This Next Song‘s About - A Songwriter‘s Podcast: Recent Episodes
This Next Song‘s About - A Songwriter‘s Podcast
This Next Song’s About is a podcast for songwriters looking to level-up their craft for industry success.
Featuring how to’s from producers, coaches, managers, other experts and fellow artists, we dig deep into the creative process and the music industry. If you’re an artist looking for writing tips, encountering writers block or imposters syndrome, or perhaps looking to grow your fanbase, this is the podcast for you.
Let Stevie Manns be your host and guide on your artist journey as we meet some incredible guests and prepare to be inspired!
Think SongExploder meets Tiny Desk Concert.
Subscribe and follow for free on Apple podcasts and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you don't know Gretchen Peters, I will bet you definitely know some of her songs. From Independence Day (Martina McBride), Cloud #9 (Bryan Adams), On A Bus To St. Cloud (Trisha Yearwood), Rock Steady (Bonnie Raitt)... the list goes on and on.
So when I interviewed her for the first time (I was lucky enough to do it twice) I was READY. This is probably the interview I am the most proud of, we talked about sexism within the music industry, being an independent artist and finding your own path as a writer. We dig into the origins of one of her songs, "The Boy From Rye" and how it's the heart of her most recent album, Dancing With The Beast.
Note: This interview was originally recorded and published in November 2019.
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For two decades, Gretchen Peters has been one of Nashville's most beloved and respected artists. "If Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as 'On A Bus To St. Cloud,'" People Magazine wrote, "she has already earned herself a spot among country's upper echelon of contemporary composers.” Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2014 by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell, who called her "both a songwriter and a poet (who) sings as beautifully as she writes,” and said her song “The Matador”, "moved me so greatly, I cried from the soles of my feet”, Peters has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill.
Her 2015 album, ‘Blackbirds’, debuted at #1 on the UK Country chart and in the top 40 UK pop chart, and was awarded International Album of the Year and Song of the Year. In 2015, The Telegraph named her one of the greatest 60 female singer-songwriters of all time. Her latest album, Dancing With The Beast, was released on May 18, 2018. https://gretchenpeters.com
As we continue the final season of the podcast, Stevie revisits a discussion with artist Esabalu aka Jenn Mundia from Season 2.
This episode really resonated with Stevie as they both shared a story about their dads about their respective name changes. This episode was recorded during the pandemic and originally aired in March 2021. Esabalu talks about her journey to finding her new moniker as EsaBalu, embracing her Kenyan roots and taking time as a musician to process the events of the Black Lives Matter movement through storytelling and songwriting with her single “Say Their Names”.
They discuss the recording of Esabalu's song and music video Wildfire.
You should check out the video for Wildfire here and come back to listen to the episode: https://youtu.be/9dnjUCdM21E
You can also watch the full unedited interview in the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tsnainnercircle
We also talk about her journey to finding her new moniker as EsaBalu, embracing her Kenyan roots and taking time as a musician to process the events of the Black Lives Matter movement through storytelling and songwriting with her single “Say Their Names”.
Jenn Mundia is an LA based artist with Kenyan roots and a southern upbringing, currently performing under the pseudonym, "Esabalu". As a graduate of Berklee College of Music, Jenn found herself working on the production and engineering side of the business right out of school but found her way back to stages throughout New York (Saturday Night Live w/ Kacey Musgraves, Jimmy Fallon w/ Bastille and Wallows, and Seth Meyers) and is now taking on the West coast. Jenn is currently breaking major ground in the ad and voice over world in the time of Covid and recently released her debut EP, “Moon”—find it wherever you listen to music.
Check out http://esabalu.com for more updates!
Insta: http://instagram.com/esabalumusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KvgJF4TQQ3T4ZRBbdLoDg
In the premier episode of the final season of award nominated podcast This Next Song's About, Stevie throws it back to one of their favourite episodes as we take a trip down memory lane with Akie Bermiss, best known for his work as the keys player for the band Lake Street Dive.
This episode was originally episode #3 of the podcasts 4 years history originally published October 4th 2018 and marks the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Stevie and Akie and remains a fan favourite episode to this date.
Akie discusses his song "Space and Time", his sometime-to-be-released science fiction soul opera double album, his children's book, and what it's like being an artist in New York City.
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Akie's Bio:
Akie Bermiss with his affable disposition, glasses, and healthy do of cascading dreads that drape down to his shoulders, is unabashedly a self-professed nerd to the nth degree. Since early childhood Akie has been an obsessed science fiction aficionado. Yet he does have an artist-friendly façade and has managed to cultivate and live a double-life as a thriving music protégé, pianist, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and emerging solo artist and member of Lake Street Dive.
Akie is a Brooklyn native raised in a musical household full of jazz and politics fueled by his former- activist mom and dad. He began singing in church, moved it to school for a while, enroute becoming somewhat of a musical chameleon.
www.akiebermissmusic.com
Have you ever considered reinventing your artist self as a persona? Are you nervous that your fan base won't get it or won't follow your new journey? Joey Dean has thrown caution to the wind in order to do justice to his vision for his latest project, King Vagabond...
In this episode, Stevie changes the format of the regular Q&A episode and instead walks you through the story of Joey Dean in his journey to become his new artist persona, as one half of alt-pop duo King Vagabond.
Joey Dean is a NY-based singer-songwriter and frontman of alternative pop duo King Vagabond. Joey has spent the last eight years recording and touring with performance experience aside pop industry giants such as Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor, Charli XCX, Todrick Hall, and more. As well as on nation-wide tours and festivals like Vans Warped Tour. His YouTube covers have amassed hundreds of thousands of views, including collaborations with his life partner and fellow independent artist Corvyx. When not in front of the camera or microphone, Joey dedicates his time coaching musicians, teaching them how to pursue their dreams with authenticity and true personal alignment.
“Fiction is a lie that tells us true things, over and over.” Fantasy horror writer Neil Gaiman perfectly captures the inspirational vantage point of King Vagabond, the supernatural avatar housing the consciousness of frontman, vocalist Joey Dean and guitarist, producer Niko Vaude. For Joey and Niko, fiction depicts not only King Vagabond’s lyrics and visuals, teeming with literary allusions, but also the fantastical lens through which they craft a cutting-edge cocktail of sound, mixing alternative grit with ambient synths and contemporary pop hooks with innovative electronics.
King Vagabond’s alt pop soundscape skillfully balances the friction of opposing forces. Even in lyrics the past meets the present as King Vagabond filters the perspective of a contemporary world through literary, mythological, and folklorish allusion. King Vagabond dips their brush in the darker side of pop and the brighter side of electronic, inspiring listeners to dance in ecstasy or scream in triumph.
BONUS: At the end of the episode you can hear King Vagabond's first single Rule The World
Follow King Vagabond @kingvagabond
If you want to hear this full conversation unedited you can sign up for our Patreon where you will also get tip sheets from all the episodes, watch the unedited videos, have a monthly check zoom hang with other creatives and much more. Go to http://Patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout for as little as $3 a month.
Check out this episode from LA based songwriter Esabalu on her decision to change her moniker: https://thisnextonesabout.podbean.com/e/embracing-my-new-artist-pseudonym-ft-esbalu/
I'd love to hear any feedback or any suggestions you have for episodes! Email: info@thisnextsongsabout.com
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Transcripts available at http://thisnextsongsabout.com
Don't forget to check out some great home-recording microphones on offer from Shure here:
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
Who doesn't struggle with writer's block? Or changing your writing habits or chord structure? Experience 'second verse hell'?? Susan Cattaneo (she/her) has 20 years as an educator teaching at Berklee College of Music so knows a thing or two about how to break the blocks. She's also an award-winning songwriter in her own right and is here to talk about all things songwriting, writer's block and being a full-time musician as a woman in her 50s.
With her powerful voice, captivating melodies and finely-crafted lyrics, Susan Cattaneo is one of Boston’s most respected singer/songwriters. A compelling performer and vivid storyteller, Susan’s music blends folk, rock and blues with hint of country. Following up on the success of her chart-topping double album. The Hammer & The Heart, Susan Cattaneo is releasing All is Quiet in April of 2022. Critics, audiences, and fellow artists have instantly connected with the personal nature of Susan’s songs. Susan is a three-time Kerrville New Folk Finalist and a three-time nominee for Best Americana Artist at the Boston Music Awards, and she won the 2018 CT folk Festival. Her last album The Hammer and The Heart charted #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and yielded a #1 song on folk radio and a top 10 album of 2017.
She is also one half of the indie folk duo called Honest Mechanik with Paul Hansen of The Grownup Noise. The duo launched their first album in July of 2020 and were nominated as Folk Act of The Year at the 2021 Boston Music Awards.
“Cattaneo’s solo songs have roots that run deep under the earth from Memphis to Nashville to Appalachia (pick a random song from her catalog and odds are it would be an ideal cover for Bonnie Raitt or Carrie Underwood or Steve Earle). ” – Jed Gottlieb, The Boston Herald
BONUS: At the end of the episode you can hear Susan's new song Blackbirds from her upcoming album All Is Quiet
Check out Susan's site and tour dates here: https://susancattaneo.com
Follow her on insta: https://instagram.com/susancmusic
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You can support our Patreon for BTS and early access to episodes, tip sheets and community here: http://patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout
Transcripts available at http://thisnextsongsabout.com
Don't forget to check out some great home-recording microphones on offer from Shure here:
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
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Danielle Ate The Sandwich (she/her) is something of a social media marvel. Not only is she good at it, but she really enjoys how it can work for her in terms of promoting her music and engaging her fans.
Danielle talks to Stevie about some of the lessons she's learned over the years from starting on YouTube and growing her indie fanbase to the point where it could support her as a full time career.
Danielle Ate the Sandwich is the stage name of pop-folk songwriter, Danielle Anderson. Getting her start in Fort Collins, CO, now based in Kansas City, MO, Danielle has been touring nationally since 2009, after cultivating an online following from her homemade videos on Youtube. Danielle Ate the Sandwich has released seven albums of original music, made appearances internationally, opened for Mumford and Sons, Jake Shimabukuro, Suzanne Vega, Pomplamoose, and wrote the soundtrack to the Emmy nominated HBO documentary, “Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson" and has original songs featured in the documentary, “It’s Not a Burden: The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents." In February of 2022, Danielle completed her seventh 24 Hour Album, a songwriting challenge where Danielle writes and records new songs in just twenty hours, allowing fans to live stream her process from the recording studio and offer suggestions along the way.
Transcripts available at http://thisnextsongsabout.com
You can support Danielle on her Patreon as she mentioned in the episode here: http://patreon.com/danielleatethesandwich
You can support our Patreon for BTS and early access to episodes, tip sheets and community here: http://patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout ----more----
Don't forget to check out some great home-recording microphones on offer from Shure here:
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
Are you worried about paying the bills as you move through your music career? Are you thinking about how to about save for a 401k or college for your kids? We don't have to think of a music career as being starving artists until we one day hit the big time. We aren't being inauthentic as artists if we earn income that isn't directly from the fruits of our music or artistic labour.
Born and raised in New England, Laura Clapp brings her passion for love and life to each of her songs and lyrics. Her voice has taken her all over the world and she weaves moments from her travels and experiences into every piece she creates.
A Berkeley Music School grad, Laura is now a Retail Market Development Specialist for Shure. She has worked as a product demonstrator for TC Helicon, performed back-up and toured internationally with Howard Jones, worked in Nashville as a singer and published songwriter.
In this episode we talk about Laura's own journey and her thoughts and considerations as she has moved through her career as both an artist and professional within the industry. She provides great insight on how to consider your career path while also being a paid performing artist.
BONUS: At the end of the episode you can hear Laura's new single Rise Up, available to stream now on all platforms.
Follow Laura @lauraclappmusic and see her website lauraclapp.com
Transcripts available at http://thisnextsongsabout.com ----more---- For the tip sheet mentioned in the podcast and other Behind The Scenes access from the pod go to http://Patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout
Don't forget to check out some great home-recording microphones on offer from Shure here:
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
What is all the fuss about coaches? Can they really help you achieve your goals, keep you accountable and move you forward or is it all just a big waste of money?
My guest is Heather Vickery an award-winning entrepreneur, business owner, public speaker, author and coach. With over 20 years as an entrepreneur, Heather leverages her vast array of skills and expertise to coach individuals towards greater personal and professional fulfilment and I invite her on the show to do a live coaching session with me!
This is a very vulnerable episode for me, I talk about why I started the podcast, my own career in music, my career change outside of music and I want to help you see what a coach can do for you…
Heather says “When we choose bravely, on purpose, we choose bigger, win successes and it’s contagious.” A celebrated public speaker, Heather inspires audiences and provides attendees with the tools they need to live bold and successful lives on their own terms. Heather is a single mom of four (all girls!) who left a decade-long marriage and came out (yes, of the closet) personally and professionally. She’s on a mission to create a global, “everyday brave” revolution.
She’s the author of Gratitude Journal: Shift Your Focus and Grow Grateful: A Gratitude Journal for Kids and Families, and F*CK FEARLESS: Making The Brave Leap. Heather is also the host and executive producer of The Brave Files Podcast and Co-host and producer of Was It Chance Podcast.
If you want to get hold of Heather’s tips as a PDF you can sign up for our Patreon where you will get tip sheets from all the episodes, watch the unedited videos, have a monthly check zoom hang with other creatives and much more. Go to http://Patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout for as little as $3 a month.
Heather's links:
http://vickeryandco.com
http://www.TheBraveFilesPodcast.com
http://Www.wasitchance.com
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As mentioned in the episode, here are two great products from Shure that will improve your home recordings and on-stage vocals:
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
Indianapolis based singer-songwriter Jen Edds spent most of her music career in a supporting role as the “guitar/mandolin/bass/ukulele player.” Until now...
Jen set herself a challenge to write a song a day and it has changed her life. This challenge saw her churn out 60 songs, a podcast, 2 albums and a conference presentation. She invites us to consider the process and not the outcome. If you have been a bit stuck on kickstarting your writing or levelling up your musicianship, Jen is going to give you some very actionable tips that you can start TODAY.
Follow Jen Edds on instagram @brassybroadjen
If you want to get hold of Jen’s tips as a PDF you can sign up for our Patreon where you will get tip sheets from all the episodes, watch the unedited videos, have a monthly check in with me and much more. Just go to http://Patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout
If you join before February 13th you could be in with a chance of winning one of two prixes worth over $500 each! Listen to the end of the episode where I tell you what they are...
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As mentioned in the episode, here are two great products from Shure that will improve your home recordings and on-stage vocals:
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic that I record my voice on:
http://shure.pxf.io/c/3091373/879980/12212?prod=aonic50&source=facebook&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shure.com%2Fen-US%2Fproducts%2Fmicrophones%2Fmv7
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm58?irclickid=z8pSg-zz7xyITNE31Yx-3WjQUkG2kLRfNz8GyA0&utm_campaign=12212&sfid=usaffiliat&ptnr=3091373&vdr=impact&irgwc=1
Do you want to be asked to co-writing sessions or in someone's band and keep being asked back? It's not as simple as being a good songwriter or musician, it's a little more nuanced than that...
Wendy Parr is a multi-award-winning songwriter, world-renowned vocal coach, vocal producer, speaker, educator, and so much more. She has worked with artists such as Regina Specktor, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Allie Moss and PARIS. Her 20+ years in the music industry have given her the skills and influence to be hailed by many as ‘the artist’s secret weapon’, and she is on the show to help you re-consider what you bring to the table...
http://wendyparr.com
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This podcast is officially affiliated with Shure, check out some of their best mics for your livestreams and performances here!
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
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As mentioned in the episode you can become a Patron to the podcast for early episode access, video interviews, downloadable tip sheets from each episode and more at http://Patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout
Season 3 is back in February 2nd 2022 with a brand new array of expert guests to help you as a songwriter develop and hone your craft as an artist.
Host, NYC based musician and songwriter Stevie Manns asks the hard questions about being an artist to help you along your artist's journey, level-up your skills to better connect and resonate with fans from the music that you record to the way you present yourself both on and off stage.
Become a patron of This Next Song's About before February 15th to enter a giveaway to receive a Shure MV7 microphone and a 6 month songwriting masterclass from award-winning D.C. based musician Eli Lev. Go to http://patreon.com/thisnextsongsabout
Have you been thinking about starting a Patreon but aren't sure how to go about it? Scared no one will sign up? In this episode we revisit a conversation with independent artist Rebecca Loebe who was so successful at launching, Patreon even wrote an article about her after she raised funds for her album.
Rebecca Loebe is an independent singer-songwriter who you may remember from the Voice in 2011. Since then she has opened for Shawn Colvin, the Civil Wars, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Ellis Paul amongst others.
Her single, Growing Up was featured in Rolling Stone magazine listed as the Top 10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week. As well as being a talented musician, she has also become quite an expert at owning her own distribution and runs a successful Patreon page - and Patreon even featured Rebecca on their blog after her successful album promotion.
I also mention a couple of Shure mics you can check out during the Holiday sales -
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
As promised, here are the links and references discussed in today's episode:
Patreon's article on Rebecca: https://blog.patreon.com/rebecca-loebe
Patreon's article on Nataly Dawn: https://blog.patreon.com/nataly-dawn-patronage
Amanda Palmer "The Art of Asking" TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking?language=en
Simon Sinek "Start With Why" TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en
Rebecca's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rebeccaloebe
We'd love to hear any feedback about this miniseries or any suggestions you have for episodes! Email us: info@thisnextsongsabout.com
As the new season of the podcast is being prepped and recorded, here's a little bonus from the archives - recorded in 2019 with Gretchen Peters.
To view the photo I mention in the episode - you can check it out on instagram @iamsteviemanns.
I also mention a couple of Shure mics you can check out during the Holiday sales -
Shure MV7 podcast and vocal mic
Shure SM58 - most durable stage & recording mic ever created!
Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame member, Gretchen Peters talks to Stevie ahead of her New York show at Rockwood Music Hall Dec 8th and we dig into the origins of one of her songs, "The Boy From Rye" and how it's the heart of her latest album, Dancing With The Beast.
For two decades, Gretchen Peters has been one of Nashville's most beloved and respected artists. "If Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as 'On A Bus To St. Cloud,'" People Magazine wrote, "she has already earned herself a spot among country's upper echelon of contemporary composers.” Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2014 by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell, who called her "both a songwriter and a poet (who) sings as beautifully as she writes,” and said her song “The Matador”, "moved me so greatly, I cried from the soles of my feet”, Peters has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill.
Her 2015 album, ‘Blackbirds’, debuted at #1 on the UK Country chart and in the top 40 UK pop chart, and was awarded International Album of the Year and Song of the Year. In 2015, The Telegraph named her one of the greatest 60 female singer-songwriters of all time. Her latest album, Dancing With The Beast, was released on May 18, 2018. https://gretchenpeters.com
Today, as we continue to celebrate Pride month my guest is Aaron Is Your Friend. Aaron is Your Friend is the project of LA-based singer, songwriter and producer Aaron Lindenberg. Aaron and I met on the New York scene a couple of years ago at a Sofar Sounds show and I really enjoyed his music and his energy so I wanted to introduce him to you on the show and we take a listen to his song "Self".
Aaron and I get deep in this episode, we talk about music releases, queer culture, gender norms and presentation as artists and we also take a listen to his song “self”. This was an interesting one for me as Aaron flipped some of my questions back to me, so it felt a lot less like an interview and more like a conversation between two friends who happen to be artists as well.
Inspired by electronic pop, R&B and dance music, Aaron makes soulful, polished pop songs about heartbreak, self love and new love. He released his debut album "Break My Own Heart" in 2020, which processes heartbreak through glittery house anthems and textured R&B, while his most recent EP, "Emotional" exorcised the demons of 2020 over warm hip-hop grooves. He is currently working on a string of larger-than-life pop singles about boys.
You can follow him @aaronisyourfriend and on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4cS7mclXPZPmQlqy0qZZtz
At the start of this episode you will hear a clip from "Tameless", a track co-written & co-produced by April Rose Gabrielli & KULICK for an incredible new documentary "Not The Science Type". The film will make its debut during the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2021. The film follows four inspiring female Scientists who are changing the world through their ground breaking work in a field dominated by men.
Listen to the full song here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7Dgamxo316EH1FQs2AhMct
Josh Breckenridge, is perhaps better known for his Broadway accolades, most recently starring in Come From Away. During the Broadway closure as a result of the pandemic J. wasted no time in writing and producing his debut album "Monotony" with producer James Frazee (Patti Smith, Sharan Van Etten, Loudon Wainright III, Bacon Brothers) As J. Breckenridge, the new musical artist with a pop-soul vibe, he has just released his fourth single, “Not Forgiving You” a deceptively lighthearted modern pop song but the number is really a way to deal with a past abusive relationship (please note the sensitive nature of the topic discussed and please take care of yourself)
J. joins me on the show to talk about his single, Pride month, the new movement of openly gay male pop artists and how he is feeling about returning to Broadway in September as theaters re-open.
Josh mentions http://act-sf.org to buy tickets for the streaming of his performance in A.C.T.'s theatre production of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of The City".
At the start of this episode you will hear a clip of a brand new track called "My Oh My" from North Carolina based Americana artist, Kevin Daniel. "My Oh My" is the second release off of Kevin Daniel's forthcoming album, 'Been Here Before'. The song was co-written with Ashlee Joy, formerly of Charlotte, NC-based band Matrimony and features Ashlee on vocals.
Head to Spotify to listen to Kevin Daniel: https://open.spotify.com/artist/40L96DDQs0Ve93aHHX9zsQ
Continuing our artist profiles for #Pride, today's guest is Sharisse Fransisco. She is a Queer, Afro-Latina singer-songwriter and Vocalist, she performs as herself but also as the lead vocalist for the all-female punk soul band Top Queens. She deeply believes in the importance of intentionality in the messages we share with the world as artists; utilizing music and art for catharsis, to invoke emotions, but also to share our authentic truths, connect, and inspire unity and change. Sharisse is also a Mindfulness and Mental Health Advocate.
Sharisse tells me about her latest release “I am” and how she wrote it as a mantra to herself and others and we also talk about the expectations people have of her as a vocalist as a black woman.
@iamsharissefransisco
If you liked today's episode follow us and leave a comment or a review!
Have you ever wondered how to write social justice songs? How to get over your discomfort? In this episode, I am discussing social justice songwriting with my guest, D.C. based social justice songwriter Crys Matthews.
Already hailed as “the next Woody Guthrie,” Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. She is made for these times and, with the release of her new, hope-fueled, love-filled social justice album Changemakers, Matthews hopes to take her place alongside some of her heroes in the world of social-justice music.
Crys tells us about her philosophy in life of “sing don’t shout” as a way of changing hearts and minds and having difficult conversations.
Crys's album Changemakers is out on Spotify now and you can follow her @crysmatthews
At the start of the episode you will hear a clip from singer-songwriter, Kaylyn Marie. Have you ever had a moment where someone described you positively to another and you thought, "Wow. Is that really how they see me?" because you'd never describe yourself with that much enthusiasm, admiration, grace, or love? Her third and last “Forget Me Not” single titled, “Finally”, embodies the first moment you catch a glimpse — and if you're lucky, begin the habit — of seeing yourself as kindly as those who love you and believe in you.
@kaylynmariemusic
Have you ever thought about whether you're "doing it right" with social medial? Or why is social media SO important for musicians and anyone with a brand, which social media platform is right for you; and how can you optimize your social media and build a following?
My guest Gabe Ekemezie and I discuss all of those things and aim to help you tighten up your social media strategy. Gabe is the founder of Unplugged Kingdom LLC, specializing in online business strategy and social media marketing techniques to help brands unlock their highest potential while making a positive impact on the world. Currently, he works at a digital transformation agency, where he empowers companies and brands to optimize their revenue and maximize their exposure in the marketplace.
Instagram/TikTok: @its_gabe3
At the beginning of the episode you will hear a clip from singer-songwriter Elizabeth Wyld. Her new album "Quiet Year" is out now everywhere and this song Hudson is from her debut album. You can follow her on Spotify or on social media @Elizabethwyldmusic
Shervin made his name as a portrait music photographer on the New York music scene over the last decade and has become one of the most sought after photographers in the industry. Having started with no formal photography training, he worked his way up the ladder and has since photographed musicians like Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Wilco, Regina Spector, Ingrid Michaelson, Fleet Foxes, Walk the moon, Sara Bareilles and many more...
I caught up with him to find out how he went from no photography background to taking iconic images for some of the most exciting new artists across the world. We also talk about what aspiring artists should consider when creating their brand and images.
If you want to join our Facebook group, you can find out who the next guest will be and post a question that I might just ask during the show. Search "This Next Song's About - Inner Circle" on Facebook and join our community of artists and songwriters.
http://shervinfoto.com
http://instagram.com/shervinfoto
In today’s episode I am chatting with songwriter and mindfulness coach, Lisa McEwen. Lisa is originally from Canada and made her way down to Nashville and had success signing with BMG as a staff writer, penning songs for major labels and artists and is now setting out to help other artists achieve their goals as a coach and consultant. In this episode we chat about Self-doubt, determination, pivoting and how to focus on who we are as artists and individuals to achieve our goals and find success.
If you're a songwriter out there who sometimes struggles with self-belief and wonders whether pursuing music is the right thing, this episode is for you!
We cover self-doubt, rejection, determination, mindfulness, resilience and how to focus on what makes you unique!
More details on Lisa here: http://musicandmindfulness.co
Please rate and leave us a review if you enjoyed today's episode!
Today's episode is a special "Producer's Perspective" episode, part of our new format to help you develop as an artist.
I take a look inside the mind of a studio producer to help you get an idea of what you should expect when you’re heading in to record, whether you consider yourself a seasoned pro, or a newcomer, I promise this is one you'll want to listen to.
Today’s guest is singer, songwriter and record producer, Katie Buchanan. Katie studied music at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. She works across all pop genres: from singer/songwriter to electronic inflected bops. But ultimately, she focuses on the artist and the songs. She has produced hundreds of tracks and garnered millions of plays, but cares most about creating an open, collaborative, and comfortable studio environment. Katie has come up with her top 5 tips for artists to consider before heading into the studio. Now, this doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie in the studio, or someone who’s been recording music for a while, this is a great episode and I hope it gets you thinking about your next project in a different way…
Tops Tips discussed in the episode include...
- Producer vs Engineer
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Budget talk
- Royalties
- Finding the right Producer - FOR YOU
You can find Katie at https://katiebuchanan.com or on instagram @katie_buchanan.
Her new song West (played at the beginning of the episode) is available now.
Around the DMV, Jarreau (juh-ROW) Williams is known as the "man with the golden pipes.” The Alexandria, VA native and 8x Wammie nominated and 3x Wammie winner is a consummate showman and charismatic front-man. Jarreau’s professional credits include backing 4-time Grammy Award winner Michael Buble, praise and worship with President Barack Obama and the First Family, as well as performing the National Anthem for thousands in DC’s most prominent professional sports arenas.
I chatted with Jarreau about his new single "Shoulda Known Better" and the process for re-writing the song for a more dancy remix, we have a good giggle about some of his clever lyrics and he also talks to me about his advocacy for mental health within the Black community.
You can find Jarreau....
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0AZ4bxuptXjoMq1XTnYbEo
Instagram: @iamjarreauwilliams
In this episode, I chat with Kaylyn Marie, one of my best friends and one of the best musicians I've ever seen. Kaylyn is a singer-songwriter-guitarist, bandleader, and actress with over 16 years of performing experience from national TV to local venues. Her solo work has been described as “Soulful Americana” echoing writing and vocal traits of Sara Bareilles and Laura Marling.
She is releasing music from her sophomore EP “Forget Me Not” from January to June 2021. She has won a Kennedy Center Award of Excellence in the Arts, was a finalist on American Idol, starred in a leading role in a new musical titled “Music City” from the producers of Hadestown & Dear Evan Hansen, she has completed multiple artist residencies in New York City (Rockwood, Joe’s Pub, Pete’s Candy store) recorded 3 records, carried a lead role on a Lifetime TV film, and performing as a Protest singer in Steven Spielberg’s “The Post”. But for all of her accomplishments and achievements she is one of my best friends, as a result of this podcast actually, we first met in podcast number 4 if you care to dig through the archives. She is one of the most lovely people I’ve ever met and she has such a unique ability to connect with people both as a human and as a performer.
This episode was recorded as a live podcast on March 3rd to celebrate the launch of the new season of the show and I recommend you listen to this episode and then go and check out the video for what I hope will be an immersive experience for her new single “At Work” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8JUq_9Aj1Y
If however you prefer to watch this whole interview as a video, you can do so now, head over to the Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/thisnextsongsabout
Most of the pods are not live, but the unedited videos are shared exclusively to the Facebook group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tnsainnercircle
You can follow Kaylyn here:
@kaylynmariemusic on instagram http://instagram.com/kaylynmariemusic and on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/102QYwp628UkmPIBKqP4zO
In this episode Stevie sits down with artist Esabalu (Es-a-BA-lu) to take a visual look at her video Wildfire.
You should check out the video for Wildfire here and come back to listen to the episode: https://youtu.be/9dnjUCdM21E
You can also watch the full unedited interview in our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tsnainnercircle
We also talk about her journey to finding her new moniker as EsaBalu, embracing her Kenyan roots and taking time as a musician to process the events of the Black Lives Matter movement through storytelling and songwriting with her single “Say Their Names”.
Esabalu is an LA based artist with Kenyan roots bringing her listeners an earthy and grounded vocal that bellows from the center of the earth. Her debut single, "Wildfire”, out now, is an exciting journey to the past about forgetting your cares and diving head first into steamy summer love. As a graduate of Berklee College of Music, Esabalu found herself working on the production and engineering side of the business right out of school but found her way back to stages throughout New York (Saturday Night Live w/ Kacey Musgraves, Jimmy Fallon w/ Bastille and Wallows, and Seth Meyers) and now the West coast! Esabalu's audio engineering background has really come in handy during quarantine, with one of her latest at home projects landing her a placement in the two most recent national @ultabeauty ads, airing now. Vocal arrangement, original composition, and background vocalist are only a few of the things that define this powerhouse vocalist.
Insta: http://instagram.com/esabalumusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KvgJF4TQQ3T4ZRBbdLoDg
For the first episode of a brand new season of TNSA, Stevie kicks it all off with inimitable rockabilly musician, Kyle Lacy.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia but now an NYC transplant, Kyle's unmistakable sound and energy will have you chair-dancing at the very least! Kyle notes his influences from the 50s and 60s sounds of blues, soul and rock from Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin to the swing of Brian Setzer. Kyle tours tirelessly and his band deliver the kind of Rock'n'Roll excitement that the music world has mourned for decades. “The Road To Tomorrow” is his first Full-Length Album and is out now on Dala Records.
Stevie and Kyle discuss everything from how he produced his album to have an authentic live sound with Billy Aukstik (Sharon Jones, Mark Ronson, Charles Bradley), how he writes with a band and sometimes on the spot in the studio, to the positive outlook he has taken on the pandemic and what he's learned from it as an artist.
http://kylelacymusic.com
http://instagram.com/kylelacywrites
Kyle's Spotify playlist mentioned in the episode is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0c4RohhuHctInItBjw0Goo?si=t-gBiFlKQ9GYS1qQqwwcQw
And you can join the TNSA Inner Circle Facebook groups for early-access un-edited interviews, exclusive offers, and the chance to hear new music and connect with other artists here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tsnainnercircle
Mustachioed Mainer, Jacob McCurdy, blends Folk, Rock, and Roots into his very own brand of Indie-Americana. Love, heartbreak, joy, and the perfect moment; all pitched against the lush backdrop of honest harmony.
On July 24th, McCurdy released For the Weekend (FTW), his first fully produced solo EP in 9 years. Normally filling his time with weddings and pub gigs with his cover band The Dapper Gents or playing bass with The Johnny Clay Shanks band, McCurdy started focusing on writing new original material in the beginning of 2020. With the extra time on his hands due to the current pandemic, he’s been writing up a storm.
First up are the five songs off the new EP comprised mostly of songs related to love (maybe more so about heartbreak). With plans for a full length album to be released in 2021, he shows no signs of stopping. With numerous virtual co-writing sessions a week, McCurdy has thrown himself into a full-time schedule of collaboration.
https://www.instagram.com/jacobmccurdymusic
Gretchen Peters joins us once again on the show to talk about her new album... For two decades, Gretchen Peters has been one of Nashville’s most beloved and respected artists.
“If Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as ‘On A Bus To St. Cloud,'” People Magazine wrote, “she has already earned herself a spot among country’s upper echelon of contemporary composers.”
Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2014 by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell, who called her “both a songwriter and a poet (who) sings as beautifully as she writes,” and said her song “The Matador”, “moved me so greatly, I cried from the soles of my feet”, Peters has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill. Her song “Independence Day”, recorded by Martina McBride, won a CMA Song of the Year award in 1995. She has been nominated for 2 Grammys (“Independence Day/Martina McBride, “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am”/Patty Loveless), a Golden Globe (“Here I Am”/Bryan Adams), and numerous other awards.
Her 2015 album, ‘Blackbirds’ was awarded International Album of the Year and Song of the Year by the UK Americana Association. In 2015, The Telegraph named her one of the greatest 60 female singer-songwriters of all time. Her latest album, The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury, is a loving tribute to another Hall of Fame songwriter and a profound influence on Peters’ own writing. https://www.gretchenpeters.com
Rocky Mountain raised, and international touring artist, Megan Burtt is a decorated performing songwriter. Since her sophomore release “The Bargain”, she has performed at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, been featured with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, toured Europe, toured across the US, and supported artist like Gregory Alan Isakov, Chris Isaak, Leann Rimes and Marc Cohn. Guitar World calls band leader, Megan Burtt “Pulsing, powerful and lovely. Burtt gracefully manipulates words and melody into a sultry delight.” Burtt is a Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, Kerrville, and Westword Songwriter of the Year. She is currently working on her fourth and fifth full-length albums One with with New York City with producer Louis Cato (Stephen Colbert house band, Stay Human) and the other on her home turf in Colorado.
https://www.meganburtt.com
NYAC teamed up with New York's famous venue Rockwood Music Hall to put on our first virtual "In The Round" series. Our artists include...
Ben Grace: Now based in San Diego, but born and raised in Sydney, Ben’s exodus from the beliefs and structures of his working class Christian childhood weaves poignantly through his lyrics, revealing itself in his deep commitment to justice and willingness to call forward the darker themes in American politics. With the lens of an outsider and the bold voice of a witness, Ben writes to challenge and disrupt our comfort with the status quo. @bengracemusic
Megan Burtt: Rocky Mountain raised, and international touring artist, Megan Burtt is a decorated performing songwriter. Since her sophomore release “The Bargain”, she has performed at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, been featured with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, toured Europe, toured across the US, and supported artist like Gregory Alan Isakov, Chris Isaak, Leann Rimes and Marc Cohn. @meganburtt
Megan Leigh: Known for her angelic voice, perfectly blended harmonies, and engaging rhythms, the up-and-coming female singer songwriter from Western Maryland has been performing to audiences in the Washington DC area and all over the country. @meganleighmusic
Aubrie Sellers released Far From Home - the follow up to her critically acclaimed album New City Blues - in February 2020.
Rolling Stone called the record “halting and poignant” and Paste Magazine says ”she’s an honest storyteller with a singular personality. She can both float in on a cloud of love songs and crank out existential country-rock.” Having previously toured with Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, and Robert Earl Keen among others, she is set to head out on the CMT Next Women of Country Tour with Tanya Tucker in 2021. When she’s not on the road, Aubrie spends her time supporting non-profits and organizations like Girls to the Moon, Feminist Camp, Imagination Library, and World Vision and promoting her love of reading with her book club Biblioclique.
Her new EP of cover songs, World On Fire, comes out in August 7th 2020.
https://aubriesellers.com
Jill Schlesinger joins Steph to demystify the current economic situation and will seek to provide some practical advice to help.
Join us live on Facebook to watch these lockdown podcasts as they happen, Wednesday nights at 8PM EST on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
Or join our Inner Circle page for music fans and artists alike! www.facebook.com/groups/619728222098700
Jill Schlesinger, CFP®, is the Emmy-nominated and Gracie Award Winning Business Analyst for CBS News. Jill appears on CBS radio and television stations nationwide covering the economy, markets, investing and anything else with a dollar sign. She translates complicated business and economic news into understandable, relatable topics for everyday viewers and listeners. She is a weekly guest on NPR’s “Here and Now” and writes the nationally syndicated column “Jill on Money” for Tribune Media Services.
Jill’s first book, The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money: Thirteen Ways to Right Your Financial Wrongs, was published in February 2019 by Ballantine Books.
Resources Jill mentioned in the book include:
The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money - Jill Schlesinger Get Your Financial Life Together - Beth Kobliner Worth It, Not Worth It - Jack Otter
JUNE BOOK CLUB! Our second installment of Book Club featuring Glennon Doyle's runaway best-selling book "Untamed"
Join us live on Facebook to watch these lockdown podcasts as they happen, Wednesday nights at 8PM EST on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
Or join our Inner Circle page for music fans and artists alike! https://www.facebook.com/groups/619728222098700
Steph is joined by musicians and songwriters Kaylyn Marie, Erica Swindell and John Gardner (aka Common Jack) to discuss the book and how this affects us as women, but also as artists.
In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, the activist, speaker, bestselling author, and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People) explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet others’ expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us.
“Untamed will liberate women—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It is phenomenal.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of City of Girls and Eat Pray Love.
There is a voice of longing inside each woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good partners, daughters, mothers, employees, and friends. We hope all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to be grateful, hiding our discontent—even from ourselves.
Subscribe to get some exclusive content from some of our favourite artists and notifications of who our upcoming guests are! https://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
This special episode is dedicated to showcasing our POC artist community, Steph will be taking a step back behind the scenes while our guest host, NYAC alum Mishti, takes the hot seat inviting our artist guests to share some songs and their experiences with us for this one-hour special.
Our artists include....
MISHTI A singer-songwriter-guitarist with the lyricism of Jeff Buckley and the badassness of Slash demands the ear of any listener with her fresh take on post-pop rock music. While finishing touches of her debut EP (produced by Cyndi Lauper’s guitarist Alex Nolan) are fine-tuned, Mishti continues to write songs for the unrequited and fantasize the next performance: “I want to create music that transforms people’s moods the same way music I love transforms mine... and changes my life in those 4 minutes… and then ‘replay’.” https://www.mishti.com
KOFY BROWN Kofy Brown, an Oakland, CA musician, singer and songwriter has been a pioneering force in the Bay Area’s hip-hop soul / rock scene for the last couple of decades. Leading her band on tour paving the way for other indie artist to trek forth, the Kofy Brown Band have spread the gospel of Brown’s unique style of soul, rock, funk and more all-over North America, Canada and Europe. Kofy writes, and leads her own band the KBB (Kofy Brown Band), and is the bassist / singer for Sistas in the Pit and drummer / singer for Skip the Needle. Her new release, Child of Providence, on her own indie label Simba Music, is Kofy Brown’s 10th release which is available on all electronic formats/ https://www.kofybrown.com
AKIE BERMISS Akie is a Brooklyn native raised in a musical household full of jazz and politics fueled by his former- activist mom and dad. He began singing in church, moved it to school for a while, enroute becoming somewhat of a musical chameleon. His raucous, guttural and soulful vocals are a delectable fusion of Donny Hathaway and Tom Waits. He’s equally adept singing neo-soul, funk, contemporary jazz, alternative rock, and hip hop. Over the past half a dozen years, he has become a visible contributor to the fertile Brooklyn music scene as a musician, songwriter and vocalist, notably becoming a full-time member of New York's beloved band Lake Street Dive. https://akiebermissmusic.com
BE STEADWELL Be Steadwell is a musician, filmmaker, storyteller from Washington DC. In her live performances, she utilizes looping, vocal layering and beat boxing to compose her songs on stage. Be's original music features earnest lyricism, and Affirming LGBTQ content. Be has shared stages with fellow artist Activists Big Freedia, Nona Hendryx, Nikky Finney and Gina Yashere. In 2017 Be sang at The Women's March on the National Mall behind Maxwell and Janelle Monae in Toshi Reagon's Big Lovely Band. https://besteadwell.com
Sonia Leigh joins Steph live from Nashville to talk about creating music during lockdown in Music City.
Join in the conversation on the live podcast Wednesday nights at 8PM EST on our facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
Sonia Leigh made her country catapult on Zac Brown's Southern Ground Records in 2011 with “My Name Is Money”. Her more recent independent leaps span genres of country, pop, alt-rock, and hiphop. Her 2018 full length release titled Mad Hatter showcases her versatility with easy flow. Recent single releases “Digging Graves” and “Give You Love” dive deeper into pop flavors. No surprise to her fans, musical fluidity have always been a catalyst for creativity. She's penned hit songs, featured on hit television shows, video games, and rapidly gaining a name in the sync world. toured the world with the likes of Eric Church, Melissa Etheridge, BONES, Zac Brown Band and legends such as Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, and Joan Jett.
In 2019 she caught the eye of BMG New York and quickly signed on as songwriter. Her conviction can hush a room and shake the walls with her raw and raspy delivery. Sonia Leigh squeezes every drop out of the stage and leaves the crowd shouting for more.
Our good friend Matt Butler joins us to discuss the mission for his music and how serving others gives both him and his art a purpose through his non-profit the Just One Foundation, and he plays his song 'Just One'.
Redemption and hope through song sums it up when I think of Matt Butler” says Kevin Lyman, the founder of the legendary Vans Warped Tour, who hosted Butler as one of the few solo acoustic acts on the Tour’s final cross country run in 2018; Matt was back as a mainstage performer at the Warped Anniversary show the following year. In the time before and after, Butler’s been relentlessly on the road performing at everything from stadiums to state prisons.
Butler’s latest single ‘Been Gone So Long’ is a hauntingly sparse acoustic lament ripped straight from the experience of performing over 150 shows in correctional facilities across the United States. Butler has been no less active during the quarantine and recently released a short documentary film titled ‘Mother’s Day Miracle’ in conjunction with The Just One Foundation, a 501c3 non profit he founded in 2018. The film has already reached thousands across social media and a subsequently launched fundraiser met its goal of $10k in only 4 days.
Butler was also a featured performer for the UnCancelled Music Festival as well as a panel speaker for the 320 Festival, the world’s first virtual mental health summit. His latest single, ‘Justice or Mercy’ is scheduled for a June 19th release.
Mother's Day Miracle short film https://youtu.be/QMUp5RRHqB4
www.mattbutlersongs.com www.j1foundation.org
Continuing our live podcast series, rising singer-songwriter and global citizen Eli Lev joins us to talk about being a musician-entrepreneur and how he has taken his show on the virtual road with all of the systems he already had in place before lockdown! Whether it’s an in-person performance, or during a livestream show, Eli captivates the audience with a storyteller approach to stage banter through tales of his travel, witty asides, and engaging commentary. His infectious musicality, commitment to deep grooves, and playful charisma foster an immersive experience for the audience that moves bodies and opens hearts. “The most meaningful thing for me is being able to express through my music what I’ve always felt about humanity. I want to bring people in, make them feel special, and break down the walls that keep us apart.”
https://www.eli-lev.com
https://www.instagram.com/elilevmusic
Resources Eli mentions during this episode:
- Michael Walker's Modern Musician Program
- Cari Cole Celebrity Vocal Coach
- Ariel Hyatt's Cyber PR Courses Indepreneur Podcast and Artist Courses
- Ari's Take Academy Spotify Course
Continuing our live podcast series, Heather Mae will join us to talk about how she’s been serving her community during this crisis. The last time we spoke just before the start of lockdown she said “right now, I’ve got to get to work. My community needs me” and Heather has been rolling up her sleeves and connecting with her fans everywhere, she’ll be telling us all about. And who knows, she may even play a few songs...
Unfazed by what a typical pop artist today is “supposed” to look or sound like, Heather Mae, an award-winning songwriter whose evocative vocals and rhythmic piano style call to mind artists like Stevie Nicks and Sara Bareilles, creates intoxicating music that tackles complex topics surrounding mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, self-love, racial injustice, social inequality, and women’s rights. Inspired by her own personal experiences and identities - a queer, plus size woman living with Bipolar Disorder - Mae is an on-fire musical and emotional experience. In her most sonically adventurous project yet, GLIMMER (Sept 2019) - her second produced record and first full length album - breaks the stigma surrounding mental health, reminding us all that we are not alone.
Join our inner circle on Facebook as a super music fan or singer-songwriter and be part of our community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/nyacinnercircle
Our podcasts are live on Facebook Wednesday nights at 8PM EST so watch it as it happens and join the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
heathermae.net @heathermaemusic
Last week, my friend Akie Bermiss joined me for cocktail hour to regale me with songs and stories and plan our next nerd endeavour together! A good time was had by all!
Akie Bermiss with his affable disposition, glasses, and healthy do of cascading dreads that drape down to his shoulders, is unabashedly a self-professed nerd to the nth degree. Since early childhood Akie has been an obsessed science fiction aficionado. Yet he does have an artist-friendly façade and has managed to cultivate and live a double-life as a thriving music protégé, pianist, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and emerging solo artist and currently playing keys for the award-winning Lake Street Dive.
Join our inner circle on Facebook as a super music fan or singer-songwriter and be part of our community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/619728222098700
Our podcasts are live on Facebook Wednesday nights at 8PM EST so watch it as it happens and join the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
"This Next One's About" Lockdown Edition! In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month, I invited Psychotherapist Eve Blatt to talk about how this crisis has been impacting our mental health and we talked about some things we can do to look after ourselves and others to get through this crisis.
Eve Blatt is a Psychotherapist currently self-employed in private practice in Manhattan. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from NYU and has completed post graduate training in Feminist Relational Psychotherapy, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Eve worked for 11 years at an alcohol and drug treatment program providing individual and group psychotherapy. She is especially interested in treating substance use disorders as symptoms of deeply engrained traumas. She assists clients in integrating fragmented parts of their identity through an Anti-Racist and LGBTQ affirmative lens.
Some resources discussed during this episode: OMH Emotional Support Helpline: 1-844-863-9314
The Emotional Support Helpline provides free and confidential support, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency. The Helpline is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals, who have received training in crisis counseling.
Free 10 min Guided Meditations: https://www.headspace.com/covid-19
Center for Mindful Self Compassion-Free Guided Meditation: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4aa4af29ab9-free
Free online classes at Coursera.org https://www.coursera.org/ type in Free in their Search and there are over 1500 free classes.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800 273- 8255 (TALK)or text Got5 to 741741
"This Next One's About" Lockdown edition, we bring you our very own Book Club!
We were very excited to discuss this book, not a new book by any means, but very topical for the times we're living in.
Amanda Palmer. Rock star, crowdfunding pioneer, and TED speaker Amanda Palmer knows all about asking. Performing as a living statue in a wedding dress, she wordlessly asked thousands of passersby for their dollars. When she became a singer, songwriter, and musician, she was not afraid to ask her audience to support her as she surfed the crowd (and slept on their couches while touring). And when she left her record label to strike out on her own, she asked her fans to support her in making an album, leading to the world's most successful music Kickstarter at $1.2M... Artists Erica Swindell, Ben Grace and Megan Leigh joined me from Brooklyn, D.C., and San Diego to discuss this book, how we feel about asking for money in exchange for our art and how the book has taken on a new meaning during the global pandemic. If you haven't read the book, here are the cliff notes (Amanda's TED talk): https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking?language=en#t-804823 Join us live on Facebook to watch these lockdown podcasts as they happen, Wednesday nights at 8PM EST on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
"This Next One's About" is going live to Facebook weekly on Wednesday nights at 8PM EST on our Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
Last week, Michael Walker from Modern Musician talks to us about how to grow your online fanbase in an increasingly saturated market of FacebookLive shows.
Michael Walker is leading a revolution in today’s music industry. Having personally reached 17 million views on Youtube, working with Grammy Award-winning producers and touring internationally to perform for hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide - Michael is one of those rare mentors who has actually walked the walk of their own methodology.
Starting out with pure grass-roots techniques, he and his band Paradise Fears went from living out of their cars to selling 24,000 albums in 6 months and reaching #2 on the iTunes Alternative Charts. https://www.modern-musician.com/
Join me April 29th as we have a Book Club (bring your own wine) about Amanda Palmer's book 'The Art of Asking'. I am hosting the book club with special guests, singer-songwriters, Megan Leigh, Erica Swindell and Ben Grace from all across the US as we dig deep into how we as musicians treat our art and how we engage other people to support us.
During lockdown we have been taking the podcasts LIVE TO FACEBOOK to talk to artists and people in the industry as we all cope with this pandemic.
Sasha McVeigh joins us live to talk about the effect on the music community of the devastating tornado in Nashville just weeks before the pandemic and nationwide lockdown and she plays us her CMT featured hit "Rock Bottom".
Sasha McVeigh was born to be on the stage. The British singer/songwriter has been singing from the moment she could talk and performing from the moment she could walk.
She garnered a love of country music from her father who, as she says “used to dance me around the coffee table to CMT” and her true flair for the genre came when she started writing songs at age 12.
Being from the UK, Sasha spent a lot of time traveling back and forth to Nashville when she finished school in 2012; honing her craft, building a catalogue of original songs and playing back to back shows.
In 2014, she was asked to perform for The Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, alongside Hunter Hayes and Cole Swindell. She has performed on the main stage at some of the biggest country music festivals in the US, including Country Stampede, Country Jam and Taste of Country Festival, with the likes of Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean.
JOIN US LIVE ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/244519020060269/
Sasha's Handles: Venmo: @BritishRedNeck Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SashaMcVeigh
During the COVID Pandemic musicians everywhere have been taking their shows online as their livelihoods have been obliterated by quarantine. Uncancelled Music Festival brought together venues and artists all over the country to bring music to fans and raise money for artists and MusiCares. NYAC was asked to curate an online concert on StageIt for Rockwood Music Hall and we happily obliged and asked four of our favourite NYAC alums to do a show. This episode is a collection of some of the songs they played that evening to raise money for Rockwood Music Hall's staff fund, these artists as well as MusiCares.
Featured artists: Cali Naff played "Mimi" - https://carlinaffmusic.com/
Matt Butler "Counting The Days" - https://mattbutlersongs.com/
Jess McAvoy "Deadelus" - https://jessmcavoy.com/
Erica Swindell "I have met my Love today" - https://instagram.com/ericaswindell
Join us throughout the month of April where we are taking our podcasts live to Facebook on our page Wednesday nights at 8pm EST, talking about how this pandemic is affecting musicians, venues, arts organizations etc. and how everyone is pivoting to try and survive. https://www.facebook.com/Newyorkartistscollective
During Lockdown for the month of April we are taking the podcast live to Facebook to bring you hints and tips about how to survive as an artist during this crisis.
We will be hearing from some great artists who are pivoting to reach new fans and try to make a living through music from their homes to yours through the pandemic.
Today we hear from Justin Trawick, a Washington D.C. based singer-songwriter and his girlfriend and musician Lauren LeMunyan as he tells us about his lockdown experience doing 2 live shows a week and how he has gone from 7,000 followers on Facebook to over 10,000 in the space of just a few short weeks. Justin and Lauren give us some tips on how to make the most of your livestream shows, boost your views and how to be engaging - when some of us would rather curl up under the duvet until this is all over! Tip Justin for his info and performance https://venmo.com/justintrawick Join us Wednesday April 8th on StageIt for our virtual show ft 4 incredible musicians, Erica Swindell, Matt Butler, Jess McAvoy and Carli Naff - all of whom have been guests for the show.
Join our Facebook group for some incredible resources for both artists and music super fans as we navigate through this Coronavirus pandemic together! https://www.facebook.com/groups/619728222098700
Beauty standards in the music industry, being a fat, femme queer, Heather Mae tells us how her openness has garnered her a loyal fanbase and how she is coping with the Coronavirus crisis that is affecting the livelihoods of musicians everywhere... Unfazed by what a typical pop artist today is “supposed” to look like and how the typical pop artist is “supposed” to sound, Heather Mae, an award-winning songwriter whose evocative vocals and rhythmic piano style call to mind artists like Stevie Nicks and Sara Bareilles, creates intoxicating music that tackles complex topics surrounding mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, self-love, racial injustice, social inequality, and women’s rights. Inspired by her own personal experiences and identities - a queer, plus size woman living with Bipolar Disorder - and those of her multifaceted fans with whom she has forged connections throughout her many years of touring across the United States, Mae crafts powerful lyrics and unforgettable music about life’s moments--from the quietly chaotic to the explosive. In 2016, after an eight-month period of silence to recover from vocal nodules, Mae made a vow: she would dedicate her career to solely write music that made the world a better place. Her independently-released debut EP I AM ENOUGH, which reached #58 on iTunes Pop Album charts, was her announcement to the world. Mae, who was dubbed “the new queer Adele” by L-Mag, envelopes her audience with a message of hope. Her newest project, GLIMMER, is a collection of nine songs supporting one central theme: "Feel To Heal.” Within the grooves of the new album, Mae wrestles with the complexities of existing as a human with mental illness. From her #MeToo-inspired feminist anthem “Warrior,” featuring a choir of 100+ female vocalists, to “You Are My Favorite”, a love song written for her wife inspired by her own wedding vows which will surely be the 2019 wedding soundtrack for LGBTQ+ couples, Mae shows she’s nothing less than a powerhouse. She has examined her struggle with Bipolar Disorder from every angle in order to create her most sonically adventurous set of recordings yet--and to remind us that we aren’t alone. Join us on Facebook as we take the podcast LIVE ! During this coronavirus crisis we'll be talking to artists who are mobilising and taking their gigs online, industry experts to see how they're helping musicians during this period.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/619728222098700
https://heathermae.net/
Liz has given us access to an exclusive Making Of video of her brand new single 'Get To Know Someone', only for NYAC listener. Click here to access: http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
Best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Liz Longley is an accomplished singer-songwriter based in Nashville. Known for her deeply emotional music, Longley has earned accolades from some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition. Liz’s music has been featured on TV shows such as Lifetime’s "Army Wives,” ABC’s "Beauty & The Beast" and MTV’s “Scream.” The Berklee College of Music graduate worked alongside 5-time Grammy-nominated producer, Paul Moak, on her much awaited sixth album, Funeral For My Past. The record was funded by a loyal fan base on the Kickstarter platform, raising over $150,000. The remarkable fan support made Longley the #4 most funded solo female musician in Kickstarter history - a story covered by Billboard.
In January, Longley’s new single, 3 Crow, was embraced by the press and music fans alike, expressing “the beauty in the song lies within how real the story is…” Liz came by ahead of her Rockwood Music Hall show in NYC to talk about her brand new single "Get To Know Someone" and has also shared an exclusive BTS making of video - get access here: http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
As mentioned in the episode here are some ways to help and places you can donate: Text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to donate $10 to the relief efforts https://cfmt.org to donate to the relief effort https://www.hon.org/
If you need help: https://musiccares.com
https://gideonsarmyunited.org
https://www.hon.org/
Erica Swindell is a Brooklyn based actor, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. A native Texan, her introduction to the music world began at the age of 3 through classical violin. She joined her first Country band as a fiddle player and vocalist at the age of 12 and began to incorporate different genres to her classical training. After her Texas years, she went on to attend Marymount Manhattan College where she received a BFA in Acting and minor in Musical Theatre. In 2013 she made her Broadway debut in the musical ONCE and went on to tour the world with the First National Tour of ONCE. During this time, Swindell was spotted by Don Henley of the Eagles and joined his band as violinist and backing vocalist. Currently, Swindell is the Concert Master for the orchestra for the Eagles “Hotel California 2020” tour. Erica stopped by to talk about her first solo release "Phase" and her upcoming plans as a solo artist, actor and instrumentalist. Erica also shared an exclusive video performance not seen anywhere else!
Click here to view the video: http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
Get this exclusive track from Akie here for podcast listeners only! http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
Akie Bermiss with his affable disposition, glasses, and healthy do of cascading dreads that drape down to his shoulders, is unabashedly a self-professed nerd to the nth degree. Since early childhood Akie has been an obsessed science fiction aficionado. Yet he does have an artist-friendly façade and has managed to cultivate and live a double-life as a thriving music protégé, pianist, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and emerging solo artist. Akie kicked off his 2017 touring schedule playing keyboards and providing backing vocals for veteran indie multi-genre band Lake Street Dive’s national concert tour in support of their latest CD, “Side Pony.” The tour was very exciting and included an opening spot in Aspen for Hall & Oates! Akie is a Brooklyn native raised in a musical household full of jazz and politics fueled by his former- activist mom and dad. He began singing in church, moved it to school for a while, enroute becoming somewhat of a musical chameleon. His raucous, guttural and soulful vocals are a delectable fusion of Donny Hathaway and Tom Waits. He’s equally adept singing neo-soul, funk, contemporary jazz, alternative rock, and hip hop. Akie joins Steph to discuss his brand new single 'Alone Again' - an aptly timed release ahead of Valentine's Day - his experiences in the band Lake Street Dive since being inducted in as a full time member, how they write an album on the road and how his views on the industry have changed with this new perspective.
Check out an exclusive MP3 of Akie performing a cover of Shania Twain's 'Still The One' with Lake Street Dive live at Red Rocks in Colorado here: http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
EXCLUSIVE DEMO from Alicia here: https://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
Years before kicking off her career as an indie-pop songwriter, a seven year-old Alicia Witt took her first classical piano lesson. She landed her debut movie role that same year, appearing in David Lynch's sci-fi epic Dune. Decades later, Witt has built both passions into a thriving business, balancing an acclaimed string of movie, television, and stage appearances with solo records like 2018's 15,000 Days. Her fourth release as an independent songwriter, 15,000 Days is a sweeping, big-hearted record, its songs rooted in modern arrangements and timeless melodies. Witt wrote the material during a busy period that found her starring in the TV series Nashville, stealing the spotlight with an appearance on The Walking Dead, and playing shows — including a performance on the Grand Ole Opry — in the wake of her previous album, Revisionary History. It took years — and thousands of days — for Alicia Witt to find her true voice as a musician. She unveils that voice with 15,000 Days, a record that's honest, heartfelt, and every bit as compelling as her work onscreen. A lifelong musician and actress, Alicia Witt turns a page with her new release, kicking off another chapter in a story that's still unfolding.
Alicia joins us on the show to talk about her song 'Earful' from her EP 15,000 Days and is kind enough to give us an exclusive recording from an upcoming 2020 release called 'Down She Goes' available here: http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
Alicia's Website: https://aliciawittmusic.com
One of Finland's greatest exports - singer-songwriter, Janita. Already established as an iconic recording artist and music figure in her native Finland, Janita (pronounced YA-nee-tuh) moved to New York City early in her career, building on those initial successes by launching her American recording career with two Top-40 Billboard hits.
"This woman's got the goods" - Billboard.
Janita joins me to tell me about the writing process and the incredible hand-made video for "Traces Upon Your Face".
www.janita.com
Continuing with our Minisode series that is artist-focused, today we chat with independent artist Rebecca Loebe about how to go about crowdfunding an album via Patreon!
Rebecca Loebe is an independent singer-songwriter who you may remember from the Voice in 2011. Since then she has opened for Shawn Colvin, the Civil Wars, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Ellis Paul amongst others.
Her single, Growing Up was featured in Rolling Stone magazine listed as the Top 10 Best Country and Americana Songs of the Week. As well as being a talented musician, she has also become quite an expert at owning her own distribution and runs a successful Patreon page - and Patreon even featured Rebecca on their blog after her successful album promotion. As promised, here are the links and references discussed in today's episode: Rebecca's Tips and Launch Timeline: bit.ly/2qOI0Qf Patreon's article on Rebecca: https://blog.patreon.com/rebecca-loebe Patreon's article on Nataly Dawn: https://blog.patreon.com/nataly-dawn-patronage Amanda Palmer "The Art of Asking" TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking?language=en
Simon Sinek "Start With Why" TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en
Rebecca's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rebeccaloebe
We'd love to hear any feedback about this miniseries or any suggestions you have for episodes! Email us: info@newyorkartistscollective.com
Dubbed by the New York Times as "one America's best songwriters" Dar Williams is certainly part of the fabric of the American songbook.
Exclusive recording from Dar available here: http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
Dar has always followed her muse. When she was up in Somerville, Massachusetts in the early nineties, knowing that she wanted to pursue music or theater, she worked backstage at the Opera Company of Boston and wrote plays on the side. But she was in Boston, and the muse led her into the myriad open mics and tip jar gigs of booming folk revival. She opened a trunk of old songs and started writing new ones. Since then, Dar has released 9 studio albums, written two children's books, hosts 2 annual songwriting retreats and is currently writing her 4th book "How to Write a Song That Matters". It’s a cliché that the personal is the political, but for Dar Williams, there really is no separating her life from her worldview. And in the face of a shifting world, she is more aware than ever of the power this approach can create. “I’m now experiencing the fruits of the alternative culture I was part of in the ‘90s,” she says. “I think I’ve made choices about how I lived my life, outside of the world that was going to fit me among the mainstream norms, and I chose to stay with my friends, to stay with my culture. “That turns out to have been the sturdiest structure I could have built for myself. And that’s in my songs, it’s in my teaching. I’m a believer in what can happen when we make music together.”
Dar's website: http://www.darwilliams.com
Dar gave us an EXCLUSIVE LIVE RECORDING of her song "When I Was A Boy" which you can get here: http://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
Dar mentions a couple of useful books in her own songwriting progress, links below..
Books referenced:
What I Found In A Thousand Towns - Dar Williams (link: https://amzn.to/36Er2nf)
Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan (link: https://amzn.to/2tj9EGg)
The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron (link: https://amzn.to/34rBMnm)
Nashville duo Striking Matches (comprising of Sarah Zimmerman and Justin Davis) talks to the New York Artists Collective ahead of their New York show at Knitting Factory Dec 6th about their brand new single 'Monster', from their new EP 'Noon'.
Striking Matches got their first big break writing songs for the hit ABC TV show Nashville. They went on to release their debut album 'Anything But The Silence' produced by T-Bone Burnett, and have since released 3 more EPs, many singles, and have had their songs featured on Grey’s Anatomy, American Idol, and Monday Night Football, to name a few.
Both lead guitarists, singers and songwriters, Sarah and Justin’s music spans a wide array of sounds and genres, combining pop choruses with blues guitar riffs. Their musical prowess creates an electrifying and unique experience with each live performance. They are currently in the middle of releasing a new 3 EP project titled “Morning, Noon and Night” each with a different sound and sonic space. While morning, noon and night are three parts of a day, Morning, Noon and Night are meant to be three parts of what makes up Striking Matches “Morning” was released in May of 2019 with Noon in December 2019 and Night to follow in early 2020. Striking Matches recently completed an international tour with dates in Europe, the UK, and upcoming dates in the US.
Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame member, Gretchen Peters talk to the New York Artists Collective ahead of her New York show at Rockwood Music Hall Dec 8th about one of her songs, "The Boy From Rye" and how it's the heart of her latest album, Dancing With The Beast.
Gretchen also kindly gave the NYAC an exclusive unreleased track for your ears only which you can find here: https://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
For two decades, Gretchen Peters has been one of Nashville's most beloved and respected artists. "If Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as 'On A Bus To St. Cloud,'" People Magazine wrote, "she has already earned herself a spot among country's upper echelon of contemporary composers.” Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October 2014 by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell, who called her "both a songwriter and a poet (who) sings as beautifully as she writes,” and said her song “The Matador”, "moved me so greatly, I cried from the soles of my feet”, Peters has accumulated accolades as a songwriter for artists as diverse as Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, The Neville Brothers, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Bryan Adams and Faith Hill.
Her 2015 album, ‘Blackbirds’, debuted at #1 on the UK Country chart and in the top 40 UK pop chart, and was awarded International Album of the Year and Song of the Year. In 2015, The Telegraph named her one of the greatest 60 female singer-songwriters of all time. Her latest album, Dancing With The Beast, was released on May 18, 2018. https://gretchenpeters.com
Samuel Lee is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and recording artist based in Nashville, TN. From an exuberant, arts-centered childhood to an adolescence marked by drugs, difficulty and relocation, singing was one of very few threads of stability in Samuel’s early days. A multi-instrumentalist and popular music enthusiast nearly all his life, he credits his love for rock and roll with having both saved, and shaped his life. Samuel Lee talks to the New York Artists Collective about his journey as a songwriter from Denver to Nashville, getting a publishing deal, becoming an Ambassador for Music Cares (the Grammy Academy's philanthropy arm) and about how he came to write his song 'Right Behind You' Click here to see an acoustic version of Samuel Lee's song 'Right Behind You' https://bit.ly/2qOI0Qf
http://www.samuelleemusic.com
http://www.grammy.com/musiccares
Born and raised in Upstate New York, Stephen Babcock is a songwriter all his own. After eight years of writing, touring and perfecting his craft, Stephen began recording what would become his first album, “Said & Done”. The album became a mixture of youth and promise that helped begin Stephen’s career as a singer-songwriter. Stephen’s unique blend of Americana, southern rock, and indie folk helped establish him as a PASTe Magazine favorite in 2018.
Stephen comes in to talk about his latest single "Devil" and how his music has shifted in the last year in terms of his subject matter.
Stephen also performed an EXCLUSIVE LIVE VERSION of his song 'Devil' and you can access that by clicking HERE: http://www.newyorkartistscollective.com/mailing-list/
www.stephenbabcockmusic.com www.newyorkartistscollective.com
For Americana singer-songwriter Kevin Daniel, it was his move to New York City and a sudden and unexpected tragedy which finally pushed him to take on music full time. In the winter of 2013, during a dinner party in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Kevin received a phone call from his sister that would change everything. His mother and stepfather, adventure-seekers and amateur pilots, had been flying back from their mountain house in western North Carolina when their plane crashed, killing them both. Daniel’s life was turned upside down, his family torn apart, and the world forever changed.
In 2017, he released his second EP, Myself Through You. In the years since, Daniel’s songs, the ones that thread his EPs have led him through a transformational period of self-discovery, the foundation for his debut album, Things I Don’t See. Kevin comes in to talk about his journey to making his debut album and his latest release "Used to be".
www.thekevindaniel.com
Martina San Diego is a Filipina-American singer-songwriter best known for her delicate melodies and her knack for raw and heartfelt songwriting. Her soft, breathy vocals enchant listeners and captivate audiences in mesmerizing euphony.
Currently based in New York City, Martina was named NY Singer-songwriter Sessions Artist of the Month (June 2014) and a Breedlove Guitars Artist (July 2014), all while attending New York University. In December 2016 she completed her B.A. in Songwriting and Recorded Music and released her latest EP "Illuminate", on April 27, 2018.
www.martinasandiego.com
Carli & The Dark is the project of Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Carli Naff. Born in Phoenix, AZ, Carli studied acting before moving to New York. While auditioning for theatre and television, she learned how to play guitar and wrote her first few songs. No Depression Music Journal says: “(She) stopped us dead in our tracks. One of the best vocalists we’ve heard this year.”
Carli is a Sofar favourite and drops in to talk about her song "The Acrobat"
www.carlinaffmusic.com
In this new Minisode, NYAC co-producer and singer-songwriter Angela Elia joins me again to talk about how to be a great fan in today's music world. The topic this week: Social Media!
We discuss what the 'Instagram Algorithm' actually is, and how you can help your favorite artists get more likes, comments, and visibility just by doing a few super easy things.
These ideas cost you $0 to use, but could mean the WORLD to any indie or rising artist whose music you love. Do you have questions about what it's like to be an indie artist? Or have a tip you want to share with the world?
Write to us at info@newyorkartistscollective.com FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @newyorkartistscollective @angelasounds @stephaniemanns
Originally a classically-trained cellist, Frank Bell later expanded his instrumental arsenal as a way to further express himself as an artist. As an outlet, Frank began posting videos of his songs on YouTube, which brought him international attention and 800,000 video views (in four days) after being featured on their homepage. Shortly after, he flew to Canada to record his debut EP ‘On Passion and Reason’, a folky, neo-soul acoustic rock album which would later be released independently worldwide Always a heartfelt, insightful lyricist, his next big challenge is finding the words to match the world we live in today.
Frank joins us to talk about his latest release 'Glass House' ahead of his upcoming performance with the New York Artists Collective on September 28th at Rockwood Music Hall at 6pm. Tickets available here: www.eventbrite.com/e/70299598993/
frankbell.net @frankbell
Cassidy Andrews picked up a guitar when a woman broke her heart for the first time at age 13. She has gone on to connect with audiences about all things melancholy, attempting to compensate for sad songs with jokes and charm.
After playing venues varying from zoos to colleges, bars to music halls, cafes to living rooms, there's a comfort the audience finds in the ease of her performances. Cassidy comes in to the show ahead of performing with the New York Artists Collective to discuss her latest release 'What Was Wrong With Me',
Cassidy Andrews: @hotblondelesbian
www.cassidyandrewsmusic.com
Folk-rock singer John Gardner formed 'Common Jack' during a two-year world tour with the actor-musician Broadway show, Once, based on the film of the same name starring Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova.
Common Jack has garnered praise from The Huffington Post, calling the band “Exceptional Pop/Americana”. In June 2019, Common Jack released a new EP ‘Canyons in the Dark’, and John joined me to talk about the title track Canyons in the dark and his experience of being a musician in this great city.
www.commonjackmusic.com
@commonjackmusic
Australian singer-songwriter Ben Grace was born and raised in an inner city suburb of Sydney, his exodus from the beliefs and structures of his working class Christian childhood weaves poignantly through his lyrics, revealing itself in his deep commitment to justice and willingness to call forward the darker themes in American politics.
Ben joins us on the eve of his 40th birthday to talk about his new song 'A Thousand Times' and its poignancy in his life following a move from New York and some big personal changes.
www.bengracemusic.com @bengracemusic
Savannah born Thompson Newkirk joins us to talk about his experience moving to New York as a songwriter, developing his sound, his voice and guitar playing and how he wants to bring people together with his music. Thompson tells us about his latest single 'Other Side' and his plans to tour later this year. www.instagram.com/thompsonnewkirk #newkirknation
In this inaugural episode of our new mini-series, my co-producer, singer-songwriter and all around badass, Angela Elia, joins me to talk about how you can be a better fan to the artists you love. Sounds simple, and maybe you think you're already a super awesome #1 fan, but let's check in and see what else you might be able to do that you maybe hadn't considered!
We will post a minisode every month with interviews from artists, producers and folk in the industry to help you get a better understanding of the music "biz" to show you what it's like to be an artist in the digital age... @newyorkartistscollective @angelasounds @stephaniemanns
Jenny Kern is a Canadian born indie singer-songwriter based in New York. Drawing on her own experiences, her songs unfold through a confessional-style delivery revealing the strength that can only come through vulnerability. Jenny comes in to discuss her first single release 'Slow Burn' and how she went from being a newcomer on the New York music scene to heading out on a U.S. tour and being featured on MTV.
www.jennykern.com @jennykernmusic
Doe Paoro is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and sound healer (ANTI- Records). Her music has been featured on NPR, BBC, and Triple J radio; in TINY FURNITURE as well as on HBO, MTV, ABC, and SYFY. She has toured with The Gipsy Kings, Of Monsters and Men, and Sylvan Esso, amongst others.
She has written songs for artists such as Peter Bjorn and John. Doe recently connected with the NYAC after performing a show with Little Kruta at National Sawdust in Brooklyn and stopped by to discuss her latest release 'Midnight Choir'.
www.doepaoro.com
@doepaoro
Australian-born, Texas-based songwriter and performer Jess McAvoy has spent over two decades mining the human condition for their prolific output of music and lyrics.
A stunning vocalist and commanding live performer, McAvoy combines blues, pop, rock and her astute lyricism to create a powerful, hook laden examination of that which fuels us all – the desire for connection. Jess joins us to discuss their journey from Australia to New York, they open up about their personal journey to sobriety and we get under the covers of their latest song 'Do What You Want'. @jessmcavoylovesyou jessmcavoy.com
The NYAC and #WomenCrush Music are teaming up for a very special all-female led songwriters round showcase on July 27th. #WomenCrush Music is a non-profit organization that serves to create opportunities for rising women songwriters by hosting international showcases, educational workshops & networking events. Whether they are just in the beginning of their careers and want to start performing at local venues, or they’ve just released their second album and are ready to go on tour. #WomenCrush Music wants to connect artists with future collaborators, educate them about the business and inspire them to make an impact on this male-dominated industry.
womencrushmusic.com
http://katiezaccardi.com/podcast/
Gabrielle Marlena, folk-pop singer-songwriter who has recently performed a live Paste session, joins us to talk about being twenty four in New York City and the journey to make her E.P. and latest single Anxiety Dreams.
Gabrielle Marlena's Instagram: www.instagram.com/gabimarlena
Madeleine McMillan is a singer-songwriter from NYC. Madeleine, a self proclaimed “feelings writer”, is best known for her gripping lyrics and powerful soprano vocals. Madeleine began writing music at the age of 12, and has since performed countless shows in and around NYC. Madeleine comes into discuss her recently released her song “Power” - which aims to raise awareness and break the stigma that harms those living with mental illness.
www.madeleinemcmillan.com Insta: @mcmadeleine
April is a full-time rock musician, songwriter and artist based out of NYC, she is the front-woman of indie rock band The Rose Monarch as well as the a keyboard player and vocalist in RCA's 'KULICK,' and just recently returned from a US & Canada tour with the group supporting Andy Black and The Faim.
April was given praise and mention by NPR on her 2018 Tiny Desk Submission boasting "Her vocal range will give you goosebumps throughout the song, underscoring the darkness and melancholy of the lyrics."
April discusses her experiences as a woman in the music industry, with regard to her journey in rock in particular and she introduces The Rose Monarch's brand new single "Co-Pilot".
@arg_vox
www.therosemonarch.com
Macabre Americana is a NYC-based folk-fusion collective whose music sheds light on the dark side of the American Dream, past and present. Blake Pfeil, plays keys in the band and comes in to talk about how the band formed to sing songs about social justice and how he came to write their latest release 'Oscar'.
www.macabreamericana.com
Originally a classically-trained cellist, Frank Bell later expanded his instrumental arsenal as a way to further express himself as an artist. As an outlet, Frank began posting videos of his songs on YouTube, which brought him international attention and 800,000 video views (in four days) after being featured on their homepage. Shortly after, he flew to Canada to record his debut EP ‘On Passion and Reason’, a folky, neo-soul acoustic rock album which would later be released independently worldwide with famed Producer Bill Bell (Tom Cochrane, Jason Mraz, and more).
In 2010 Frank was named the HATCH GROUNDBREAKING Musician (HATCHexperience.com), where he recorded a song with Matt Morris (Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera) on a original track aboard the John Lennon Tour Bus. Recent appearances on MTV, at the Sundance Film Festival, a Times Square NYE Concert, IdeaJam moderated by Ashton Kutcher, and Sold-out shows in Europe, continue to grow Frank’s awareness and fan base.
n the following years, Frank turned his focus inwards, stripping down his sound and rediscovering the foundation of his passion: connecting with people through song. Spending extended periods of time in NYC, Boston, and at sea, Frank has been hard at work listening, building relationships, and refining his voice to speak to an increasingly diverse and disparate community. Always a heartfelt, insightful lyricist, his next big challenge is finding the words to match the world we live in today.
www.frankbell.net instagram.com/frankbell
Originally from Boston, but now based in New York indie folk artist Paola Bennet joins us to talk about how she overcame her shyness of performing to become a regular on the singer-songwriter scene in New York and how she came to write her last release 'Desert Sky'.
During the Q&A section of Paola's first Sofar Sounds show, an audience member asked, "I love your songwriting, but what does your music sound like when things are going well?" Evoking the melancholy of Phoebe Bridgers and Daughter, Paola’s so-called “sadgirl folk” walks the line between haunting lullaby and nervy admission
www.paolabennet.com
Boston Based folk americana trio Visiting Wine this week stopped by to tell us about their song Spectors from their self titled debut album ahead of their summer tour where they will be stopping off in New York on June 10th.
Visiting Wine put their own spin on modern folk rock, weaving warm, harmonies and bold songwriting voices that asks their audience to open their hearts and put on their dancing shoes.
www.visitingwine.com
Jeanne Marie Boes, NY native, a singer, songwriter, musician - full of love, happiness and heartache. With her powerful, soulful and unforgettable voice along with songs is steadily gaining a following in her hometown and beyond.
Jeanne-Marie comes into talk about her song "The One" and her plans for 2019. You can see her play July 27th at the American Folk Museum, check out her website for further details.
www.jeanneboes.com
Brandon Mills, Nashville-based singer-songwriter and former New Yorker comes into talk to us about his song 'Gift' ahead of his NYAC Presents performance. Brandon began his musical career after leaving the military as a Special forces veteran. Has has also served global non-profits which has given him a perspective of living life with a bigger purpose. Brandon’s music is all about keeping people connected through positive vibes, conscious living, insightful lyrics and challenging the status quo. www.brandonmillsofficial.com
Marielle Kraft is a Sofar Sounds favourite from Philadelphia who is quickly making an impact on the indie pop scene, known for her storytelling songwriting technique of vivid detail, clever word choice, and refreshing taste.
Marielle joins us to talk about quitting her job as a teacher to be in music full time and hit the road touring.
Her new single “Better Without You” coming out May 17th. www.mariellekraft.com
Kelsey Hunter is a blues rock singer-songwriter from New York City whom we are delighted to have performing in an NYAC round May 25th. Kelsey joins us in the studio to talk about her experiences as an artist in New York from the very first gig she ever saw in the city, to opening for Foreigner after a chance encounter with Mick Jones interviewing to be his personal assistant. Kelsey tells us all about her upcoming single Let Me Burn. www.instagram.com/kelseyhunter13
Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart is a roots rock americana band based in New York consisting of bassist Chris Anderson (Martin Sexton), drummer Kenny Shaw (Dispatch) and B3 player Todd Caldwell (Crosby Stills and Nash).
Rebecca and her band released two live albums, Sun Studio Sessions Volume 1 and Volume 2, tracked across two late night recording sessions at the famous Sun Studio in Memphis, TN where artists like Elvis and Johnny Cash made their first recordings. Their episode of Sun Studio Sessions Live taped for PBS and other public television stations is airing now nationwide. The new single, Hide Away will be released May 17th with tour dates to follow. www.rebeccahaviland.com
Anna Rose, is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The fiery dynamo has been working in the music industry for over a decade. Anna Rose’s most recent single, Nobody Knows I’m Here, featured on NBC’s hit show 'This Is Us', announces an exciting shift in her artistic career as she moves closer to her roots in the singer-songwriter world. Anna joins us to talk about the her experiences as a woman in the rock and music industry and about her song 'Nobody Knows I'm Here'.
www.annarosemusic.com
Treya Lam is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter whose cinematic songs and compositions are built on dynamic piano, ethereal vocals, meditative guitar and lush chamber-folk arrangements. Her debut album Good News was created entirely by womxn - headed by Kaki King who produced and released the record on her label. Treya joins us to discuss what it's like to make an album entirely with women from start to finish, the highs and lows of being an artist in the age of social media and how she wrote her song 'Still Here'
www.treyamakesmusic.com
Global citizen and folk singer Eli Lev is making the world a smaller place, one song at a time. In just two years as a full-time musician, Eli has built a robust profile through wowing audiences each time he picks up a guitar.
He has opened for national names like Shooter Jennings at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland and Ellis Paul at Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia. Eli joins us to talk about his recent travels around Spain performing, his new music that he's releasing in 2019 and his song "See The World".
www.eli-lev.com
A New York music scene favourite, folk musician Phil Pickens, Southern transplant, in New York joins us to talk about how he found his way to music as a child in Atlanta, how he wound up in New York auditioning for the Jersey Boys and about his song 'Mary The Boxer' from his debut album Cathedrals.
@philpickens
Scottish singer-songwriter Natalie Clark, comes into talk about her latest release "More Than A Mountain" and what it means to her to quit her job and pursue a career as a musician in Los Angeles.
Natalie has reaped plaudits from Sir Richard Branson among others, is now based in the US after being handpicked to open for the Grammy award winning Indigo Girls tour. Natalie was also featured on Season 10 of NBC's T.V. show, The Voice, where Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton praised her "cool, powerful voice."
She is currently recording her latest E.P. due for release this year. www.natalieclarkmusic.com
Skout is Laura Valk and Connor Gladney, a Brooklyn-based duo that plays indie-folk with restless edge. The pair met on an East Village stoop over coffee in late 2014. The next night, they played their first show together as Skout. The band has independently amassed over 1 million Spotify streams, landed on both Spotify’s USA and Canada Viral charts, and their music has been featured on MTV’s Catfish and NBC’s Today Show. Valk is proud to produce and edit most of the band’s audio and video content.
www.skoutmusic.com
@skoutmusic
Matt Butler is a folk artist, a rock’n roller, and a storyteller. Weaving personal experience with a timeless style, he brings honesty and openness to his classic approach to songwriting. Matt spent several months on the inaugural ‘Foundations Tour’ for his newly formed non-profit organization, the ‘Just One Foundation’, bringing music to incarcerated and underserved populations across the US and he joined us in the studio to talk about his song "Fear and Desire" www.mattbutlersongs.com
Brandon Mills is a singer-songwriter based in New York City whose music combines earnest lyrical themes with grappling melodies to create emotionally charged story-telling. Brandon combines genres such as blues, hip-hop, pop, and folk with the goal of making his music distinctive and relatable.
Brandon joins us to talk about his journey from being a marine to becoming a singer-songwriter about to head to Nashville to pursue the next step of his career and he tells us about the process for writing his latest release "Let's Go Get Lost" Instagram: @BrandonMillsOfficial
Elizabeth Wyld is a NYC-based singer and songwriter from rural Virginia. Two years ago she was suffering from a paralyzed vocal cord that left her unable to sing and speak for half a year. During this period of silence, she took to writing songs and since she recovered, she has been singing and playing her indie-folk tunes all over New York City and throughout the east coast. Elizabeth has previously played an NYAC show and is back to tell us about her latest release "Child".
She will be releasing her third single in April 2019.
www.elizabethwyld.com
There is a new wave of Conscious Music crashing into our hearts and minds. Jessie Standafer is a making those waves. A musical activist, Jessie uses her songwriting to ignite more peace, love, connection, & acceptance on the planet. By returning to the roots of pop music, she uses music to engage in a collective conversation about social issues and ways we can together make the world a better place. Jessie joins us to talk about her song 'Choose Must' and what it's like being an LGBTQ artist and activist in NYC.
http://www.jessiestandafer.com/home
Pegged as one of Rolling Stone Magazine's top 10 artists to check out in country this November, Rachel Baiman is definitely a star on the rise. We discuss her musical journey from fiddle player to singer-songwriter, being backlisted, and how she co-wrote her song 'Times Like These' which we play in full in the episode. www.rachelbaiman.com
Former New Yorker and now Nashville-based Meaghan Farrell joins us on the show to talk about tacos, co-writing and representation of female artists and songwriters in country music. She also tells us about her anthemic song 'Long Shot'.
www.meaghanfarrell.com IG: @meaghanfarrell
Hot off the heels of two new singles and an appearance on USA’s new TV show Real Country, country/pop/soul singer-songwriter Micah Woods tells us how he was spotted playing a gig in Brooklyn by Shania Twain which has led to his appearance on new show Real Country, he also discusses his new song ‘Love Like That’ and what it’s like to be an out gay man in the country music industry. micahtwoods.com
Critically acclaimed folk singer Chris Pureka joins us ahead of her US tour to discuss her song ‘Holy’, why she left NYC and what she loves about being an independent artist having started her own label Sad Rabbit Records.
Chris Pureka is a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose body of work has resonated deeply with these seemingly disparate milieus. Her bold vulnerability in processing the intimacies of her life in song has long appealed to those listeners who crave authenticity. Now, five years coming, she shares with us another powerful entry in her life’s work, her sixth release, the aptly titled, Back in the Ring.
Chris’s elegant emotionality as a vocalist, and her flair and immediacy as a lyricist have garnered her favorable comparisons to Gillian Welch, Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, and Patty Griffin. She’s earned accolades from such distinguished taste-making outlets as The New York Times, Paste, Magnet, Billboard.com, and The AllMusic Guide. She’s shared the stage with such diverse and esteemed artists as Dar Williams, The Lumineers, The Cowboy Junkies, Gregory Alan Isakov, Martin Sexton, and Ani DiFranco. Along the way, Chris has remained fiercely independent, selling nearly 50,000 albums through her own label, Sad Rabbit Records.
https://www.chrispureka.com/
New York americana singer-songwriter Stephen Babcock talks to us about his song ‘5a’ from his latest full length studio album release ‘Fiction’, how his writing process has evolved and his upcoming release and East coast US tour.
www.stephenbabcockmusic.com
D.C. Based Neo-folk singer-songwriter Eli Lev joins us to tell us about what it's like to go full time as a musician, sleeping on sofas, playing covers gigs until you're finally headlining your own shows and we talk about his new song "One Road".
https://eli-lev.com/
Musician, record producer and music advocate Blake Morgan stops by to tell us about his newly re-mastered album, his campaign "IrespectMusic" and his song 'Better Angels'.
http://www.ecrmusicgroup.com/artists/blake-morgan/ http://www.irespectmusic.org
New York rock singer-songwriter Mishti discusses how her love of all things Michael Jackson, rock guitar and songwriting led her to the release of her brand new single "Crave".
MISHTI, a singer-songwriter-guitarist with the lyricism of Jeff Buckley and the badassness of Slash demands the ear of any listener with her fresh take on post-pop rock music. The New York-based artist’s latest singles, “Fortunes in Footprints” and “Crave” are sexy, dark anthems to taboo love, unapologetic flirting and crushing hard. Continually shaped by idols Prince and Kate Bush, Mishti has carved out her own sound distinguished by vocals that soar to the rafters and guitar solos that bring break your heart.
www.mishti.com
Americana singer-songwriter Kevin Daniel talks about his new album, his new podcast and how to avoid your ex at a party then casually write a song about it, incidentally it's called "Faded Red".
Raised in North Carolina, Brooklyn-based Americana crooner Kevin Daniel is set on making NYC a destination for Nashville sounds. The songwriter and multi-instrumentalist brings southern rock, gospel, and blues to barrooms of Brooklyn and beyond. But Daniel wasn’t always chasing his dreams.
In the winter of 2013, during a dinner party in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Kevin received a phone call from his sister that would change everything. His mother and stepfather, adventure-seekers and amateur pilots, had been flying back from their mountain house in western North Carolina when their plane had crashed, killing both of them. Daniel’s life was turned upside down, his family torn apart and the world forever changed. During his return to North Carolina to help with family business, and while reliving his parent’s lives through photos, essays, and family stories, Kevin wrote over a dozen songs, all fueled by the grief of losing his parents as well as the celebration of the large lives they were known for. From those songs six were chosen to record, including one written specifically for Kevin’s parent’s memorial service.
The result of those recordings was FLY, Kevin Daniel’s inaugural EP. The six-song project was recorded in 2014 in Brooklyn and embodies the depth of Daniel’s emotions during a time of supreme distress. Southern sounds of banjo and country-loving three-part harmonies were backed by rock riffs and pop lyrics, which spoke true to life and the celebration of living. “I always knew I wanted to record my own music, and a life spent being in other people’s bands had prepared me to lead my own, both in the studio and on the stage. It was losing my parents that gave me the kick in the ass to finally do it”, says Daniel.
www.thekevindaniel.com
A Sofar Sounds favourite across multiple US cities, singer-songwriter and broadway actor Kaylyn Marie talks about her song "Company You Keep", what it was like to be in her first musical - Music City - and the moment she recently realized she was a real New Yorker.
Kaylyn Marie‘s is a multi-genre music maker and performer who grew up throughout the USA and landed in NYC at age 17. As a singer/songwriter, bandleader, and actress her varietal artistry has led to many quirky and exciting opportunities from being an Amish Witch on Lifetime TV to becoming be an alumna of Joe’s Pub’s Working Group to being featured in Steven Spielberg’s “The Post" to becoming a finalist on American Idol XV.
When you catch her solo, expect soulful americana paired with unfeigned storytelling. Audiences have connected her lyrically driven tunes to those of Sara Bareilles and Laura Marling. In 2020, she is releasing her second solo EP “Forget-Me-Not” produced by powerhouse, indie producer, Katie Buchanan.
www.kaylynmariemusic.com
Listen to Lake Street Dive's Akie Bermiss discuss his song "Space and Time", his sometime-to-be-released science fiction soul opera double album, his children's book, and being an artist in New York City.
Akie Bermiss with his affable disposition, glasses, and healthy do of cascading dreads that drape down to his shoulders, is unabashedly a self-professed nerd to the nth degree. Since early childhood Akie has been an obsessed science fiction aficionado. Yet he does have an artist-friendly façade and has managed to cultivate and live a double-life as a thriving music protégé, pianist, singer/songwriter, composer, arranger and emerging solo artist and member of Lake Street Dive.
Akie is a Brooklyn native raised in a musical household full of jazz and politics fueled by his former- activist mom and dad. He began singing in church, moved it to school for a while, enroute becoming somewhat of a musical chameleon.
www.akiebermissmusic.com
Ali Carter, jazz/folk/soul singer-songwriter discusses her song "Open To You” and what it’s like to be a musician coming to New York to live your dream. www.alicartermusic.com
Angela Elia, NYAC founder and producer, and songwriter discusses her song "Be Ok". Angela has been described as "Adele meets Lisa Loeb" with her unique blend of acoustic Pop, Soul, and Americana. You can find her online at angelaeliamusic.com.