Write your way to a record deal. That’s the advice often shared with aspiring singers. It’s based on the concept that by songwriting you are honing your skills, widening your music industry network and proving both your talent and work ethic to industry insiders.
These were words taken to heart by Drew Green. Born just 86 miles from Nashville, Drew grew up in McMinnville, Tennessee, known as ‘the Nursery Capital of the World.’ Country was the favoured music of Drew’s father and it was with his dad that Drew first heard the music of artists such as Alan Jackson, Eric Church and Sammy Kershaw. However, along with school friends, Drew began expanding his musical interests to encompass pop, hip-hop and R&B, including songs by artists such as Dr. Dre, Usher and Matchbox Twenty.
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.
SomewhereBetween The Secret And The Truth buzzes like a neon sign
By Preshias harris
Wade Bowen is back with a new album titled Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth, with twelve tracks co-written by Wade alongside writers such as Eric Paslay, Lori McKenna, Randy Montana, Heather Morgan and more.
He premiered the album – playing all the tracks with a full band – at a pop-up album release show August 15 at Analog in Nashville’s Hutton Hotel. Before the show, Wade and I sat down to catch up with what’s new in his world and how he dealt with the pandemic that brought his (and everyone else’s) touring to a dead stop.
Wade Bowen on stage during the pop-up album release concert. Photo credit: Preshias Harris
Initially, he told me, the shutdown and the terrible circumstances that surrounded it hit him like “a punch in the gut.” It caused him to go into what he called a writer’s drought.
“I felt I couldn’t write a song because I didn’t know what to say or how to say it or why,” he admitted. “I couldn’t make sense of it all.”
However, he came out of it and says that he started writing a lot. “I think that shutdown helped me to just stop and focus on what matters, and I came out of the other side with a brand new sense of self and a brand new sense of my career and what I wanted to do and what’s important in my life. I think you can hear that in my new stuff, specially with this new record.”
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.
Set to play Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
By Preshias Harris
A few days ahead of appearances at the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, Wheelhouse Records singer/songwriter Elvie Shane wrapped his first-ever headlining run on April 21 with a sold-out show at Nashville’s Basement East.
Elvie Shane plays to a sold-out crowd at The Basement East in Nashville. Photo credit: Garrett Rizan
Shane brought his My Kinda Trouble Tour with Frank Ray to a close, playing songs from his critically acclaimed debut album Backslider as well as surprising the capacity crowd with guest appearances by Lainey Wilson who joined Shane for a rendition of her ACM Song of the Year winning “Things A Man Outta Know” and Tenille Townes as she and Shane sang their duet “Nothin’ Lasts Forever.”
62-week climb to the top for writers Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure
By Preshias Harris
It was ‘party time’ on April 21 in Nashville: specifically, the Number One party celebrating the chart-topping success of “Whiskey and Rain,” recorded by Michael Ray. The event was held at the popular music venue The Local and hosted by BMI Senior Director David Preston.
Ray was there to share his appreciation for Jesse Frasure and Josh Thompson, the writers of “Whiskey and Rain.” The song represented Frasure’s twentieth No. 1 and the seventh for Thompson. The song was produced by Ross Copperman and is the lead single from Ray’s next album.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Big Machine’s Mike Molinar, MV2’s Tony Harrell, Warner Music Nashville’s Ben Kline, BMI’s David Preston, Rhythm House’s Vanna Moua, Rhythm House’s Stevie Frasure; (L-R, front row): Josh Thompson, Michael Ray, Jesse Frasure. Photo: Steve Lowry / BMI
During the presentations, it was noted several times that “Whiskey and Rain” was an ‘outside’ song (a song not written by or with the artist or producer or someone closely tied to the project). Outside songs have become more infrequent in recent years – as have songs with only two songwriters.
If Gavin Lee feels totally at home in the Great Outdoors, the stage is quickly becoming his second home.
Gavin spent his formative years with his stepfather, working their farm under the hot summer sun in Florida, and hunting and fishing together in the Fall. It was during these years that Gavin developed his love of music, learning to play guitar in his early teens and listening to the local rock and country radio stations.
This is one of a series of interviews conducted during the 2022 Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville.
“The songs that influenced me were a lot of Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt, definitely a lot of Hank, Jr.,” said Gavin about his musical influences. “A lot of older country, but definitely a lot older rock as well. I’m kind of a big Poison and AC/DC fan and all that. As far as pushing me in one direction, so to speak, one song that stands out in my mind in particular was “Check Yes Or No” by George Strait. That was the song that pushed in the direction of country. Before that I was listening more to rock, because my parents were both big fans of rock and roll, but my mom was a huge fan of Alan Jackson, so I listened to a little bit of Alan Jackson and a whole lot of rock and roll!”
He graduated from Molly Hatchett and Lynyrd Skynyrd to feeling an affinity with the Country artists of the 1990s and the storytelling that was relatable to the everyday working man and woman.
New project “Ambush” highlights her passion for western lifestyle
By Preshias Harris
Only a small handful of female Country artists – think Tanya Tucker and Taylor Swift – began their successful careers in their early teens and are still wowing audiences today. It’s time to add another name to that short but prestigious list: Mikayla Lane.
While still a ‘tween,’ Oklahoma native Mikayla recorded and released her debut EP, Rooftop Nights, and by the age of 13 she earned a spot on the talent roster of Ole Red (Blake Shelton), initially at the venue in Blake’s hometown of Tishomingo. She has now become a regular performer at all the Ole Red venues, including Nashville and Gatlinburg in Tennessee and Orlando, Florida. Quickly establishing a reputation as a must-see performer, Mikayla was soon playing notable venues including Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK, where she opened for Jon Wolfe and is that venue’s youngest opener to date.
This is one of a series of interviews conducted during the 2022 Country Radio Seminar (CRS) in Nashville.
Now – and still only sixteen years old – Mikayla has compiled an impressive catalog of original tunes that she has written and co-produced. She has released seven studio recordings including “Superman” that has racked up 80,000+ streams and counting. The music video for “Superman,” filmed in Tulsa, OK, premiered on CMT.com in October 2020.
Mikayla co-wrote and co-produced “Drive” in 2021, rapidly premiering in the Top 10 on the New Music Nashville Spotify playlist.
Elvie Shane continues his steady rise up the country charts with his debut single, “My Boy,” released on Wheelhouse Records, a BBR Music Group imprint. For the survey dated Aug 14, 2021, “My Boy” climbs 15 to 13 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in its forty-fourth consecutive week charting there.
For the same week, “My Boy” jumps 22 to 19 after sixteen weeks on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart that combines sales, airplay and streaming data compiled by MRC Data.
Elvie’s success means a great deal to me personally. I first heard “My Boy” when he sang and played it to me in my office in Nashville, where he and I were working on developing his music career. His star quality and – equally important – his strength of character and vision were undeniable even in those early days.
One day, Elvie invited me to lunch. But when we were in the car, he had a surprise for me. “We’re not going to lunch,” he said. “I’m taking you with me when I sign my record deal at Broken Bow.”
Preshias Harris with Elvie Shane as he prepares to sign with Broken Bow Records. Photo credit: Cody Heckber
I shed tears of joy that day, and the photo commemorating that special event takes pride of place in my office today. He is an inspiration to my current roster of emerging songwriters and artists who can see that a successful career in music is attainable despite the many challenges.
The April 2021 edition of my column, Inside Track on Music on Music Row is now posted at Nashville Music Guide.
It’s the longest continuously-running country music column in the USA. Check out the entire April column, with the accompanying photos and videos, here at NMG. Among some of the stories:
Justin Moore’s new project is an eight-song collection titled Straight Outta the Country that he announced on his Justin Moore Podcast.
Shenandoah’s Marty Raybon returns to his bluegrass roots, signing with Nashville’s Billy Blue Records that released the debut single “Walking the Floor.”
Ronnie Milsap believes it’s the music that makes you young. With A Better Word for Love dropping April 30, the 4-time Country Music Association Album of the Year winner is ready to tease his fans with a little “Wild Honey.”
Thomas Rhett’s journey continues with the release of part one of his fifth studio double album: Country Again Side A on April 30 and fans can pre-order it now.
Check out Cadillac Three’s new video for “Long After Last Call,” a startling reminder of the empty independent venues across the globe to benefit #SaveOurStages.
American country rock band and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame members, Exile, will reissue four of their legendary albums via a new signed deal with Time Life to coincide with the original Exile Reunion concert.
Plus much more. read the entire column here at NMG.
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
