Here’s some great news about an upcoming talent contest to focus on emerging country artists.
Scroll down for info on how to register as a contestant and tickets to attend the live shows.
Center Stage Live has announced the Indie Country Showdown talent show to be held at the Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom in West Nashville with a portion of the proceeds supporting Folds of Honor. Four straight weeks of intense competition as Center Stage Live presents the Top 15 Rising Indie Country Artists in the greater Nashville region chosen by a mix of fan vote and Nashville music industry professionals. Highlights from each show and special live-stream segments with the contestants will be featured on Center Stage Magazine’s website and to the tens of millions of viewers that engage with Center Stage Magazine’s social media properties each year.
You can also follow the Indie Country Showdown weekly from Oct. 15th on The Big Country 98 and on iHeart Digital Media with Wayne D and Tay on Big Country 98 who will be interviewing contestants on air from Oct 15 to Nov 16. An expert panel of celebrity judges and music industry professionals will determine the winner over the intense four-week competition.
Tickets can be purchased by those wishing to attend the shows at Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom in person and are available now here.
Send me music stuff, I love to get it! / Preshiaswriter@hotmail.com Google “Preshias” (TN/USA)
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: With a little more love and a lot less hatin,’ be who you want to be, ’cause everybody else is taken.” – Lainey Wilson, ACM Awards 2023.
Scroll down to read about new projects, tour updates and music from Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bailey Zimmerman, Gabby Barrett, Michael Ray, Chris Janson, Elvie Shane, Scotty McCreery, Alabama, Lauren Alaina, Craig Campbell, RaeLynn and much more!
ALBUM NEWS: Multi-Platinum recording artist Jake Owen delivered his seventh studio album, Loose Cannon, June 23. Owen brings his fan-trusted sound to the 16-song collection just in time for the official summer season. Produced by Joey Moi, Loose Cannon is available everywhere now. Listen here. “Loose Cannon has been a long time coming and I’m so excited my fans can finally experience it with me,” shares Owen. “I hope the album makes it into your summertime memories and I can’t wait to see y’all on the road this fall.” Loose Cannon is a collection of summertime staples with sunshine-soaked lyrics that tip their hat to feel-good classic Country sounds and nostalgia a little over four years since his last full-length album, Greetings From…Jake. The album boasts tracks from songwriters Ashley Gorley, Brent Cobb, Rodney Clawson, Jessie Jo Dillon and Luke Laird, to name a few. Additionally, Owen enlisted reputed artist-writers including ACM Male Artist of the Year nominee Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Walker Hayes, Jordan Fletcher and Hunter Phelps. Owen kicks off his nationwide Loose Cannon Tour Sept. 7. Tour info, music and more at Jake’s website and on Facebook. #JakeOwen
ANNIVERSARY NEWS: Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Darryl Worley recognizes the power of a song. It’s been two decades since his biggest hit “Have You Forgotten?” took Country Music and the nation by storm. Penned alongside Wynn Varble, the pair poured their hearts into the lyrics and created a post-9/11 anthem ensuring people would never forget those lost. Its message quickly resonated with millions, topping Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in only its fifth week – marking the fastest rise to the top in more than five years – and reigned for seven weeks. Now, 20 years later, Worley revisited his career-defining song with a fresh modern-day perspective on its original themes for a reimagined version titled “Have We Forgotten,” available now via The Valory Music Co. here. “We recently decided to sit down and write a new lyric for the song that’s appropriate for this day and time with what’s happening in our country today. For the new version ‘Have We Forgotten,’ we wanted to be certain we said what we were truly feeling in our hearts and didn’t compromise what we believe in, which is exactly how it went down with the original. I’m very proud of the message of the song.” More at Darryl’s website. #DarrylWorley.
Walker Montgomery has some “Work To Do,” but the song of that same title is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for him as it impacts fans following its recent release.
However, Walker co-wrote “Work To Do” back in 2021. “Some buddies of mine, Adam Wood, Mark Irwin and me,” Walker told me when we met up during the 50th annual CMA Fest in Nashville. “We just got in the writing room and Adam had this idea which was, ‘whiskey’s got some work to do’ and he already had some stuff worked up. I was like, ‘dadgum, that’s cool!’ We knew we wanted to write it, but we didn’t know the angle which we wanted to write it as.”
It quickly became apparent, as the write progressed, that “Work To Do” would be a ‘breakup’ song with lyrics such as: “Yeah tonight this bottle better roll up its sleeves / Cause neither one of us is gonna get any sleep / I’m on the rocks / So he’s on the clock / Until the job gets through / When the weekend rolls around I get to missing you / So this whiskey’s got some work to do.”
Play / stream / download “Work To Do” here. And… Pre-add / pre-save Walker’s new song “Lonely For a Livin'” (released June 23) here.
Fans relate to his blue-collar, hard-working background
By Preshias Harris
Bryan Martin came up working hard for everything he has achieved. Along the way, he has faced almost overwhelming challenges – many of which, he admits, have been what he calls “self-inflicted.”
During CMA Fest, Bryan and I sat down to talk about his recent album, Poets & Old Souls, and the connection between his hard life and his music.
Just days after CMA Fest, Bryan released his latest single titled “Goin’ For Broke” (Average Joes Entertainment), available on all major digital platforms. Listen to “Goin’ For Broke” here and watch the gritty B&W music video (directed Julian Mendoza)here.
Bryan Martin’s hardscrabble music is obviously resonating with his fans. Poets & Old Souls has already garnered over sixty million worldwide streams, and one of the album tracks, “We Ride” recently broke the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Juna N Joey “Slip Out the Side Door” on new single
By Preshias Harris
Brother and sister duo, Juna N Joey, caught the world’s attention as viral sensations. They chalked up around 8.5 million collective views on YouTube and a viral 10 million views on Tik Tok; their rendition of Mariah Carey’s Holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas is You” landed them on Instagram’s Best Covers of the Year list for 2022.
Then came two singles and a debut EP ahead of their current single “Slip Out the Side Door” that takes full advantage of their peerless sibling harmonies.
During Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in March, Juna N Joey sat down with me to talk about the new single and their upcoming EP. You can read the full interview at Center Stage Mag here.
In the interview we talked about their songwriting process and their experience of being in the studio recording “Slip Out the Side Door.” All their previous recording had been during Covid. “With this record,” Joey told me, “I felt that everybody was together and had ideas while we were in the same room so there was more of a connection.”
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com@PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris
Twangy honky-tonker blends ’90s country with contemporary sound
By Preshias Harris
How about a song with a vibe and storyline that feel like Dukes of Hazzard meets Urban Cowboy? Intrigued? Well, that’s howAndy Pursell describes his new single.
Pursell, a Florida-based singer-songwriter and indie country recording artist (Southern Dreams Ent.) has announced the scheduled release of his newest tune “Right Amount of Wrong.” Written by Ryan Griffin and Terry Dennis, and produced by Mark Dreyer, the track will be available via all digital retail outlets and streaming platforms Friday, March 17, 2023. (Presale/pre-save event begins March 3, 2023. Presale / Pre-save here. )
Recorded at Studio 23 Lakeside Recording in Nashville, the single features instrumental performances by award-winning, A-list musicians, including four-time ACM “Steel Guitarist of the Year,” Mike Johnson (Jason Aldean/Carrie Underwood/Jon Pardi/George Strait/Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard), Kevin Grant (Willie Nelson/Merle Haggard/Colt Ford/Josh Turner) and Mike Rojas (George Strait/Tim McGraw/Brett Eldredge).
Sisters Nata and Tinka Morris are American Blonde. They were previously a trio known as Southern Halo, but when sister Hannah moved on to follow other interests, the two remaining siblings – both blondes – emerged with what now seems the perfect name.
They dropped by a few days ago for a fun visit and we talked about their new single (“All Horses Firin‘”), their current album, making music videos, their musical influences and upcoming tour dates.
Read the full story and my interview with Nata and Tinka here at Center Stage Mag. “There’s Somethin’ in the Water” for American Blonde!
Nata and Tinka shared this fun pic on social media!
More about American Blonde here and be sure to follow this link to our interview posted at Center Stage Mag.
Traditional country music is alive and well – in the shape of Alex Miller. A genuine country boy – he works the family cattle farm – Alex found fame on ABC TV’s American Idol Season 19. At the time, he was just seventeen and wowed all three judges with his self-penned song, “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me.” Judge Luke Bryan asked him, “What happens if you ever play the Grand Ole Opry?” To which Alex replied, “Oh, I don’t know, man. I’d die and go to heaven!” Luke said he’d try and make that happen. Sure enough, Alex got the ‘Golden Ticket’ and was off to Hollywood and a national audience.
Alex Miller performing on the Hard Rock Concert Stage at CMA Music Fest 2022. Photo: Brandi Hall
Now, the tall (6’ 6”) Kentucky native is regarded by country purists as The Real Thing: a torch-bearer for traditional country with a deep, arresting voice that defies his baby face appearance.
Despite his explosion on the music scene thanks to Idol, Alex is no newcomer to music, having performed in public since the age of seven around his hometown of Lancaster, KY, and further afield as his vocal and songwriting skills developed. In just the past couple of years, he has shared the stage with the likes of Hank, Jr, Josh Turner, Lee Brice and Shenandoah, and has performed at the Ryman Auditorium and at high-profile State Fairs. In October 2021, he was named Texas Roadhouse Artist of the Month. Now aged eighteen, he has released his debut album titled Miller Time – although, ironically, he is still too young to purchase the adult beverage alluded to in the album’s title.
Mikayla Lane visits CMT with her next single, “Ambush”
By Preshias Harris
June is proving to be a busy month for emerging artist Mikayla Lane who is partnering with Red River Publishing and Brown Lee Entertainment ahead of her upcoming single, “Ambush,” set for release on July 29.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Brown Lee Entertainment and Red River Publishing!” Mikayla shared. “Dewayne has played such an important role in the development of many artists’ careers and I am honored to be next in line to learn and benefit from his industry expertise.”
Mikayla Lane, center, with Dewayne Brown and Nancy Lee of Brown Lee Entertainment
The folks at Brown Lee were equally excited to join forces with Mikayla and Red River Publishing and embark on releasing her new material. “When we first saw her perform at The Local, we knew right then and there she was exceptional. Her writing and performance skills swept me off my feet,” said Dewayne Brown.
Brown Lee is a fully functional independent record label and artist development company based in Nashville. Established in 2021, Brown Lee Entertainment specializes in artist development, digital marketing and more.
Written by Mikayla and John Conrad and produced by Jimmy Ritchey (Jake Owen, Clay Walker, Mark Chestnutt), “Ambush” brings a spunky, cowgirl-themed tale of unexpected love on the range and offers up a western-esque vibe.
Hands up everyone who received their college diploma from Sir Paul McCartney? Anyone? Anyone? Step forward Alyssa Bonagura.
Attending the Paul McCartney Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts – and having the diploma placed in her hands by Macca himself – is just one of the notable moments in the unique career of Nashville-area native Alyssa Bonagura, an accomplished singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Her current release, “New Wings” is being followed by her newest song, the evocative “Paper Airplane.”
“It was three of the best years of my life,” said Alyssa, recalling her time in Liverpool. “I was looking for a school that specialized in music production, but I didn’t really find any in America that I was excited about. One day I was at a Christmas party with my parents and we met the English singer-songwriter Siobhan Kennedy who is from Liverpool. We were talking at the party and Siobhan said, ‘Have you heard of the Paul McCartney School?’ I said, ‘Are you kidding me? Paul McCartney has a school?’ She told me about it and the next day I applied. I told myself that if I was accepted that I would go. Well, I got accepted and I received a full scholarship from Sennheiser, the German audio electronics company. It was such a blessing.”
This is one of a series of interviews conducted during the 2022 Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville.
