Kyndon Oakes, Mark Vikingstad and Michael Boris make up the trio known as Lockeland. They were drawn to Nashville by their mutual love of music and have been writing and performing together now for several years.
Lockeland
Each brings a unique music vibe that blends them together as a trio. Kyndon began singing alongside family members before moving to Nashville in 2009, originally to pursue a solo career. Mark says he joined his high school band “because chicks dig it.” He moved to Music City just days after receiving his BA diploma in Music Business from SUNY Fredonia. Michael grew up in Apalachin, NY, but moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, graduating with a degree in Commercial Music Percussion.
Til The Cows Come Home
Together they create a three-part harmony that gives them a unique edge in the world of contemporary country music.
They are about to break out with their infectious debut single, “Til The Cows Come Home,” released March 8, 2019. Check out their website here.
A couple of days before Country Radio Seminar (CRS) hit town, we met up to talk about their new single and how they make music together.
Trio ‘locked in the land’
How did you come up with the group name Lockeland?
Kyndon: When we came together to form the group, we were trying to come up with a name and we kept texting each other with all these different names that we thought would work best. We fell on Lockeland just by chance. Mark and Michael are from New York and I’m from Kansas, and we ‘locked the land’ in between and met in Nashville. Plus it helps that Nashville is landlocked, so we settled on Lockeland.
Looking at your set list, it seems you’re open to playing music from a lot of different genres. What do you think of as your musical influences?
Michael: That’s one of the very cool things I love about this band because we all come from very diverse musical backgrounds. I started playing drums when I was eleven. I played a lot of ‘fife and drum core’ stuff. Then I moved into classical music, then I started listening to hard rock and a lot of punk, stuff like that. When I moved to Nashville, I simply hadn’t listened to a whole lot of Country. But when I moved here eleven years ago, I gave it a try and I was like, “You know what? There’s a lot of really great music here.” So there’s honestly not a music genre that I, personally, don’t like. I love R&B, rock, funk, country. I think that’s kind of the same for all of us.
“When people come up to you after the show and they’re talking to you and giving you that feedback, that’s when you know you’ve had a good show. You can feel that. You can feel the energy. They’re singing along, they’re clapping along, they’re in it.” – Kyndon Oakes
Number One party toasts Evans, DeStefano, Osbourne
“Kiss Somebody” is the first No. 1 in the USA for Morgan Evans, both as a songwriter and as an artist.
(L to R): Josh Osbourne, Evans, Morgan Evans, Chris DeStefano. Photo: Preshias Harris
Australian-born Morgan and his label Warner Brothers along with ASCAP, BMI and APRA AMCOS (Australia’s PRO) came together to celebrate for the three songwriters. Morgan, his producer Chris DeStefano (also a co-writer) and Josh Osbourne were at Sound Check January 17 to receive awards, kudos and plaques.
The single is off of his Top 10 US debut album, “Things That We Drink To.” Morgan’s artistic vision came full circle with his producer and hit songwriter Chris DeStefano. The eclectic country album arrived at #1 on the ARIA Top Country Albums Chart and scored a Top 5 debut on the all-genre ARIA Top Albums Chart in Australia. Evans’ current single “Day Drunk” has held the #1 spot on Australia’s Music Network Country Airplay Chart for 21 consecutive weeks. That track also topped the all-genre TMN Hot 100 Airplay chart for two weeks in Australia, almost unheard of for a Country act. The album has garnered critical acclaim and it looks like 2019 is not even going to slow down.
From 2007 talent show to 2018 No. 1
Morgan Evans. Photo: Joseph Llanes
Back Story: Morgan Evans moved to Nashville two years ago from his native Australia, where his career was already flourishing. He won a talent show in 2007 where the prize was a trip to Nashville to record a single. He is married to Black River’s Country star Kelsea Ballerini. He signed with Warner Bros in 2017 and released his U.S. debut “Kiss Somebody.”
Evans is supporting Old Dominion on the MAKE IT SWEET TOUR to kick off 2019, before joining the first leg of Dan + Shay THE TOUR beginning in February. At a NSAI fundraiser with Evans and his album’s co-writers and friends, they revealed that Evans and DeStefano had both co-written each of the album’s 11 songs (including the duet song with wife Kelsea)!
“Whenever I see the city skyline, I remember the first time I came to Nashville and I looked at that skyline and I imagined being a part of that community. And every time I have that thought, I get that rush of memories, especially on a day like today when we get to stop and look back and celebrate things. These guys have sat up here a lot of times, but for me, it’s the first I’ve experienced this. And I guess, more than anything, it means that I get to keep doing this for a long time.” – Morgan Evans
Jimmie Allen, Russell Dickerson, Lindsay Ell, LANCO, Dylan Scott will strut their stuff for radio honchos
The 2019 Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is just around the corner, set for Feb. 13-15, 2019 at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. CRS is an annual convention that brings together thousands of Country radio air personalities, program directors and consultants. They are joined by record label executives, A&R staff and artist management teams, eager to expose their acts to radio’s decision makers.
A highlight at every CRS is the New Faces of Country Music® show. The ‘Class of 2019’ will consist of: Jimmie Allen (Stoney Creek), Russell Dickerson (Triple Tigers), Lindsay Ell (Stoney Creek), LANCO (Arista), and Dylan Scott (Curb). The annual new artist showcase event officially closes out the seminar and remains one of the most anticipated events each year at CRS.
I have attended CRS for many years and always look forward with excitement to the New Faces show. Here is an overview of the artists that will be part of the ‘Class of 2019.’
Jimmie Allen
With such an amazingly successful 2018 in his rearview mirror, we have to keep reminding ourselves that Jimmie Allen is still technically a newcomer. But he’s definitely not new to Nashville. Reinforcing the maxim that ‘Nashville is a ten-year town,’ Jimmie arrived in Music City in 2007 at the age of 22 with a bank balance of $21.00. Virtually broke, Jimmie was reduced to sleeping in his car at first, so he could send money from paychecks back to his mom in Delaware.
Working a variety of jobs over the years, he was determined to follow his dream in music. Developing his skill as a songwriter, he signed a publishing deal with Wide Open Music in 2016. Then, in 2017, he was signed to Stoney Creek Records by Jon Loba, Executive VP of BBR Music Group. Jimmie’s debut album, ‘Mercury Lane,’ was named after the street he grew up on in Delaware. The album’s lead-off single, “Best Shot,” topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. With that song, Jimmie made history as the first black artist to launch their career with a No. 1 at Country radio.
In an interview with The Tennessean in December, Jimmie said he always carries $2.00 in his pocket every day with the promise that he must have given it away before bedtime. The reason: back when he first came to Nashville, someone gave him a dollar. He bought a chicken sandwich at McDonalds that he tore in half to make it last for two days.
“It made every sacrifice worth it. I got to look my son in the eyes and tell him, ‘If you work hard and are good to people, eventually you’ll get an opportunity to make your dreams happen.” – Jimmie Allen, speaking of his success in aninterview with the Tennessean, December 28, 2018
It’s also been a good year (or two) for Russell Dickerson. A fan favorite, he currently has over 200 million streams on Spotify and approximately 30 million YouTube views. He graduated from Belmont University with a degree in music and signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2010, releasing an EP, “Die to Live Again,” the following year. Continue reading “‘New Faces of Country Music’ set for CRS”
Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2019 is only weeks away, and now we know which artists will be featured in the New Faces show. CRS, billed as ‘the Only Country Industry Convention,’ is organized annually by Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB).
The acts scheduled for New Faces of Country Music® Class of 2019 are: Jimmie Allen (Stoney Creek), Russell Dickerson (Triple Tigers), Lindsay Ell (Stoney Creek), LANCO (Arista), and Dylan Scott (Curb). The acts were chosen from a slate of 13 nominees by radio station employees. The New Faces show, staged for music industry decision makers, has proved to be a major career boost for featured artists in previous years. The audience consists of radio programmers, air personalities, station executives, music media and label bigwigs. The February 15 show is an ‘industry only’ event, not open to the public.
The other nominees were: Jordan Davis, Morgan Evans, Riley Green, Walker Hayes, Chris Lane, Mitchell Tenpenny, Morgan Wallen and Aaron Watson. Lindsay Eli was the only female act on the slate of nominees.
CRB is a non-profit organization based in Nashville, Tennessee, created to promote the growth of country radio and the country music industry through educational programs. The New Faces of Country Music® Dinner and Show is co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Performances powered by Live Nation. More about CRS here. https://www.countryradioseminar.com
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and 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
Mark Wayne Glasmire has a voice that could have easily found him as a member of the Eagles if he’d been around a few decades ago. Not that he sounds old-style. Simply that he projects an easy, laid-back vibe that comes across most vividly in “I’ve Got A Feeling,” the first track on his new album, Can’t Be Denied.
Glasmire doesn’t fit the standard Nashville mold. In fact, he had made the move to Nashville but found he wasn’t a writer who could churn out hits on demand. “But I found out pretty quick that you won’t find success until you’re true to who you are,” Glasmire has said. “Don’t try to be somebody else. If you’re constantly trying to be what somebody else wants you to be, you’re in trouble.” He moved to Arlington, Texas, and found a new energy as both a songwriter and as an artist.
“Those Nights” is a heart-warming mid-tempo about the secure feeling that comes from knowing the one you love loves you too. Similarly, the title track, “Can’t Be Denied,” is sparked by that moment you know you were truly meant to be with someone. That feeling of instant connection continues in the jog-along ballad “Alysia,” inspired by a chance encounter and a single day on a Southern California beach. Love stays a little longer (but once again in a ‘love at first sight’ song) with “Deep Inside My Heart,” a joyous romp about anticipating the happy ever after. Yes, Glasmire is definitely a romantic. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Continue reading “‘Can’t Be Denied’ – new album from Mark Wayne Glasmire”
This is an album that has a message that is very close to my heart and my own approach to coping with major issues such as cancer.
Jimmy Charles ‘Hard Way To Go’
Jimmy Charles first came to national attention when American Idol sent him to Hollywood. Now comes a seven-song collection titled HARD WAY TO GO. Produced by Paul David (CeCe Winans, Andre Crouch, Jonny Lang), the EP is a showcase for Charles’ musical range from soulful ballads to guitar-shredding rockers.
Charles spirit on this album demonstrates that he is more than just a strong and confident vocalist. The EP kicks off in high gear with the guitar-driven “Blue Spaces,” made for happy-go-lucky beach listening. Charles sings: Hey shotgun pilot / the coast is clear / let’s sail out of dodge / like two beach ballin’ buccaneers. It’s a fun ear-worm that gets the listener in the mood for next summer’s sand-between-the-toes seashore fun.
Anthem of hope and strength
“I Am Not Alone” (also his current single) tells the story of dealing with cancer from the perspective of a teenager, a married man, a young mother and a senior citizen. The song becomes an anthem of hope and strength as each person in turn finds the determination to carry on. (On that subject, please read my personal note, at the foot of this review.)Continue reading “Jimmy Charles finds ‘Hard Way To Go’”
“Now We’re Gettin’ Somewhere” new single from upcoming album
When you meet most singer-songwriters, you discover they have a ‘day job,’ at least at the start of their music careers. Maybe they are restaurant servers or they are delivering pizzas. James Robert Webb has a day job and he has no intention of giving that up. He is a doctor with a medical practice in his home state of Oklahoma, as well as a blossoming recording career and a new album being produced in Nashville. As he told me during our interview (below), “I can’t abandon my patients.” His hashtags say it clearly: #DoctorByDay #SingerAtSundown
James Robert Webb
The upcoming album and the first single from the album, ‘Now We’re Gettin’ Somewhere,’ are under the direction of Grammy-winning producer Buddy Cannon. The single is now available everywhere on digital platforms. I recently met up with James Robert Webb to talk about his life and music.
Preshias Harris: OK, tell us the secret of how you balance a successful medical practice and a successful music career.
James Robert Webb: Sometimes I wonder how well I balance it. The other thing is, I’m a father, too. I’ve got my wife and three kids. The hardest thing for me is to make sure I’m spending enough time with the family, with all the travel and everything. But I don’t do a lot outside of music. My hobbies are all replaced by songwriting.
PH: So, no golf?
Keeping priorities straight
JRW: Exactly! Classically, as a doctor I’m not out playing golf. I’m not going out to Africa and shooting trophy lions or anything like that! [laughs] Most of my free time involves playing somewhere. But for me, it really comes down to having to keep the priorities straight. It might sound egotistical and greedy, but my number one priority is my health and me. Because if I crumble then everything else crumbles after that. Then it has to be my family, and third is my medical practice, because I always have to have that, and I can’t abandon my patients. And after that it’s music. That sounds like a lot of things to do, but you just get up every day and you’ve got to do those things in order.
“My goal is not to go out and be a star and play on stage for fame and glory or whatever. My goal is to create the best music. Music that can stand the test of time. To do the best I can with the gift I’ve been given.” – James Robert Webb
PH: What is one of the hardest things that you have to face in your dual careers?
JRW: It’s being away from my family, away from my kids. We would have moved here to Nashville, but we have a lot of family roots, both sides of the family, back home in Tulsa and Texas. So there’s a lot of support structure there, there’s a lot of people. Plus, my kids are in the age range of fourteen down to eight, so I don’t want to uproot them. But the good this is we have FaceTime, things like that we didn’t have ten or twenty years ago, to see people face to face.
PH: Your single, “Now We’re Getting’ Somewhere,” was released last month. Can you give me some “media tidbits” for what we can expect for your album?
JRW: A media tidbit… well, I’ve got a song I’m cutting by Bob McDill that has never been recorded. I love Bob McDill, he’s in the Hall of Fame. He’s been retired for a number of years.
‘Singles You Up’ goes Platinum; tops 200 million streams
Jordan Davis and his co-writers got together with music industry colleagues and friends to celebrate a Number One. But it was a unique celebration in more ways than one. ‘Singles You Up’ topped Billboard’s Country Airplay charts in April, triggering the Number One party. The bash, co-hosted by ASCAP and SESAC, was held Monday, July 30, at Nashville’s Fat Bottom Brewery.
[L to R]: Steven Dale Jones, Jordan Davis, Justin Ebach. Photo credit: Catrina EngelbyAdditionally, Davis was presented with a plaque marking RIAA’s certification of the song’s Platinum status. During the ceremony, it was also noted that ‘Singles You Up’ has already chalked up more than 200 million streams. Adding a cherry to that sundae, Country Aircheck stated that ‘Singles You Up’ was the ‘most played’ track on country radio for the first half of 2018.
Jordan Davis
Remarkably, this was his first single release, making all the song’s achievements even more unique.
Davis was joined by his co-writers, Justin Ebach and Steven Dale Jones, during a press session prior to the presentation. I asked all three of them if they had left the writers’ room knowing they had a hit with ‘Singles You Up.’ And could they have imagined scoring 200 million streams?
‘You know you’ve got something’
“When I had my first hit, they didn’t have streams,” said Steven. “I remember loving it [‘Singles You Up’]. I remember getting the demo and playing it for my wife, and that’s usually the key. I play her five songs a year and I write a hundred and fifty. So that’s when you know you’ve got something.”
Justin had a similar story. “I think I was telling my wife last week,” he said. “I wrote ‘Sleep Without You’ for Brett Young which was a big hit and, once again, a first single on a new artist. And I literally told her last week – I was playing a [writers’] round – and I was like, ‘Singles You Up’ is bigger than ‘Sleep Without You.’ I mean both are great, I’m grateful for both of them. But this song has just taken on a crazy life. The speed of it and just how much people are holding on to it… So, no, I don’t think I imagined this! [laughs] You asked if it had happened before and I’m like, kinda, but not like this.”
“I was nervous. I was up early. I was trying to come up with something to bring to the room and show that I’m not just in there for him to write me a song.” – Jordan Davis
‘I didn’t want to screw it up’
[L to R]: Steven Dale Jones, Jordan Davis, Justin Ebach. Photo credit: Peyton HogeJordan had vivid memories of the writing session. “That day, that write was, A., getting to see Justin again, because we’ve written before. And B., trying not to have [Steven] notwrite with me again. I didn’t want to screw it up,” he recalled.
“I knew the name Steven Dale jones and I was nervous. I was up early. I was trying to come up with something to bring to the room and show that I’m not just in there for him to write me a song. I’ve never told him this, but that was the goal of that write. And what came out of it was ten times more than me just walking in and being, like, ‘all right dude, show Steven Dale Jones that you can write a song. Please, just do that.’ So definitely, it exceeded my expectations.”
Justin noted that he writes with a lot of artists but it’s great to work with artists who know their phrasing, they know their lyrics they want to say. “Not every artist can do that, and that’s just a testament to him,” said Justin. “As much as ‘Singles You Up’ was a collective and a group thing and may not be totally always the lyric he would say, it’s definitely come out that, looking across the album, his phrasing is in there. His melodies are in there, his lyric is in there. That doesn’t happen for a lot of artists.”
‘Take It From Me’ climbing charts
Home State, Jordan Davis’ debut album
The follow-up single, ‘Take It From Me,’ is already charting. (#38 for the week of August 4, Billboard Country Airplay chart.) Jordan recalled that there was a lot of discussion about which song would be his first single: ‘Singles You Up’ or ‘Take It From Me.’
“I’ve said this from day one, I fought pretty hard for ‘Take It From Me,’” said Jordan. “That’s why we have people that we trust in our corner. I’ve got people that I trust like crazy and they were a hundred percent right. I think ‘Take It From Me’ is a little bit more ‘me’ lyrically, and I think you can see a few more of my influences on some of those lyrics.”
“The artist thing was something that came along, I think, after struggling to get a publishing deal.” – Jordan Davis
Songwriter first, then artist
This may be Jordan’s first Number One, but it is no overnight success. He came to Nashville to be a songwriter and spent several years co-writing and honing his craft. “The artist thing was something that came along, I think, after struggling to get a publishing deal to be honest with you,” he admitted. “I felt that I had a specific way that I wrote songs and a unique way that I delivered them. It just so happens that I found some people that wanted to take a chance on me and make a record.”
Both ‘Singles You Up’ and ‘Take It From Me’ are taken from Jordan Davis’ debut album, ‘Home State (MCA Nashville). The album, produced by Paul DiGiovanni, was released in March 2018. Jordan co-wrote all twelve tracks. Music and more at Jordan’s website. See the official ‘Singles You Up’ video at YouTube here.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and 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
A musician at a NAMM show is like a kid turned loose for a day in a candy store. Wherever you look, there’s something that makes your mouth water. That’s true if you are a seasoned visitor or a first-time newbie.
Now the dust has settled on Summer NAMM 2018, presented by the National Association of Music Merchants, we can look back at some of the ideas and products that really stood out. NAMM’s ‘Make Music Experience’ sets aside a day each year for ‘prosumers’ to get an all-day, all access pass at a very affordable price. (See previous posts here at NashvilleMusicLine.com.)
Through the eyes and ears of a newbie
Storm. Photo: Digital Bliss
I returned this year (my 28thNAMM) for the full three-day show. But on the final day, the ‘Make Music Experience’ day, I brought along Storm, a NAMM newbie, to experience the vibe through her eyes and ears. Storm is an up-and-coming alternative songwriter, artist and musician. Here are some of the outstanding products we were able to try out.
Let’s start with Storm’s report, in her own words, about two items that caught her attention…
“I can hardly believe when I got the opportunity to attend Summer NAMM, I was so excited,” said Storm. “As an artist walking down the rows of guitars and other gear, I felt like a kid in a candy store. NAMM did not disappoint. There were so many amazing booths, but in particular a couple of products stood out to me.”
Oz Guitar Works Tau-6 headless guitar
Oz Guitar Works Tau-6 headless guitarStorm tries out the Oz Tau-6 headless guitar
The first was Oz Guitar Works Tau-6 headless guitar. The Tau-6 is a compact, yet sturdy, headless guitar that is, as a NAMM goer said, “effortless” to play. It features a wood neck and aluminum body, modular removeable pick-ups, steel nuts, dual stereo jack outputs, and a clean sheet design. William ‘Oz’ Anderson was a very chill dude and took the time to answer questions and show his guitars.
When I asked Oz about his inspiration for the Tau-6 he replied, “I wanted to make a guitar that sounded and played better but took a minimalistic view. Keep the essential, chop the rest.” Making this guitar did not come without it’s challenges. Oz states that some of his biggest challenges were making the aluminum body affordable and making the petite body attractive. Continue reading “Our Summer NAMM top picks”
Music is a way of life for Dustin Collins. Growing up in a family where music was always present, it was a natural progression for Dustin to focus on a musical career. His music-savvy parents weren’t quite so sure, but, as he told me during our interview, he knew he had to be involved some way with music for the rest of his life.
Dustin Collins
Coming off a Number One hit, this Kentucky boy is back with a new album, due out in August. IT’S BEEN AWHILE was produced and mixed by Bill McDermott and mastered by Noah Gordon. Dustin invests much of his time touring throughout the Midwest and his home state of Kentucky, including a slot on Aaron Watson’s Vaquero Tour, as well as opening for Chris Janson, Granger Smith, Kane Brown, The Kentucky Headhunters and many more.
He took time away from a hectic tour schedule to sit down with me and talk about his music. Knowing he shares my love for Kentucky basketball, the first thing I asked him was, “Does your blood run Kentucky blue?” With a wide grin, he replied, “You betcha life it does!” I knew it was going to be a great interview!
This is one of a series of interviews with emerging artists in which I ask about their creative process and approach to the music industry.
Touring Road Warrior
Preshias Harris: You are quite a road warrior. You’ve driven hundreds of thousands of miles playing everything from honky tonks to fairs and festivals. What are the pros and cons of touring like that?
‘The Barn’
Dustin Collins: Money! [laughs] That’s the ‘pro.’ And the ‘con!’ The pro is, you make enough money to stay on the road. The con is, you don’t make enough money to pay your car insurance. It is what it is. But I love it. I’d rather be on the road. I sleep better in my bunk than I do in my bed. I love getting out to meet new people, to see new people, play my songs for people who never heard of ‘em. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, so I love being out there. So anytime we get a chance to take a road trip, all my guys are the same. They’re like, “Let’s Go!” By week two, they’re like, “Let’s go back home!”
