Micah Redding: Adventurer

It’s Tuesday, October 25th, and we’re working on it…

Emily & Nick
Seth Harper
Mayflye

The Murphy’s Loft showcase was great. We had Rob Hawkins open up, followed by Shelley Raymond (a graduate of the Edgehill Studios Showcase who has an awesome stage presence). Then Seth Harper played an interesting collection of acoustic rock, including a cover song from the Gin Blossoms. Be sure to check out his song “Kramer’s Wall” on myspace.com/sethharper. Finally, Wee The People, including Shawn on guitar, and Clara (fresh from touring in Europe) on keyboards, played an awesome alt-pop set.

To wrap it all up, I sang a couple of songs, then drank a coffee milkshake.

-Micah

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.

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.
—
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.