Press release:
Folk-soul artist Brie Capone has been named the winner of the fourth annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, presented by NewSong Music. Capone and eight other singer-songwriter solo and duo acts were selected from more than 400 entries to this year’s contest.
Other finalists were Andy Palmer from Denver, CO; Beth Snapp from Kingsport, TN; Caitlin Krisko and Aaron Austin of The Broadcast from Asheville, NC; Heather Mae from Washington, DC; Lisa Bastoni from Watertown, MA; Nash Satterfield from Chelsea, MA; Ordinary Elephant from Livingston, TX; and John Batdorf from Redmond, OR (who was unable to attend).
Capone, who studied at the Berklee College of Music, has been based in Asheville for the past year. She recently released the EP Orbit. A video for her song “Scars,” from that recording, tied for the Judges Choice prize at this year’s Music Video Asheville award show and ceremony.
Of her LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition win, Capone says, “Just to be in the finals and have people hear my music was incredible. I was really happy to be playing alongside such great talent.”
Capone learned about the contest from a friend, who encouraged her to enter. The two songs she submitted to NewSong are from her forthcoming EP, one of many projects the musician has in the works. But, “I’m absolutely looking forward to what the competition in New York City holds, and I can’t wait to meet more people through my music,” she says. “I feel really fortunate to know what I’ll be doing in the fall, and that it will revolve around songwriting and performing. Can’t ask for more.”
NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland noted, at the LEAF finals, that the event was as much a celebration of performance and songcraft as a competition. The spirit in the standing-room-only venue — LEAF’s barn, built by students of the historic Black Mountain College — was one of warm support and enthusiasm for the emerging artists at the mic. But beyond recognition and encouragement, the LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition also comes with a covetable prize-pack: The winner is awarded a paid, featured performance at the fall 2017 LEAF Festival (October 19-22 in Black Mountain, NC), including lodging and accommodations.
As this year’s winner, Capone also advances as a finalist in the 2017 international NewSong Showcase and Competition, held November 30, at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The grand-prize winner of that contest will be awarded the opportunity to make a six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville and released on the NewSong Recordings label, and a future performance at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The 2017 NewSong Music Contest is currently accepting entries.
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