California native and Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records recording artist Devin Dawson is a songwriter at heart, infusing songs on his upcoming debut album with passionate vocals and carefully considered words.
“That’s my way of coping and communicating,” says Dawson. “It’s just something I’ve done since I was 12 years old. I feel sometimes I hide behind a song a lot with things I need to say and things I need to get out. Sometimes I’m not the best at communicating, but let me write a song…”
Dawson began pouring his soul into music when he was a teenager, listening to ’90s country music and soul songs, while playing bass in a rock band, with his brother on drums. He spent his post-high school years touring with a metal band, before following his musical ambitions to Nashville’s Belmont University in 2012.
In 2014, Dawson and fellow Belmont student Louisa Wendorff lit up the Nashville music industry’s radar after they released a video for their mash-up of two Taylor Swift tracks, “Style” and “Blank Space.” Within a day of its release, Swift had seen the video and praised it to her followers with one word: “Obsessed.”
“It really helped both of us further our paths. It helped put me in the way of publishers and [I had to ask myself who I wanted to become]. The whole idea was for me to develop and put an EP out, get some buzz and maybe get some leverage before I went to labels. Right before I signed a publishing deal.”
Devin Dawson
Dawson’s post-Swift career boost led to meeting and inking a publishing deal with Nashville super producer Jay Joyce’s Neon Cross, as well as with Warner/Chappell Music. Last year, Dawson signed a recording contract with Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records. Joyce signed on to produce the project.
While writing for the album, Dawson continued touring, using his hours of stage time as a testing ground for new material.
“That’s one thing people overlook a lot is playing shows is such a huge part of development. If you are writing every day, you are not out there playing for people and finding out how they react…I feel like it’s important to find the ones that are right for your record.”
During his visit to MusicRow, Dawson performed acoustic takes of four songs that made the cut, including the introspective “Secondhand Hurt,” and his debut single “All On Me.”
“All On Me,” which Dawson co-wrote with his brother Jacob Durrett and guitar player Austin Smith, finds Dawson in the role of a comforter and reassuring soul, ready to offer a safe place amid life’s stresses. Once in the studio, Dawson and his band recorded the track in one take.
“I wrote a lot of love songs for the album. I like writing love songs, which is funny because I usually write love songs about where I want to be, not where I’m at,” Dawson says candidly. “I slipped it on the record and it’s one of my favorites.”
Devin Dawson with MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson.
Last month, Dawson shot the stark black-and-white video clip for “All On Me,” evoking elements of old Hollywood film noir. The video was filmed at the Tennessee State Penitentiary, which featured prominently in the 1999 movie The Green Mile, and has become a sought-after spot for music video producers, including those behind Eric Church’s “Homeboy” and “Lightning” clips.
“The whole idea was to take this upbeat, positive love song and insert this aesthetic, this darker vibe that I love, which is really in contrast to this song,” Dawson says of “All On Me.”
Joyce and Dawson agreed to cut the album with the same live band that Dawson had been playing with since his college days at Belmont University. The group spent more than two months in the studio, sometimes for 12 hours per day.
On “Dip,” written with Barry Dean and Luke Laird, Dawson and company recorded the track twice, once with a full electric setup and again with an acoustic vibe. Joyce then set about splicing the two versions together into its own quirky mashup.
“The whole song is about leaving a party and going out the back door, so it cuts to a bluegrass version. It’s the coolest cut. I still hear something new every time I listen to it,” Dawson says.
Devin Dawson with MusicRow staffers. Pictured (L-R): Eric T. Parker, Haley Crow, Sherod Robertson, Alex Kobrick, and Jessica Nicholson.
The moody and confident stunner “Dark Horse” was written after the album was technically completed, but its strength demanded inclusion.
“I didn’t feel like the album was done until that song was done,” Dawson recalls. “It didn’t feel like it was a whole body of work.”
Dawson hopes his meticulous selection of each track on the album reveals part of who he is a musician. “I like to think I’m an album artist. I want to tell a whole story. I can’t just put an EP out and tack some singles on,” he says. “That’s how Jay works, too. He’s not going to do a single, he’s going to do the whole thing.”
Dawson recently opened for Maren Morris’ Hero Tour, and will open shows for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, at the end of July.
Radney Foster Sets September Release For CD+Book ‘For You To See The Stars’
/by Lorie HollabaughAmong the tales Foster conjures up in his collection are the story of a retired spy in New Orleans, the tale of a Dallas lawyer wandering the Rocky Mountains in search of redemption, and a post-apocalyptic parable of a world in endless war.
“For me, the goal of writing is always to touch that one person so much that they wonder how I got a peek into their living room–how I understood exactly what they felt,” says Foster about his process. “More than just rhyming or having a pretty melody, I try to express a part of the human condition that can make someone want to laugh, cry, make love, or all of the above.”
Foster will appear at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville on Oct. 14-15 and at local bookstore Parnassus on Oct. 17 in support of the new project.
Weekly Chart Report 7/21/17
/by Alex ParryClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Devin Dawson Blends Rock Sound With Songwriter Soul
/by Jessica NicholsonCalifornia native and Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records recording artist Devin Dawson is a songwriter at heart, infusing songs on his upcoming debut album with passionate vocals and carefully considered words.
“That’s my way of coping and communicating,” says Dawson. “It’s just something I’ve done since I was 12 years old. I feel sometimes I hide behind a song a lot with things I need to say and things I need to get out. Sometimes I’m not the best at communicating, but let me write a song…”
Dawson began pouring his soul into music when he was a teenager, listening to ’90s country music and soul songs, while playing bass in a rock band, with his brother on drums. He spent his post-high school years touring with a metal band, before following his musical ambitions to Nashville’s Belmont University in 2012.
In 2014, Dawson and fellow Belmont student Louisa Wendorff lit up the Nashville music industry’s radar after they released a video for their mash-up of two Taylor Swift tracks, “Style” and “Blank Space.” Within a day of its release, Swift had seen the video and praised it to her followers with one word: “Obsessed.”
“It really helped both of us further our paths. It helped put me in the way of publishers and [I had to ask myself who I wanted to become]. The whole idea was for me to develop and put an EP out, get some buzz and maybe get some leverage before I went to labels. Right before I signed a publishing deal.”
Devin Dawson
Dawson’s post-Swift career boost led to meeting and inking a publishing deal with Nashville super producer Jay Joyce’s Neon Cross, as well as with Warner/Chappell Music. Last year, Dawson signed a recording contract with Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records. Joyce signed on to produce the project.
While writing for the album, Dawson continued touring, using his hours of stage time as a testing ground for new material.
“That’s one thing people overlook a lot is playing shows is such a huge part of development. If you are writing every day, you are not out there playing for people and finding out how they react…I feel like it’s important to find the ones that are right for your record.”
During his visit to MusicRow, Dawson performed acoustic takes of four songs that made the cut, including the introspective “Secondhand Hurt,” and his debut single “All On Me.”
“All On Me,” which Dawson co-wrote with his brother Jacob Durrett and guitar player Austin Smith, finds Dawson in the role of a comforter and reassuring soul, ready to offer a safe place amid life’s stresses. Once in the studio, Dawson and his band recorded the track in one take.
“I wrote a lot of love songs for the album. I like writing love songs, which is funny because I usually write love songs about where I want to be, not where I’m at,” Dawson says candidly. “I slipped it on the record and it’s one of my favorites.”
Devin Dawson with MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson.
Last month, Dawson shot the stark black-and-white video clip for “All On Me,” evoking elements of old Hollywood film noir. The video was filmed at the Tennessee State Penitentiary, which featured prominently in the 1999 movie The Green Mile, and has become a sought-after spot for music video producers, including those behind Eric Church’s “Homeboy” and “Lightning” clips.
“The whole idea was to take this upbeat, positive love song and insert this aesthetic, this darker vibe that I love, which is really in contrast to this song,” Dawson says of “All On Me.”
Joyce and Dawson agreed to cut the album with the same live band that Dawson had been playing with since his college days at Belmont University. The group spent more than two months in the studio, sometimes for 12 hours per day.
On “Dip,” written with Barry Dean and Luke Laird, Dawson and company recorded the track twice, once with a full electric setup and again with an acoustic vibe. Joyce then set about splicing the two versions together into its own quirky mashup.
“The whole song is about leaving a party and going out the back door, so it cuts to a bluegrass version. It’s the coolest cut. I still hear something new every time I listen to it,” Dawson says.
Devin Dawson with MusicRow staffers. Pictured (L-R): Eric T. Parker, Haley Crow, Sherod Robertson, Alex Kobrick, and Jessica Nicholson.
The moody and confident stunner “Dark Horse” was written after the album was technically completed, but its strength demanded inclusion.
“I didn’t feel like the album was done until that song was done,” Dawson recalls. “It didn’t feel like it was a whole body of work.”
Dawson hopes his meticulous selection of each track on the album reveals part of who he is a musician. “I like to think I’m an album artist. I want to tell a whole story. I can’t just put an EP out and tack some singles on,” he says. “That’s how Jay works, too. He’s not going to do a single, he’s going to do the whole thing.”
Dawson recently opened for Maren Morris’ Hero Tour, and will open shows for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, at the end of July.
Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy Expands Team
/by Jessica NicholsonEntertainment business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. has hired Lauren Dempsey and Iva Lowe as account assistants and Sarah Morse as an office administration team member.
“We are pleased to welcome Lauren, Iva and Sarah to the FBMM team,” said Julie Boos, FBMM senior vice president. “I am confident their talent will help us continue providing the high level of service we are known for to our clients.”
Dempsey, a Belmont University graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in music business, comes to FBMM after working as an accounting services and royalties assistant at Bluewater Music Services Corp. in Nashville. She managed invoices to all major music labels, entered royalty statements, prepared payouts to clients and handled bank reconciliations. During her time at Belmont, she completed internships at Big Loud Bucks and Warner/Chappell Production Music.
Lowe is a recent Middle Tennessee State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in music business. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance from the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. Prior to joining FBMM, she interned with Farris Self & Moore in Nashville, where she created and updated royalty trackers, addressed clients’ account problems and ensured clients claimed all property and revenue.
Morse joins FBMM with more than 15 years of customer service and clerical experience, of which 13 years were spent with the City of Clarksville. She has successfully managed several offices in a variety of industries.
Webster Public Relations Adds Three
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Molli Carter, Megan Gill, Dana Kyle
Nashville-based Webster Public Relations has expanded its team by three.
Molli Carter has joined as publicity manager, and will work with John Anderson, T. Graham Brown, Jimmy Fortune, Janie Fricke, Charley Pride, T.G. Sheppard and Sylvia. The native Nashvillian joins full-time after working as Associate publicist for the past year.
Megan Gill joined as publicity manager and will work in tandem with Webster VP, Publicity Scott Adkins on Bellamy Brothers, Billy Ray Cyrus, Brenda Lee, Craig Wayne Boyd, Crystal Gayle, Kiefer Sutherland, Lee Greenwood, Lifehouse, LOCASH and Tanya Tucker.
Texas native Gill moved to Nashville after graduating from Auburn University’s public relations program in May. Previously, Gill worked on the marketing team at Charles Schwab in Austin, Texas and also worked with the director of Auburn’s Chicken Salad Chick Foundation to organize the Music & Miracles Superfest 2017, which headlined Thomas Rhett and Blake Shelton.
Dana Kyle has joined the team as publicity manager and will work with Webster Sr. VP Jeremy Westby on Seether, Kenny G, Don McLean, Sam Moore and Taylor Hicks.
A Pennsylvania native, Kyle graduated from Penn State University where she studied Public Relations. Kyle previously held internships in the marketing/communications departments of both the Bryce Jordan Center in State College and the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Gill can be reached at mgill@websterpr.com or 615-777-6995 x229.
Carter can be reached at molli@websterpr.com or 615-777-6995 x225.
Kyle can be reached at dana@websterpr.com or 615-777-6995 x241.
Artist Action: Rhiannon Giddens, Randy Rogers, Hudson Moore, Becca Mancari, Charles Esten
/by Lorie HollabaughRhiannon Giddens To Give Keynote At IBMA Business Conference
“We are thrilled and honored that Rhiannon Giddens will be this year’s Keynote Speaker to kick off the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass,” notes IBMA executive director Paul Schiminger. “Rhiannon has embodied this year’s Business Conference theme of Community and Connection throughout her life and musical career. Her passion for American roots music, along with her thoughtful and purposeful career, provides each of us a lens through which we can see beyond our own barriers.”
Randy Rogers Band Auctioning Salt Lick BBQ Hangout For MusicCares
Hudson Moore Becomes GIVN Brand Ambassador
“I couldn’t be happier to be teaming up with GIVN Water!” shares Hudson, “Their product is amazing and they’re making a huge impact by providing clean water to those in need. I’m honored to be part of such a meaningful and forward-thinking organization!”
Becca Mancari’s ‘Good Woman’ CD Slated For October Release
Good Woman Tracklist:
Charles Esten Celebrates One Year Of #EverySingleFriday
Charles Esten performs on stage for his #OneSingleYear Celebration Concert at CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
Introduced by CMT’s Cody Alan, Charles
and his band Sixwire (Steve Mandile, Andy Childs, John Howard, Chuck Tilley and Steve Hornbeak, with Steve Hinson on steel guitar) were welcomed to the stage with a rousing standing ovation after which they played, “This Town Is Ours.” The concert ended with an encore that kept fans on their feet. Esten recently spoke with MusicRow about the craft of songwriting the creative freedom and challenges of #EverySingleFriday.Music City Hit-Makers Returns To Cheekwood For Two Shows In August
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (clockwise from top left): Kyle Jacobs, Jessi Alexander, Marcus Hummon, Hillary Lindsey, Rivers Rutherford and Chris DeStefano.
The symphony and songwriters mashup show Music City Hit-Makers will return to Cheekwood’s Swan Lawn for the fourth annual “Songwriters Under The Stars” on Aug. 25 and 26. The two-night concert series will feature some of Nashville’s most successful songwriters including Kyle Jacobs, Jessi Alexander and Marcus Hummon on Friday night (Aug. 25) and Hillary Lindsey, Rivers Rutherford and Chris DeStefano on Saturday night (Aug. 26). The hit creators will perform their chart-topping songs with the Music City Symphony during the special shows.
DISClaimer: Alex Williams, Shania Twain Offer Autobiographical New Tracks
/by Robert K OermannSometimes when you explore the landscape of indie releases, you find gems — and then there are explorations like today.
Finding gems amid this wasteland was easy. They stood out quite clearly.
The DisCovery Award goes to BMLG artist Alex Williams. I dig his “outlaw” vibe. Mitchell Tenpenny would have been right there with Alex, but I reviewed an earlier effort by him back in 2015.
With no competition in sight, Mercury Nashville’s Shania Twain earns a Disc of the Day award.
ANDY HUGHES/Heartland and Heartache
Writers: Andy Hughes/Becky Hughes; Producer: Joe Gantzer; Publisher: none listed; Move Along (track)
– He has a gentle, folk-ish delivery. His next step should be to find a producer. This sounds like a cheap demo.
MITCHELL TENPENNY/Truck I Drove In High School
Writers: Mitchell Tenpenny/Jordan Schmidt/Andy Albert/Devin Dawson; Producers: Jordan Schmidt/Mitchell Tenpenny; Publishers: Sony-ATV Countryside/WB/Freshy/We-Volve/Downtown DLJ/Neon Cross/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI/ASCAP; Riser House (track)
-He’s the grandson of music-biz legend Donna Hilley, and his EP is titled Linden Ave, which is the Nashville street where she lived. The single has a crunchy, “dirty,” bottom-heavy percussion track, some cool electronic effects and a super catchy tune. Turn it up and groove along.
SHANIA TWAIN/Life’s About To Get Good
Writers: Shania Twain; Producer: Matthew Kom/Ron Aniello; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (CDX)
– Bouncy, hooky and more than a little autobiographical. Eminently playable.
MARY SARAH/Without You
Writers: Mary Sarah Gross/Bart Butler/David Garcia; Producer: David Garcia; Publisher: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; 144e (CDX)
– I dig the spare, bluesy track. Her pert, conversational soprano has a piercing quality with just the right touch of attitude. Refreshingly different.
NITTY GRITTY GR/3 Up and 1 Down
Writers: Greg “Nitty Gritty” Roberts; Producer: Dulaa; Publisher: none listed; Reality (CDX)
– A complete audio garbage heap.
CRAIG COLLINS/Stand By My Country
Writers: C. Collins/J. Bates/B. Matthews; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; CC (track)
– Chest-thumping rock with a redneck accent and a barely-there melody.
SHANE OWENS/19
Writers: Jeffrey Steele/Gary Nicholson/Tom Hambridge; Producer: Kevin Wayne Waldrop; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Amerimonte
– The album version, reviewed a couple of weeks back, is a guitar-vocal performance. The single has a full-band backing track, which makes it more commercial sounding and gives it a lot more emotional resonance. Play this version.
CODY JINKS/No Words
Writer: Cody Jinks; Producer: Joshua Thompson; Publishers: none listed; Cody Jinks (CDX)
– Sluggish. The tempo drags along listlessly, and his dull vocal doesn’t help matters much.
ALEX WILLIAMS/Old Tattoo
Writer: Alex Williams; Producer: Julian Raymond; Publishers: Big Machine/Freak Flag, BMI; Big Machine (track)
– His lived-in baritone is very, very charismatic. The song meanders a bit, but the dobro-and-harmonica atmosphere keeps you hanging on his compelling delivery. Extremely promising.
NIGHT OWL COUNTRY BAND/Cool Gentle Wind
Writer: Matt Lee; Producer: Gene Higgins; Publisher: none listed, ASCAP; Stanley Music
– They have a sound akin to vintage Alabama. The song is rather generic. Pass.
Chambers USA 2017 Rankings Honors Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley
/by Sherod RobertsonIn the recently-released Chambers USA rankings for 2017, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley PLC has been recognized as the only Band 1 Media & Entertainment law firm in Tennessee. In addition to the firm being ranked in the top tier, all five partners of the firm, Mike Milom, Chris Horsnell, David Crow, Natalya Rose, and Page Kelley have been ranked individually.
Additional Nashville music industry firms listed and highlighted in the rankings include Adams and Reese, Loeb & Loeb, and Keller Turner Ruth Andrews & Ghanem.
Ranked lawyers also included, among others, Nashville industry members Jim Zumwalt (Shackelford, Bowen, Zumwalt & Hayes), Orville Almon (Almon & McPike), Linda Edell Howard (Adams and Reese), Russell A. Jones, Lynn Morrow (Adams and Reese), Denise M. Stevens (Loeb & Loeb), Derek Crownover (Dickinson Wright) and Jason Turner (Keller Turner Ruth Andrews & Ghanem).
Chambers USA has been published annually since 1990, and identifies and ranks the most outstanding law firms and lawyers in over 185 jurisdictions throughout the world, based on the investigation of more than 170 researchers.
Lee Ann Womack, Chris Stapleton To Pay Tribute To Jerry Lee Lewis On Special ‘Skyville Live’ Taping
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Jerry Lee Lewis is an American treasure and we’re beyond thrilled to welcome him to Skyville Live,” commented Wally Wilson, creator of Skyville Live. “We have some truly amazing artists lined up to play alongside and salute this living legend.”
The show is known for its unique pairings, from Lady Antebellum, Jason Isbell, Jewel, Brandy Clark and Amanda Shires bringing down the house with Kris Kristofferson on his classic “Me and Bobby McGee” to a fiery take on “Come to My Window” with Cam joining Melissa Etheridge onstage, to the impassioned performance of Steve Earle on “Pilgrim” with Emmylou Harris, Brothers Osborne, Margo Price and Colter Wall.