.com

For media inquiries or questions about contest entry, contact Alli Marshall (alli@newsong-music.com).

ABOUT NEWSONG MUSIC

NewSong Music is an independent music organization that aims to build a supportive community of performers and songwriters across various genres of music and skill levels, while identifying truly exceptional artists and introducing their music to a broader international audience.

ABOUT CITIZEN VINYL

Citizen Vinyl was established by NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland. It opened October 2020 as Asheville’s first vinyl manufacturing facility. Citizen Vinyl boasts a variety of amenities including full-scale recording studio Citizen Studios, a vinyl-themed craft cocktail and coffee lounge, a record and art store, and more.

ABOUT CITIZEN STUDIOS

Citizen Studios is a classic space for timeless sounds; the modern analog rebirth of the historic WWNC radio station studios. The newly renovated space now consists of a large control room and a communal multipurpose room for recording, rehearsing and events. The studio is available for recording artists, engineers, producers and private functions.

Announcing the 10th annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Showcase and Competition

Monday, February 26th, 2024

The annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Showcase and Competition, now in its tenth year, will take place at LEAF Global Arts Retreat, in Black Mountain, N.C., on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

The performance showcase and competition is a collaborative effort between NewSong Music and LEAF Global Arts. It aims to identify and recognize exceptional performers and songwriters from across the country. Eight finalists will be invited to perform, network, and compete at the LEAF Retreat (a more intimate iteration of LEAF’s annual fall festival) in May.

The winner of the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, selected from a panel of music industry judges, will earn a spot as one of only eight finalists at the annual International NewSong Competition, held in Asheville, N.C., in the fall. The winner will also return to the LEAF Global Arts Festival, held October 17-20, 2024, as a featured, paid performer.

Past winners include Jimmie Griffith, Noan Partly, Parker Ainsworth, and Moon Bride.

SUBMIT SONGS HERE

While the event is a contest, it’s decidedly not a cutthroat competition. Instead, the focus is on building a community among songwriters and sharing the magic of songcraft. “It’s a celebration of one of humanity’s oldest art forms, something that helps us all process and understand the world around us,” says NewSong Music founder Gar Ragland. This is an “opportunity to recognize talented musicians and bring new voices to a bigger stage.”

The deadline for Early Bird submissions is Friday, March 8. One early bird entrant will be selected as a finalist for the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition. (All other early bird entries will remain in consideration.) The final deadline to submit entries is Sunday, March 31. Finalists are expected to be announced by Sunday, April 7. 

SUBMIT SONGS HERE

“NewSong has been an extraordinary LEAF partner, creating the opportunity for many amazing songwriters and singers to perform at LEAF Festival. For many artists, this was their first big step onto a national and international stage, and the teamwork with the organizations creates ease and support. In a nod to history, these artists are walking in the footsteps of historic Black Mountain College moments and LEAF Global artists from over 100 countries.” ~ Jennifer Pickering, LEAF Global Arts Co-Executive Director & Founder

About LEAF Global Arts

LEAF Global Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to connect cultures and create community through music and arts. LEAF is composed of two key cultural arts education programs, LEAF Schools & Streets and LEAF International, as well as two signature events, LEAF Global Arts Retreat (May) and LEAF Global Arts Festival (October). Since 1995, LEAF has served more than 200,000 youths with programs in more than 15 community locations and in 10 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.theLEAF.org.