The NewSong contest — an annual competition held by independent music organization NewSong Music — has been running for 15 years. It attracts musicians from around the world and across all genres. “There are so many aspiring artists out there,” says director and co-founder Gar Ragland. “Anyone with a MacBook from Best Buy has GarageBand and the ability through TuneCore to release their music. So how do deserving artists rise above the noise?” The 12 contest finalists (among last year’s was local musician Daniel Shearin) play for a panel of judges at Lincoln Center in New York — so just making it that far is huge. And the winner walks away with a prize package aimed at career advancement: A performance at the ASCAP Music Café during the Sundance Film Festival, another concert at Lincoln Center and a chance to record on the NewSong label.
Three years ago Ragland relocated from Brooklyn to Asheville, setting up shop at Echo Mountain Studios. Soon after, LEAF organizers reached out about collaborating. Wanting to become more involved in the local music scene, Ragland jumped at the opportunity, and last year the NewSong Presents: LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition was launched.
“We’re getting entries from all over the country and from Canada,” says Ragland. Last year’s winner was Wyatt Espalin from Hiawassee, Ga. He returned to the festival in October to perform his own show. On Saturday, May 9, eight new finalists (including local artist Chris Jamison) will compete at LEAF — and not only is the winner asked to play the fall festival, he or she immediately advances as a regional finalist in the international NewSong contest.
“Of the 12 finalists we select, six come from the general round, open to anyone anywhere, and six come from the regional rounds, based on where you live,” says Ragland. To win at LEAF is a major advantage. The 2014 champ of the international competition, the duo Max Hatt and Edda Glass, recently tracked their forthcoming album at Echo Mountain, with Pat Sansone of Wilco as producer.
Finalists of the NewSong Presents: LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition perform at The Barn on Saturday, May 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Learn more at newsong-music.com/contest — A.M.
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