NashvilleHype!

Just got word that our friends cloudchase will be releasing their new cd That’s Love soon.  In an effort to build awareness, they’ve released two new songs on their Myspace - The title track “That’s Love“, and “Who You Are“.

If you’re a regular reader of NashvilleHype! you’re already aware of cloudchase, as they are by far and away our favorite Christian band.  To put it simply, they rock!

Here’s a vid from cloudchase - this is awesome - I love it. They are SO good - I wish one of the labels around here would wisen up and make them a household name. Maybe they will, but for now it’s up to us - and we’re proud to do it.

cloudchase came to our Supercell Benefit and gave it 100%. The video below is of part of that performance, and though the quality isn’t the greatest, you can still hear why they’re so great:

My favorite Christian band, who of late has a TON of interest from various labels around town, and who absolutely ROCKED the Supercell Benefit - Cloudchase - are the special guest of honor at an upcoming Battle of the Bands that will take place at the Exit/IN on Apr 27 at 4pm.

Cloudchase have been keeping up a pretty busy schedule playing shows, and I’m told they are in the studio as well working on a full length album.  So be on the lookout for new material sometime soon - not that you can get tierd of the old material!  It’s excellent!

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New Direction.  That is what caught my eye today.  So me being me, I had to ask exactly what direction this was going in?  Okay, so if you have never heard of Steven Cooper, maybe you would be familiar with his stage name, “Lyrycyst“. He is a proclaimed rap/rocker.  Rap? In Christian music? Why sure and if you have not listened to it you should. You get as much, if not the same amount, of “God’s Word” in it too.

Lyrycyst states, “When I first started I knew rap had several stigmas and one of my goals was to change the way people thought about it. People always complain that they can’t understand the words, there’s never much of a positive element, and the music is often a boring loop pattern. As I’ve grown as an artist, I’ve sought out to change all three- rapping in a clear way people can understand, making the content clean and relevant to the issues of the day, plus setting a standard for the innovative arrangements and creative music tracks. Because of these three things, I’ve seen people who never really listened to rap or hip hop before stand behind something they never thought they would.”

In the last six years this singer/songwriter has literally worked his way tooth and nail to get where he has gotten today. With over 300 live shows on his resume, some being alongside fellow artists Relient K, Jeremy Camp, and Toby Mac it is nowhere but up from here.

In his October 2007 release of “Masquerade” he delivers messages of the troubles in todays world, being lonely, obesession with celebrities, political division and the closeted subject of abortion. One of my personal favorites is “What If I” which is sung with Dove award winner Rachel Lampa. Abortion is a topic that is kept under the table in many places but when you listen to the words of this song, it makes you feel like taking a stand with many of us who are against it. Lyrycyst says, “I believe anyone can personally feel the pain of the issue because if our parents chose abortion we wouldn’t be here!”

Today Lyrycyst talks of what I would like to say is “a fresh breath”. Sometimes when this industry makes all the calls over and over and literally confines you to what they think you should be, a “breath” is a good thing to have to stay alive.

He states, “Since the beginning of this year I have felt the need to go in a brand new direction as an artist. Lets face it, I’m not your cookie-cutter christian artist, and sometimes it’s easy to get sucked into having to look and act like one. I’m determined to be the artist that I feel God has called me to be. I want to make the music I feel He wants me to make, whether the subject matter is controversial or not. I want to carry an image that represents who I am. I am determined to take my message beyond the christian market. If Eminem can say what he believes in, then so can I…”

Some people might think this would be a bold move for an artist to make. Yes, frankly it is and I think it to be a brave one. After all being a singer/songwriter is all about being who you are right? If you are who everyone else wants you to be then you have lost yourself in an imaginary life. I don’t care to say how sad that would be to realize you lost yourself after it was too late!

He further says, “The biggest part of what I’m saying is letting God take me where he wants me to go, instead of always being concerned with what the industry is looking for. I have no intention on every leaving my message behind, it is my foundation in everything I do.” Mega kudos for stepping up to the plate Steven Cooper-ahem-LYRYCYST! Be sure to mark your calendar for April 20th and head down to Rocketown in Nashville during GMA week to check him out!

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Several artists we’re very proud to have had on NashvilleHype! have been written about in their local papers, are going to huge National competitions and winning, are being played on radio shows coast to coast, gaining more fans than anyone can shake a stick at, and generally having a blast as their careers kick into high gear.   NashvilleHype! is all about letting others know about great artists we believe in, and in the promotion of these artist.  All of these artists came and performed for us at the Supercell Benefit.

Kelsey Skaggs has a great write up in the Dayton Daily News.  Our favorite part of her article is:

“Kelsey’s older brother, Kyle, came home for a visit after a year at the University of Louisiana and said to me, ‘Do you realize how much has happened for Kelsey since I left for school? I’ve never seen anything explode like that,’ ” Lisa Skaggs (Kelsey’s mother) said.

Thomas Miller, the popular Internet Radio Show host, just raves about Kelsey on his show.  He loves her music almost as much as we do - and she is featured not only on his show but also featured on the Thomas Miller Show homepage. 

Like we continue to say, it’s only going to get better for Kelsey.  She is amazingly talented and she’s taking all the steps necessary to have a long, lasting, and successful career.  Industry insiders here in Nashville (particularly those in the secular Christian music market) need to wake up and start taking note of Kelsey.  I promise you, you’re going to miss out if you don’t.

William Ferrarini just had an article released on Reminder Publications. 

“Ferrarini has been writing songs since he was 16 and touts “Send Me a Miracle” as one of the most meaningful of all the songs he’s ever been a part of writing. Cathryn Miller Gipson of www.nashvillehype.com, an online entertainmet news blog, seemed to agree. Of Ferrarini she wrote on the site, “While listening to it myself, I find it to be at a place of tranquility and quietness. His voice is comforting and soothing and a sound all his own.”

Paul King, the owner and editor of NashvilleHype.com, said Ferrarini’s “a good man for coming all the way down here to help us with the benefit … William is a rare find. He’s an extremely talented performer and songwriter, yet one of the most down to earth, humble and caring individuals you will ever meet.”That’s just too cool.  It seems like William is everywhere - and he’s certainly popular here on NashvilleHype!

Kelly Ray Davis probably did more than any other artists to promote the Supercell Show.  He had several news articles written about him and his focus was on the show - and he had several radio interviews as well and it was the same thing.   The Herald-Dispatch has written about Kelly a couple of times.  Kelly continues to tear it up back home and is looking forward to more trips to Nashville as things continue to pick up for him.

Readers know how much we love Rachel Farley.  She’s like family at this point, so when we learned that she had won numerous National awards from the North America Country Music Association International, we were thrilled!  She won 2008 Traditional Songwriter of the Year for “Lonely Alone”, 2008 New Country Songwriter of the Year for “Tennessee”, 2008 CD of the Year, 2008 Rising Star Award-Female Entertainer of the Year, 2008 Most Promising Vocalist of the Year!  Holy Cow!

You might recall we reported when she had gone to the local awards show in Georgia and brought home a handful of awards then.  This National awards show included the top 2 from each state and also Canada.  That’s a lot of competition! 

Rachel was recently selected as one of the 5 contestants for “15 Minutes of Fame, Jr” at Opry Mills on April 5th.  They will have a decible meter and will measure which contestant gets the biggest response from the audience as well as adding up judges scores. If she wins she goes to finals later in the year!  So we’re asking everyone to come see this spectacular talent perform and also help support her by making a lot of good noise after she performs.  We want Rachel to win and go to the Nationals - so come out and help!

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Have you ever been curious about the words you have written on a sheet of paper? Thought they might be a catchy little tune to be played on the local Christian airwaves? You are in luck! On Saturday March 29th, a one day workshop will be held at the Community Church of Hendersonville.  Write About Jesus began in 2000, and holds annual confrences in Missouri to help new and aspiring songwriters. This will be the first ever confrence in Nashville. Their mission is to equip and inspire the Christian songwriting community.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the class will begin at 9 a.m. You will have classes being offered in The Christian Writing Country, Writing the Pop Song, The Christian Writing Pop, The Spiritual Dimensions of the Creative Life, The Writer/Publisher Realationship, Writing for Southern Gospel, Writing the Worship Song, Song Painting, The Business of Music, Finding Creativity When You Don’t Feel Creative, The Co-Writing Panel, How do you write A Song About That?, Ministry Without Permission, The Publishing Panel, How do you write a great melody?, Making Your Demo Great, Crafting A Great Lyric, Pitching Your Song:What You Need to Know. Later that evening a concert will be performed by Christian artists

Scott Krippayne   and Kyle Matthews

The cost will be $150.00 which will include all classes, open critiques, and the evening concert. Several Write About Jesus clinicians will be on hand and a discount is available for co-writers and full time students. You can register online or call (314)348-1275.

Limited Time Offer: Sign up for the NashvilleHype! Newsletter and we’ll send you an extended version of our report 5 Do’s and Don’t’s in Nashville!  This Report is full of helpful tips for songwriters and artists alike.

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