DISClaimer: Pop Goes The Country

/by
Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band

Judging by the sounds reviewed today, the country genre has officially gone completely pop.

Not one of these tracks could be described as “country” in any conventional sense of the term. One of them is white rap. Two of them are folk. The rest are all written and produced as Nashville pop. Which is evidently what “country music” is these days.

There are two young ladies named Emily in the mix. Emily Vance and Emily Haines are sharing the DisCovery Award.

The Disc of the Day goes to the always-listenable Zac Brown Band.

SUSAN HARTMAN/My Instinct
Writers: Susan Hartman; Producer: Eddie Gore; Publisher: Pink Scarf, ASCAP; Pink Scarf (track)
-Rollicking and rocking and highly involving, but perhaps a little too arty in production and song construction for country music. Pitch her pop.

32cca44d538b12b49a3f0a60a9ea32daASHLEY GEARING/Train Track
Writers: Maren Morris/Jon Nite/Jimmy Robbins; Producers: Kenny Greenberg & Chad Cromwell; Publishers: International Dog/Words & Music/EMI April/Jon Mark Nite/Extraordinary Alien/Universal, BMI/ASCAP; Curb (CDX)
-It’s a kiss-off, but a mighty sweet and sunny sounding one. The full-bodied production and her soaring vocal are both exactly right. Recommended.

ANDY GRAMMER & ELI YOUNG BAND/Honey I’m Good
Writers: Andy Grammer/Nolan Sipe; Producer: Mike Daly; Publishers: Ladder Soul Music / S-Curve Songs (BMI), Sony/ATV / Nolan W. Sipe Music (ASCAP); S-Curve/Valory
-Bouncy and poppy. Packed with hand claps, electronic burbles, woo-hoo backing vocals, banjo and stuttering rhythms.

EMERSON DRIVE/Til The Summer’s Gone
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; TTA (ERG)
-Poor timing. This breezy, catchy, sing-along, summer-sounding song is coming out about three months too late.

THE LACS & JOSH THOMPSON/Tonight On Repeat
Writers: C. Sharpe, B. King, B. Berryhill, E. Coffman, B. Hill, J. Benson; Producers: Brock Berryhill & Evan Coffman; Publishers: Average ZJS Music Publishing (BMI), Don’t Be A Gypsy (BMI), Distinctive Third (BMI), Brothers By Fate (BMI), Joseph Benson (BMI); Average Joes
-I hate country rap.

ZAC BROWN BAND/Beautiful Drug
Writers: Zac Brown/Niko Moon; Producer: In The Arena; Publishers: Day for the Dead/Southern Ground, SESAC; No Reserve/Republic (track)
-Propulsive, driving and relentless. Hang on for the second chorus when the harmonies, rhythm, electronics and atmosphere all kick in with full force. What a rush.

SIBLING RIVALRY/Home
Writers: Butaud/Butaud/Cotten/Johnson; Producers: Shane Stevens & Neeki Bey; Publishers: none listed; SR (track)
-Singer Olivia Butaud with her acoustic guitarist older brother Mitchell Butaud on harmony vocals have a tender, touching tune about the lonely death of a homeless man. Very folkie.

2639892_20150727141722_226697477EMILY HAINES/Outside In
Writers: Janine LeClair/Michael Howard/Josh Thompson; Producer: Dean Scallan; Publishers: none listed; BMI; SSM (track)
-She has a vibrato that is quite ear catching in this bluesy, minor-key little outing. Intriguing.

EMILY VANCE/Serendipity
Writers: Carolina Baldridge/Emily Vance; Producers: Zac Odom/Kenneth Mount; EV (CDX)
-Very feminine and frothy. It has a giddy, girlish quality that makes you smile.

VINCE MATTHEWS & JIM CASEY/Melva’s Wine
Writers: Vince Matthews; Producers: Shel Silverstein, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson & Jack Clement; Publishers: Universal, BMI; Delmore Recording Society (track)
-Co-producer Johnny Cash called this “the greatest contemporary American folk song I ever heard.” I don’t know if I’d go that far, but it is a nice, acoustic, sing-song-y, simple ditty. It can be found on a song cycle called The Kingston Springs Suite. It was recorded in 1972 and performed as an “opera” once in 1978, but never released until now. These are folk songs and recitations about small-town people and small-town life. Colorful songwriter Vince Matthews died in 2003 at age 63, leaving behind such gems as “Love in the Hot Afternoon” (Gene Watson), “This Is My Year for Mexico” (Crystal Gayle), “The Toast of ‘45” (Sammi Smith) and cuts by Cash, Waylon, Hank Jr., Charley Pride, Webb Pierce and Gordon Lightfoot, plus this collection. His co-writer Jim Casey saved the tapes of this conceptual curiosity.

Musical Chairs: Arista Nashville, Blaster Records

/by
Luke Jensen

Luke Jensen

Luke Jensen has been named to the position of Manager, Regional Promotion for Arista Nashville. Based in Nashville, Jensen will report to VP, Promotion, Arista Nashville Lesly Simon and begin his new role Monday, Sept. 14. Jensen exits his post at Blaster Records, where he was Regional Manager of Promotion. The 19-year radio veteran’s previous career stops include Program Director at KVOO (Tulsa), and stints at KBEQ (Kansas City, Mo.) and WSOC (Charlotte, N.C.).

In welcoming Jensen, Simon remarks, “Luke is an admired colleague and friend whose experience and passion make him the perfect addition to our team. We are thrilled to welcome him to Arista Nashville.”

• • •

Bart Allmand 2015-2 crop

Bart Allmand

Blaster Records Sr. Vice President Of Promotion Bob Reeves announced today the appointment of Bart Allmand to the label’s promotion team as Regional Director. Allmand will start at the label Monday, Sept. 14 and will cover the Southeast Region.

The move reunites Allmand and Reeves, who last worked together at Monument Records.  Allmand was most recently VP, Record Promotion for Big Loud Mountain.

Allmand can be reached at (615) 476-2726 or [email protected].

Blaster Records was founded in 2007 and is distributed by RED Distribution.

Raleigh’s IBMA Perfomers and Presenters Unfold

/by

IBMA-AwardsA first reveal of performers and presenters for the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s 26th International Bluegrass Music Awards has been announced.

All five Entertainer of the Year nominees will perform, including Balsam Range, The Del McCoury Band, Hot Rize, The Earls of Leicester, and The Gibson Brothers (who will also host).

Presenters will include brothers Ronnie and Rob McCoury, sisters Charli and Kelsey Robertson (Flatt Lonesome), and husband and wife Kenny and Amanda Smith, as well as Sam Bush, Woody Platt, Shawn Camp, Jerry Douglas and Sierra Hull.

Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. A complete list of nominees, this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, the recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award, and tickets to the events can be found at ibma.org.

Held at Raleigh, N.C.’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (Memorial Auditorium) on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET, the awards show is the centerpiece of a five-day World of Bluegrass event (Bluegrass Ramble, business conference, Wide Open Bluegrass).

The IBMA Awards Show will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction), and syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks.

CMA Reveals 2015 Broadcast Awards Finalists

/by
Big D and Bubba

Big D and Bubba Show

After helping Steven Tyler announce the nominees for the 2015 CMA Awards earlier this morning, Kelsea Ballerini teamed with ABC Radio to announce the 2015 CMA Broadcast Awards finalists for Radio Personality and Station of the Year. The nominees were surprised when the two-time CMA Awards finalist called under the guise of talking about the morning’s nominations.

“Radio has played such an important part in this amazing year that I jumped at the opportunity to call the stations to tell them they were nominated for a CMA Broadcast Award,” said Ballerini. “It has been an amazing day and I was really happy to share it with people who have contributed so much to my career.”

National Radio Personality of the Year nominees included “The Big D and Bubba Show,” “The Crook and Chase Countdown,” and “The Lia Show.”

The CMA Broadcast Award winners will be notified in mid-October and will be acknowledged at “The 49th Annual CMA Awards,” which will be held Wednesday, Nov. 4 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) and broadcast live by the ABC Television Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Lia Knight

Lia Knight

Crooke and Chase

Crook and Chase

CMA BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:

National
“The Big D and Bubba Show” (Derek Haskins, Sean Powell, and Patrick Thomas) – Compass Media Networks
“The Crook and Chase Countdown” (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) – iHeartMedia
“The Lia Show” (Lia Knight) – Westwood One

Major Market
“Barrel Boy @ Night” (Eric Gruneisen) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
“Ben and Matt in the Morning” (Ben Campbell and Matt McAllister) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
“The Michael J Show” (Michael J. Stuehler) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
“Paul Schadt and Meg in the Morning Show” (Paul Schadt, Meg Butterly, and Geof Knight) – WKKT, Charlotte-Gastonia, N.C./Rock Hill, S.C.
“The Q Morning Zoo” (Tim Tuttle, Kevin Kline, and Erica Rico) – KKBQ, Houston-Galveston, Texas

Large Market
“The Big Dave Show” (David Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, and Jason Statt) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
“Karen, Scott & Radar” (Karen Dalessandro, Scott Dolphin, and Tony “Radar” Hess) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
“Mornings with Dave O’Brien” (Dave O’Brien) – WLHK, Indianapolis, Ind.
“Q Morning Crew” (Mike Wheless, Marty Young, and Janie Carothers) – WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
“Randy and Jamie” (Randy Carroll and Jamie Martin) – KAJA, San Antonio, Texas

Medium Market
“The 97 Country Breakfast Club” (Roger Todd, Melissa Moran and Dale Sellers) – WPCV, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
“Andy & Allison and The Morning Crew” (Andy Ritchie, Alison Mencer, and Jimmy Holt) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
“DJ Walker In The Morning” (Dennis Walker and Jim Wells) – KATM, Stockton, Calif.
“Maverick & Lulu” (Maverick Johnson and Luanne Kyrsz) – WCTQ, Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
“Tom and Becky” (Tom Owens and Becky Palmer) – WBBS, Syracuse, N.Y.

Small Market
“Barrett, Fox & Berry” (Bill Barrett, Tim Fox, and Tracy Berry) – KKNU, Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
“Bobby and Steve Show” (Bobby Cook and Steve Schwetman) – WKYQ, Paducah, Ky.
“The Dex & Mo Show” (Bill “Dex” Poindexter and Melissa “Mo” Turner) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Ken and Daniel” (Ken Hicks and Daniel Wyatt) – WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Scotty & Cara in the Morning” (Scotty Cox and Cara Denis) – KCLR, Columbia, Mo.

CMA RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

Major Market
KNIX – Phoenix, Ariz.
WKKT – Charlotte-Gastonia, N.C./Rock Hill, S.C.
WKLB – Boston, Mass.
WPOC – Baltimore, Md.
WSOC – Charlotte-Gastonia, N.C./Rock Hill, S.C.

Large Market
WCOL – Columbus, Ohio
WLHK – Indianapolis, Ind.
WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
WQIK – Jacksonville, Fla.
WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio

Medium Market
CKRY – Calgary, Alta.
KUZZ – Bakersfield, Calif.
WBBS – Syracuse, N.Y.
WCTQ – Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
WHKO – Dayton, OH
WIVK – Knoxville, Tenn.

Small Market
KCLR – Columbia, Mo.
KFDI – Wichita, Kan.
KTTS – Springfield, Mo.
WGSQ – Cookeville, Tenn.
WHWY – Ft. Walton Beach/Destin, Fla

LifeNotes: Canadian Country Star Hal Willis Passes

/by
Hal Willis at the 2010 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame induction.

Hal Willis at the 2010 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame induction. Photo: Grant Martin Photography/Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Hal Willis died in Nashville on Friday, Sept. 4, at age 82.

Willis scored his biggest U.S. hit with “The Lumberjack,” which reached No. 5 on the charts in 1964. He charted again on the Billboard country chart with “Doggin’ in the U.S. Male” in 1966.

Born Leonard Gauthier in Rouyn, Quebec, he formed a duet with his wife Ginger in the 1950s. Hal & Ginger Willis toured with fellow Canadian Hank Snow on a package with Elvis Presley in 1956. The couple moved to Nashville in the early 1960s.

Hal and Ginger Willis. Photo: Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Hal and Ginger Willis. Photo: Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

As songwriters, Hal & Ginger Willis had cuts by George Jones, Kitty Wells, Jim Reeves, Ernest Tubb, Bobby Helms, Charlie Walker, Rosie Flores, Hot Rize and The Wilburn Brothers, among others. Flatt & Scruggs scored a 1962 hit with the couple’s song “Just Ain’t.” Patsy Cline recorded their song “Walkin’ Dream.” They also co-wrote both of the Hal Willis hits.

Ginger Willis passed away in 2003. Hal & Ginger Willis were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

In Pictures: Cam, William Michael Morgan, Green River Ordinance

/by

Cam and Koozies at Y’allapalooza

With Koozies in hand, KBEQ Kansas City PD Mike Kennedy recently shared a smile with Arista Nashville’s Cam at the station’s 20th Y’allapalooza.

Pictured (L-R): xx and Cam

Pictured (L-R): Mike Kennedy and Cam

 

William Michael Morgan Makes Opry Debut

William Michael Morgan took to the stage on Saturday, Sept. 5 for his eagerly awaited Grand Ole Opry debut. Celebrating with a full house, including almost 50 family members and hometown friends, Morgan performed a cover of Keith Whitley’s classic hit, “I Never Go Around Mirrors,” followed by his first Warner Music Nashville single, “I Met a Girl.” He is currently on a radio tour promoting the first track from his yet to be announced debut album, which first appeared as a SiriusXM “Highway Find” earlier this summer.

Pictured left to right in Photo 1: Mike Taliaferro (Manager, Carter & Co.), Joe Carter (Manager, Carter & Co.), Lisa Ray (VP Brand Management, WMN), Cris Lacy (VP A&R, WMN), William Michael Morgan, Pete Fisher (VP and GM, Grand Ole Opry), Peter Strickland (GM & EVP, WMN) and Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN).

Pictured (L-R): Mike Taliaferro (Manager, Carter & Co.), Joe Carter (Manager, Carter & Co.), Lisa Ray (VP Brand Management, WMN), Cris Lacy (VP A&R, WMN), William Michael Morgan, Pete Fisher (VP and GM, Grand Ole Opry), Peter Strickland (GM & EVP, WMN) and Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN).

 

Green River Ordinance Performs at Grand Ole Opry

Members of Green River Ordinance gathered with friends backstage at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday, Sept. 5, before performing two songs to a sold-out crowd.

In anticipation of a forthcoming album (TBA), the band will tour major markets — Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville — this Fall on its ‘Fifteen’ tour, which kicks off this Thursday, Sept. 10, at The Mint in Los Angeles. For a full list of dates, visit greenriverordinance.com.

Pictured (L-R): Manuel Cuevas, Owner of Manuel American Designs; Jamey Ice, Green River Ordinance Guitars/Banjo/Mandolin; John Marks, SiriusXM Sr. Director of Country Programming; Josh Jenkins, Green River Ordinance Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar; Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry Vice President/General Manager; Colleen Marks, wife of SiriusXM's John Marks; Denton Hunker, Green River Ordinance Drums/Percussion Photo: Bill McClintic

Pictured (L-R): Manuel Cuevas, Owner of Manuel American Designs; Jamey Ice, Green River Ordinance Guitars/Banjo/Mandolin; John Marks, SiriusXM Sr. Director of Country Programming; Josh Jenkins, Green River Ordinance Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar; Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry Vice President/General Manager; Colleen Marks, wife of SiriusXM’s John Marks; Denton Hunker, Green River Ordinance Drums/Percussion
Photo: Bill McClintic

Tennessee State Route 96 in Franklin To Be Renamed ‘George Jones Memorial Highway’

/by
George Jones

George Jones

Soon a portion of Tennessee State Route 96 will be renamed for country legend George Jones. A section of the highway that runs through 10 counties from Dickson to Granville will be renamed ‘George Jones Memorial Highway.’

Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson is set to announce the renaming on Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. Anderson will also announce George Jones Day to commemorate the Grammy award-winning singer, whose career spanned 59 years. Jones died in 2013 at the age of 81.

Earlier this year, the George Jones Museum opened in downtown Nashville. The museum offers visitors an intimate look at Jones’ life and career, complete with gold and platinum music plaques, career memorabilia, a theater which shows videos of historic Jones performances, a restaurant, an event space, a gift shop, and a 75-foot rooftop bar overlooking the Cumberland River.

Sony/ATV’s Martin Bandier: 100 Percent Licensing Could Be Detrimental

/by
Martin Bandier

Martin Bandier

For the first time, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Martin Bandier is publicly discussing the Department of Justice’s ongoing review of the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees.

He sent this letter to Sony/ATV’s Nashville songwriters to emphasize the importance of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) Town Hall meeting being held in Nashville today (Sept. 9). The event is to inform and update songwriters about issues currently being considered in Washington.

To our Nashville-based songwriters:

As you know we are in the midst of a complex and lengthy process to address the issue of the below market royalty rates that our songwriters are subject to in the rapidly growing streaming music market. I am personally spending a great deal of my time dealing with this matter and Sony/ATV has been and remains at the forefront of efforts to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your essential contributions to streaming services.

I am sure you will agree that there is nothing more important right now for songwriters than addressing this issue. That is why I am urging you to attend a Songwriter Town Hall meeting that the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) is holding in Nashville on Sept. 9. The purpose of the meeting is to update you on changes that are currently being considered in Washington that if implemented will have a profound impact on long standing licensing practices and the royalties you earn from your songs.

As I have communicated to you previously, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has undertaken a review of the consent decrees that govern how ASCAP and BMI operate and how the royalty rates you are subject to are set. We have been deeply involved in the DOJ process for over a year, pursuing changes to these consent decrees which are more than 70 years old and were not designed for a music market that is becoming increasingly dominated by streaming services. While we remain hopeful for a positive outcome to the DOJ review, this process has taken an unexpected turn in recent weeks that, if not addressed, could have a significant impact on your earnings as well as restrict how you work creatively.

The DOJ is considering requiring ASCAP and BMI to engage in what is called 100% licensing. This is a complicated subject but it basically means that if either of these PROs controls any part of a song, no matter how small, they would be required to license the entire song without the approval of those who control the remainder. For example, you may have written a song with a writer affiliated with a different PRO. Under 100% licensing, a streaming service could bypass you and your PRO and go to your collaborator’s PRO to obtain a license for the entire song without your consent. You would then be subject to that PRO’s royalty rate, even if it is lower than your PRO’s rate, and you may have to depend on the other PRO, with which you have no relationship, to collect your share of royalties and account to you. This would substantially disrupt the well-established practice of licensees entering into agreements with each PRO representing whatever piece of a song they control and create significant accounting inefficiencies as PROs would have to pay royalties to songwriters not affiliated with them.

Under this scenario, songwriters might reconsider who they write with. Would you want to collaborate with someone signed to a different PRO if it meant you would be subject to a lower royalty rate? In addition, how would a writer whose song is licensed by a PRO that he or she is not affiliated with have any assurance that their royalties would be properly paid or paid at all?

These potential changes go to the heart of how performance rights have historically been licensed and how songwriters have always been paid. Requiring PROs to grant 100% licenses would be an unprecedented change to well-established licensing practices create widespread administrative confusion and potentially undermine a songwriter’s relationship with his or her chosen PRO.

This is why I am urging you to attend the NMPA event where I am sure you will gain a greater understanding of these complicated issues and learn how you can potentially help.

If you would like to discuss this issue further or have any questions following the meeting please don’t hesitate to contact us. I look forward to seeing you there.

Regards,

Martin Bandier
Chairman & CEO
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

[Updated]: Old Dominion Sets Full-Length Release, Reveals Cover Art

/by

OldDominionMeatandCandy

Seasoned songwriters turned major label breakout band, Old Dominion, have revealed the cover art via social media for a forthcoming RCA Nashville collective release. Titled Meat and Candy, the full length project will hit shelves Nov. 6.

The band’s lead single, “Break Up With Him,” was produced by Shane McAnally and gained early support from SiriusXM before the quintet signed with Sony Nashville in February 2015. The group joined Kenny Chesney for a run of 18 stadium dates on his The Big Revival Tour, as part of over 130 dates scheduled for the year.

The five-member group consists of Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung and Brad Tursi. A previously released five-song EP included additional tracks “Shut Me Up,” “Nowhere Fast,” Beer Can in a Truck Bed,” and “Wrong Turns.”

A weekly online video series will post every Wednesday through September in promotion of the project.

Meat and Candy track listing:

1. Snapback (Matthew Ramsey/Trevor Rosen/Brad Tursi)
2. Half Empty (Ramsey/Rosen/Matt Jenkins)
3. Wrong Turns (Ramsey/Rosen/Jenkins)
4. Said Nobody (Ramsey/Rosen/Tursi)
5. Crazy Beautiful Sexy (Ramsey/Josh Osborne/Ross Copperman)
6. Nowhere Fast (Ramsey/Rosen/Jenkins)
7. Beer Can in a Truck Bed (Ramsey/Rosen/Jenkins)
8. Break Up with Him (Ramsey/Rosen/Tursi/Geoff Sprung/Whit Sellers)
9. Song for Another Time (Ramsey/Rosen/Tursi/Jenkins)
10. Til It’s Over (Ramsey/McAnally/Jimmy Robbins)
11. We Got It Right (Ramsey/McAnally/Copperman)

Daphne Willis Signs Co-Publishing Agreement with Sony/ATV and Whizbang, Inc.

/by
Pictured (l-r, front row): Whizbang's Jennifer Wolczyk and Jim Scherer, Daphne Willis, and Sony ATV's Mark Abramowitz and Hannah Williams; (back row) Sony ATV's Ed Williams, ASCAP's Evyn Mustoe and Leavens, Strand & Glover, LLC's Hillel Frankel.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Whizbang’s Jennifer Wolczyk and Jim Scherer, Daphne Willis, and Sony/ATV’s Mark Abramowitz and Hannah Williams; (L-R, back row) Sony/ATV’s Ed Williams, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe and Leavens, Strand & Glover, LLC’s Hillel Frankel.

ASCAP songwriter Daphne Willis has signed a co-publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Nashville-based Whizbang, Inc.

“I am beyond excited to join the Sony/ATV and Whizbang teams,” says Willis. “I couldn’t be more thankful to have had support from ASCAP, specifically their GPS Program, which put me in the right direction. Ready to kick some ass!”

Sony/ATV Manager of ​A&R/Creative, Mark Abramowitz​ added, “We are excited to play a role in developing Daphne’s career as both an artist and songwriter.​ Daphne is a great writer capable of impacting both the pop and country markets.”

Born in San Antonio to a classically trained vocalist and audio engineer, Willis began performing at open mic nights around Chicago while a student at DePaul University. She eventually started a band and began playing around 200 shows a year across the United States. She released her first full-length album, What To Say, in 2010 and her second album, Because I Can, in 2011. She currently resides in Nashville.