Micah Redding: Adventurer

Shelley Raymond’s free and fearless vocals range from a cooing whisper to a soulful, plaintiff howl. Her lyrics tear you apart line by line, only to build you back again with verse after verse of surgically precise digs and strokes. Raymond casually combines elements of soul and folk into something she playfully refers to as “soulk music” (which, afterall, sounds better than “foul music”). Whatever she calls it, it’s not your average girl-with-a-guitar fare and deserves your undivided ear.
http://www.myspace.com/shelleyraymond

Rob Hawkins is a singer/songwriter that grew up as a well-travelled Air-Force brat before the age of five from Arizona to New Hampshire. Moving eventually from Ohio to Nashville he continues to ride the crossroads of music with his emotional voice, strong musicianship, and message driven songs.

Shawn A Finson (Wee the People)
Wee the People are a band; although, the name Wee the People refers less to a group of band mates and more to a group consciousness. It is a tribute to “the little people” or the commoners—those whose voice is rarely heard above the incessant drone of an ever present, growing, and looming noise machine. Wee the People use song to try and break through that ugliness. Sometimes we strive for harmony and other times we resort to dissonance, paying less homage to ideas about style than to the seminal ideas, which ultimately get stylized. Wee the People feel song is a great place to be idealistic, if not romantic. We are simply happy to have a voice, albeit small. We don’t claim to speak for everyone or even to make songs that appeal to the majority. We do, however, hope that our songs speak to someone. And we hope that someone joins in the conversation.
http://www.weethepeople.us/

Seth Harper is basically new to the Nashville music scene. Sprouting from deep Alabama roots, Seth looks to further a sort of Renaissance for his homeland, keeping his music wide-ranging but at the same time distinctly Southern in delivery. His voice is gritty, yet pleasant, and his songs are honest, yet oddly poetic. He tends to weave tales of weary souls, beautiful women, and second chances, all the while putting on an explicitly spiritual edge. He is still looking for just the right bandmates, but until then he will walk this road all by himself.
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(Frank Salerno)

Gentry Morris

The Writers Showcase @ Edgehill Studios
Tueday, September 25th
7:00pm-9:00pm

John VeLora

Billy Swayze

Originally from New York, Scott Maskiell began his songwriting career while on a national tour of the rock musical “Jekyll & Hyde” in 1996. Since then he has written over 50 songs and won awards for songs he recorded on his CD, The Clearing. His songs run the gamut of human experience and have been compared to the likes of James Taylor and Cat Stevens. One listener was heard to say ” So beautiful I can’t think!” With a percussive guitar sound and a sweet voice, Scott Maskiell is sure to tweak your heart.

Jon Raven

Crystal Thomas
My name is Crystal. I just turned 21 and I breathe chocolate and music.
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Born in Redlands, California, Crystal Thomas grew up in a musical family and began composing her own songs at the tender age of two. Crystal began seriously developing her own material in 1997.

By 1999, at age 15, Crystal recorded four impressive compositions that led to the involvement of Grammy award-winning songwriter Randy Thomas, as producer and collaborator. These early recordings caught the attention of writer/ producer Steve Diamond and former RCA representative, Teri Muntz, who began grooming Crystal for the pop world.

In 2002, Crystal moved to Turkey, where she helped develop a curriculum for 5th grade Iraqi children. During her time abroad she was acquainted with the Turkish artisan community, which influenced her both artistically and spiritually. After returning to the states Crystal co-wrote the script and music for the musical, “Evermore: the life of Edgar Allan Poe,” which the Frankin Classical Players performed. After meeting with major labels in 2004, Crystal realized she didn’t belong with a big label and she, Steve, Teri, and Randy parted ways. Crystal recently returned to Nashville to pursue the music of her heart, while supporting herself as a chocolatier at the Cocoa Tree in Franklin, Tennessee.

Crystal’s brand of artistic pop has been received as a musical breath of fresh air. With influences that include Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, Patti Griffin, and Rickie Lee Jones, Crystal’s style defies easy categorization. At 21 years of age, her musical style is surprisingly mature, with lyrics that are simultaneously vulnerable and incisive.

Poised to release her solo debut in 2006, under her label, Merope’s Star Records, Crystal Thomas is an intelligent and soaring musical voice, who explores the complexities of life, love, and the culture in which we live.
http://www.myspace.com/crystalthomas

Seth Harper is basically new to the Nashville music scene. Sprouting from deep Alabama roots, Seth looks to further a sort of Renaissance for his homeland, keeping his music wide-ranging but at the same time distinctly Southern in delivery. His voice is gritty, yet pleasant, and his songs are honest, yet oddly poetic. He tends to weave tales of weary souls, beautiful women, and second chances, all the while putting on an explicitly spiritual edge. He is still looking for just the right bandmates, but until then he will walk this road all by himself.

Brian White is a staff writer for BMG / Brentwood Benson. He has 10 number one songs to his credit in the Christian Market and is a 2 time Dove Award winner. Currently has songs in the country market on albums by Trace Adkins “Rough and Ready” , Neal McCoy “Tailgate” and Blackhawk “Brighter”. A frequent singer and speaker at conferences across the U.S. Has had over 300 cuts in his writing career.
<a href=”http://www.myspace.com/brianwhiteandcrowdoffaces
“>http://www.myspace.com/brianwhiteandcrowdoffaces

Rob Blackledge: When it comes down to it, Rob Blackledge lives for one thing…Polo Rosa Marie. That’s right. Italian food. Not to mention his love for motorcylces and kites, Rob is one of the most well rounded and talented musicians to hit Nashville since…welll, the last guy.
http://www.myspace.com/robblackledge

Tres Crow hails from Michigan but recently has made Nashville his home. He has been writing songs for ten years and counts The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Broken Social Scene three of his most influential bands. He is new to town and is looking to form a band so if you play guitar, bass, drums, or keyboards then contact him at trescrow@yahoo.com.
http://www.purevolume.com/trescrow

Shelley Raymond’s free and fearless vocals range from a cooing whisper to a soulful, plaintiff howl. Her lyrics tear you apart line by line, only to build you back again with verse after verse of surgically precise digs and strokes. Raymond casually combines elements of soul and folk into something she playfully refers to as “soulk music” (which, afterall, sounds better than “foul music”). Whatever she calls it, it’s not your average girl-with-a-guitar fare and deserves your undivided ear.
http://www.myspace.com/shelleyraymond

Gentry Morris: Ok so here is my bio…I am a pretty ordinary guy by most accounts. I grew up in Georgia listening to my dads old Creedance Clearwater Revival and James Taylor records and until I was about 13 I had absolutely no idea that there was any other music besides this…yes…I was sheltered. When I started playing guitar it was because I was a skinny little white kid and the girls didn’t like me…football was out…so i figured…maybe if I played guitar. Yeah…no artsy, I wanna change the way things work reasons…it was all for the chicks. Really that’s what it comes down to for most musicians whether they want to admit it or not. Well the girls still didn’t like me…sad day…so I started writing songs about it and then it began…no…no…no…not the girls liking me…the songwriting thing. So here I am today living in Nashville Tennessee trying to convince people to listen to my music and give me money for CD’s. My music is a “montage” (my word of the day) of those old classics my dad had, mixed with some more recent influences. People say I sound like John Mayer and Jason Mraz alot…I dont really see it that much but its cool if they do. Another one of my friends said I sound like an American version of Travis…which is really cool cause those guys rock! Anyway…I like my music…its not meant to be artsy or techincally difficult with secret meanings and all that jazz. It is meant to be simple… catchy…songs that will get stuck in your head…songs for first dates or last dates…songs for sunny days lying on your back in a park or rainy days driving in your car…they are singing in the shower songs…thats what I do…I make the songs you sing in the shower.
www.gentrymorris.com

Mayflye are an acoustic rock quartet based in Murfreesboro, TN. Comprised of four regular guys with day jobs and cell-phone bills, Mayflye spend their free time writing melodic rock songs with a verve that is often unseen in the contemporary acoustic genre today. Initially founded by fellow MTSU alumni, Gregory Castillo, Matt Frasher, and John Sorrels began writing songs together on the bottom floor of a poorly ventilated Murfreesboro apartment complex in early 2004. Later that spring and in need of a bassist, they joined forces with perhaps the most unlikely of characters, David Castro, a Columbian refugee with little to no experience as a bass player. In a brilliant display of confidence, David picked up the bass and earned his way into the band, dazzling its members with his obvious knack for melody and rhythmic poise. Since then, Mayflye have been determined to further their abilities and broaden their musical tact by flirting with a variety of new styles and even new instruments. So, is it possible that you will see a Mayflye post-hardcore polka-funk album in the near future? You never know. You just might.
http://www.myspace.com/mayflye