One of the things I look forward to coming out of the holidays is the annual Folk Alliance conference. It’s equal parts business conference and music festival: so work and play together. This year it was held in New Orleans, where the food added a third segment that was a big part of many conversations. […]
Search Results for: music with a purpose
The House Of Songs
The creative process of writing good music has been compared to catching lightning in a bottle. The implication is that it’s random good luck. Yet time and time again you hear of artists who have a process they follow and a string of great songs that came out of it. Similarly, musicians frequently get together […]
A Premiere From Matthew Ryan
One of an artist’s most meaningful – and noble – purposes is to reflect on the times in which they live. Sometimes it’s a deliberation on things personal, a relationship or individual struggles; other times it’s a consideration of the larger social and economic forces shaping the world. Matthew Ryan has long followed this artistic […]
Introducing the “Why It Matters” Interview Series
Several years ago Twangville had a cousin blog that ran an artist interview series called “Why It Mattersâ€. The interview questions were somewhat light-hearted but served a real purpose: to shine a light on the investments and sacrifices that artists make to build sustainable careers and why fan support matters. More than 80 artists participated […]
Americana 2018: Shawn’s Picks
Every fall, The Americana Music Association gathers members, artists and music fans together in Nashville for its annual conference. Starting with the annual Americana Music Awards and continuing through several days of showcases and panel discussions, it is a tremendous celebration of Americana music. Here are but a few of my favorite performers and performances […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Spring 2018, Part 3
Easy Ways, Andrew Duhon (from the self-released False River) Andrew Duhon is an old soul. One can hear it both in the warmth of his voice and the captivating charm of his songs. The New Orleans singer-songwriter bridges pop, folk and a touch of jazz into a sound that is gloriously captivating. Some of his […]
Michael Flynn Pretend Like
I first heard Mr. Flynn around 2004 with the release of Slow Runner’s no disassemble. I’ve been a big fan ever since. I’m not sure how to categorize his style/music, I just know I like it. I guess mid-tempo, introspective, thought provoking, self-deprecating, often sexy, sometimes funny, pop music would be a good place to […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Winter 2018, Part 1
Time Will Be the Healer, Glen Hansard (from the Anti- Records release Between Two Shores) Songwriting is arguably a numbers game. For many artists, the quantity of songs released is a fraction of those that are written. It’s a shame, really, as some quality songs can get left on the shelf gathering dust. For his […]
Mayer’s Playlist for September 2015
Into the Deep, Galactic (from the Provogue release Into the Deep) There’s a lesson to be learned across the eleven tracks that make up Galactic’s latest release. I can’t recall a record in recent memory that is so musically diverse yet sounds so cohesive. It is a testament to the New Orleans-based quintet’s immense musical […]
Sons of Bill – Live at Bottletree Cafe, January 15th
The Sons of Bill played for an intimate and enthusiastic audience at Bottletree Café in Birmingham, Alabama. Ironically the next day they boarded a plane to England for a European tour, in which one of the stops in the UK will also be Birmingham. That should set the table for an intriguing linguistic study comparing […]