We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. — Willy Wonka

Monday, November 16, 2009

NERFA was a blast. We are, as expected, exhausted, but in the best possible way. We never know what will come from our efforts, but we’re assured they weren’t in vain. I especially enjoyed being a panelist on Saturday afternoon and sharing about my Become a Record Label Project (still going on, by the way…) and our approach to connecting with fans through social media.

On the heels of such a rich onslaught of music, I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite contemporaries and new finds with you. They pretty much all fall into the “emerging” artists category, so chances are, you may not have encountered them before. I hope you discover someone you like among them, and support their music, too.

Jenee Halstead: Jenee and I are hatching a plan to tour together one day soon… Her sweet spirit and grit shine through her music. Well beyond her years in songwriting. She’s gutsy and delicate all at once, in all the right ways. This girl is going places.

Treasa Levasseur: Blown away. Jaw-dropped. Infectious. Can’t help but move you. The new generation of soul. Knocked me out of my seat. She’s the real deal. A must-hear or better yet, see her perform live.

Carla Ulbrich: I’d like to start by saying this isn’t normally “my thing.” I like songwriters with an achy bent (call it dark and twisty if you will…) But this self-proclaimed “Professional Smart-Aleck” had me laughing. I saw her by accident, but I’d call it a happy accident for sure. She’s witty and clever. A true comic songstress.

Joe Crookston: When David and I met Joe this summer at the Kerrville Folk Festival, it was love at first listen. More than that though, we found a friend in Joe. Rarely have I encountered a more genuine, generous soul. “Folk” has become a very broad definition, but Joe is cut from the finest fabric- I’d say he’s the most authentic troubadour of our generation. When he sings he draws you in, his music is an exercise in community and love. You can’t help but sing along and tap your foot.

Brad Yoder: Every once in a while, I meet an artist whose knowledge of music truly takes me back. Brad commands a complex musical landscape. To the trained ear, it’s obvious the discipline and attention to detail he applies to his craft. The more I work with him, the more respect I gain for his finely-honed skill-set. All of that being said, Brad has taken his songwriting to a new level in the last year or so. I shared a showcase in-the-round with him, and sat in on another set just to listen. Some of his new songs just reached in, gripped my heart and would not let go in the most beautiful way. His melodic and harmonic choices are lush, engaging and quite lovely. I can’t wait to hear what he comes up with next.

That’s it for now… we are almost to Cincinnati, Ohio where we have a few days off to spend with some dear fiends of mine from college. Have a good week!