This edition of my Blog is on a Nashville-based guitarist, songwriter, and singer, Meg Williams, I think I first became aware of Meg through a very good friend of mine Lauren Anderson who is also a Nashville base singer and songwriter. I have Meg’s latest CD from 2019 “Take me as I am”. Meg has a very soft and sultry voice but can also belted out the words when needed. Her style is kind of Bluesy/Rock, Meg’s guitar playing is right up there with some of the greats. Like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy and BB King. Meg is a real powerhouse on stage, always giving an electrifying performance. When you go to a Meg Williams show you will definitely be having a great time. Cause she has so much energy that you can’t help to have a good time.
Meg has a great knack for songwriting, She writes songs that people can relate to as far as love gone wrong and other related issues of the heart. Meg was additionally selected as the house band director for the International Women in Blues Showcase during the IBC's for both the 2019 & 2020 showcases. Meg recorded her full-length album, ‘Take Me As I Am: The Muscle Shoals Sessions,’ at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, with Nola Blue Records. Meg’s album has since been played on Sirius XM’s Bluesville and radio stations world-wide – 'Take Me As I Am' has reached #27 on Top 50 Blues Album Charts & #9 on Top 50 Blues Rock Album Charts (Roots Music Report). Meg's song 'Little Bit of the Devil' reached #2 Top 50 Blues Rock songs & #9 Top Blues Song (Roots Music Report). Earning high respect and feedback internationally, ‘Take Me As I Am’ won a Bronze Medal for the 2019 Global Music Awards. Meg is working a new album for 2021, follow her on all the social medias to get updates on this new Album. Meg has performed at notable venues nationwide, including 3rd and Lindsley (Nashville, TN), Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar (Nashville, TN), City Winery (Nashville, TN), The Stanhope House (Stanhope, NJ), Rockwood Music Hall – Stage 2 (NYC), BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups (St. Louis, MO), Knuckleheads Gospel Lounge (Kansas City, MO), Sam’s Burger Joint (San Antonio, TX), Lafayette’s (Memphis), BB King’s Memphis (Memphis, TN), and many more. I would highly recommend that every music lover check out Meg Williams. You will not be disappointed; she definitely has a lot of talent and knows how to use it. You check out her website. https://www.megwilliamsmusic.com/home Here are some questions that I was able to ask Meg Williams. 1.How long have you been playing music? I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years! 2.How many bands have you been in? I’ve been playing in different versions of my own band (Meg Williams ‘Band’) for about 10 years! First in Rochester & Hornell NY, and now in Nashville. I’ve also played guitar for many different shows for artists & groups in both Rochester & Nashville! 3.Where were you born? Hornell, NY – a small town in Western NY about an hour south of Rochester. 4.Are you self-taught? No, I took lessons for many years in both piano & guitar, and then guitar throughout college. I have a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy. 5.Who are your biggest influences? So many!! Tedeschi Trucks Band, Allman Brothers Band, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Blackberry Smoke and Gary Clark Jr. 6.What style of music do you consider yours? I love so many different styles & genres – lately I’ve been writing in more of a roots rock feel (with blues, classic rock inspiration). 7.What was your first gig? How old were you? I think it was at about 13 or 14 years old? I was sitting in for a few songs with my science teacher’s band at a Halloween Faculty Party. 8.What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? Be nice & supportive! Show up! Do what you love and stick to it. 9.Do you write your own songs? Yes! I do some co-writing with a few different songwriters as well. 10.What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? Sometimes I just love to listen to hard rock / prog rock – everything from AC/DC to Metallica, to Liquid Tension Experiment and Dream Theater.
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This edition of my Blog is on Vicky Emerson a Singer/songwriter from Minnesota. I have only discovered Vicky a few months ago, through another musicians Joyann Parker. If you have been following me for any length of time you know that I admire the singers that have a unique voice. Well Vicky falls into that category. Some people may say she sounds a little like Emmylou Harris or even at times like Shania Twain. Which I can see that, but for me I think Vicky has a voice that borders on Country and Americana. Which the latter is what Vicky refers to her music being. To me Vicky’s singing is very Melodic in the way of being easy to listen to and keeps the melody moving in the song. She has such a beautiful tone to her voice and an amazing control. At the same time, she can keep you focused on the story line. Which brings me to Vicky’s songwriting, Vicky has a way of writing songs that the average person can relate to. Real down to earth songs about feelings and life experiences that we all have felt or been through.
Vicky has six vocal albums, plus some piano albums. I will be talking about the six vocal albums. Which I have recently obtained from Vicky. I have listen to all of them many times, trying to pick a favorite album. This is not an easy task; I have narrowed it down to the 3 top ones. In no particular order. “Steady Heart”, “Long Ride” and “Vicky Emerson”. Now this is not to say that the other three albums are not good, they are. Everyone of them has really great songs on them, but the three I chose each have the most on them. Now “Steady Heart” has at least three songs that I really like “The Reckoning”, “Good Enough” and The Boat Song”. The album “Long Ride” has four really good songs on it. “Long Ride”, “Every Shade of Blue”, “Ferris Wheel” and “Next to Me”. The album just titled “Vicky Emerson” is just an all-around catchy album, unlike the other five… The three other titles are “Wake me up When The Wind Dies Down”, “Dust & Echoes” & “Reach.” After releasing three critically acclaimed albums, Emerson believed it was time for her to step into the role as the producer. Also, this group of deeply personal songs seemed an ideal fit for Emerson to shepherd from pre-production to duplication. “The title track, “Steady Heart,” is a love song which Vicky wrote for her husband. Vicky says Love is beautiful, crazy, messy, and complicated. It can be the greatest high and the most heart wrenching low. She launched a wildly successful Kickstarter for Steady Heart and the album was recorded, mixed, and mastered in the summer of 2018. So, let’s go back to the most recent album “Steady Heart.” She produced the album and wrote, or co-wrote, all the songs. She recorded the album in Minneapolis with a set of players that included Steve Bosmans on some well-placed and effective electric guitar. Other contributors included Zach Miller on percussion, Aaron Fabbrini on stand-up bass and Jake Armerding on violin and fiddle. Kari Arnett, Annie Fitzgerald and Sarah Morris all sang background vocals. The resulting sound is built around Emerson’s strong vocal presence and appealing arrangements. Vicky’s vocal and songwriting is proof of why I tend to favor Women in the music field. They just seem to have a more natural way of giving their music more feelings. The one cover here is Richard Leigh’s Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, best known by Crystal Gayle’s interpretation. This version is slowed down, giving the sentiment of the song a deeper feeling. Vicky Emerson has been heralded by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and No Depression for her gorgeous, dusky voice and songwriting. Firmly establishes her as an essential, strong female voice in Americana music. Vicky said once in an interview, “The lack of female leadership and representation really started to bother me. I believe in being part of the change I’d like to see within the fabric of our music community. The vision I had for this album was crystal clear in my mind. I decided it was time to trust myself and my musicianship.” Vicky Emerson was raised in rural Wisconsin, has lived in New York City and San Francisco before relocating back to her roots in Minneapolis with her husband to raise her children. She continues to tour the nation as a solo artist as well as with her Americana duo, The Home Fires, with good friend Sarah Morris. Emerson and Morris have also launched Front Porch Music Group, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm for singer/songwriters. Vicky has opened for Gregory Alan Isakov, Amanda Shires, Eliza Gilkyson, Brewer & Shipley, Malcomb Holcombe and Brent Cobb as a solo artist and Emmylou Harris and Ben Rector as The Home Fires. Steady Heart reached #52 on the Americana Music Association Album Chart and #4 on the European Chart while the single, "The Reckoning", rose to #34 Americana Singles Chart. In 2019, the video for "The Reckoning" was nominated for Video of the Year as well as Americana Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Steady Heart by the Midwest Country Music Association. So, before I get to the questions, I was able to ask Vicky Emerson. I would like to say that the first time I heard Vicky sing which was on one of her live streams. I could not believe what I was hearing and why I have not heard of Vicky before now. I feel that the reason that she has such a beautiful voice is due to the fact that she sings with her heart. I have not met Vicky in person yet, but from watching her live streams I can tell that she is a kind soul and appreciate what she has in Life. When a Singer or musician can relay that across into their music and performances that my friend is a real God given talent. I whole heartily believe Vicky Emerson has this. So, If you have not had the pleasure of listening to Vicky sing I highly recommend you do and hear is where you can: https://vickyemerson.com/home https://www.youtube.com/user/VickyEmerson76 Now here are some questions Vicky was kind enough to answer. 1. How long have you been playing music? I have played music since I could reach the piano keys. I loved music as a small child, and I am lucky to have been able to enjoy a career in music. 2.How many bands have you been in? 2 3.Where were you born? Elmwood, Wisconsin 4.Are you self-taught? I am classically trained on the piano and self-taught on the guitar. 5.Who are your biggest influences? Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams, JD McPherson, Dolly Parton, and Emmylou Harris. 6.What style of music do you consider yours? Americana 7.What was your first gig? How old were you? First gig was playing the Christmas service at the Lutheran church we attended. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. 8.What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? My best advice is work with people you trust and lift you up and always trust your gut. 9.Do you write your own songs? Yes. 10.What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? I have a lot of solo New Age piano in my collection because that is the genre initially where I started my career. So, that means there’s a lot of George Winston in my catalogue. In this edition of my blog is about Cynthia Rausch I recently found Cynthia online, I have watch some of her live streams. Cynthia is an amazing singer and songwriter. Cynthia has a great Country sound to her voice, but her music is Country with a little twist to it. Cynthia will tell you that her style is “Texas gospel Red dirt”. Which after listening to her latest CD “Where I Stand” you can see how she came up with that name. One of my favorite songs is “Hangry”. She has a band Cynthia Rausch Band it’s a four piece.
Cynthia Rausch comes from a strong musical heritage. She began writing at 15 for her family band. They would travel to play music at churches & fairs from Missouri & Texas. At this time Cynthia started to notice that the roots she had in Gospel music was beginning to get a Country flare to it. So, this is want started your writing more country songs. With over 15 years of writing and performing currently under her belt, her recently released 15 track album, "Where I Stand" is her second album release to date, but the first with her current band and sound. In the past year, Cynthia has seen her writing change to a more Texas, Red Dirt feel that is evident in her current single "Barstool Queen." I also found from 2016 a CD that I think Cynthia put out as a Solo Artist called “Legacy” I like this CD a lot. Her desire to take her music to a new level was not an easy decision as a mother and a wife, but she enjoys the full support of her family and looks forward to continuing her career in music. Speaking for myself I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Cynthia. Now as I have said before in one of my blogs, is that this style of music is not my thing. But I have to say this about Cynthia Rausch’s music, is that it has a bit of a rock edge to it and this I do like, also Cynthia’s voice is powerful with still having the emotion to it that brings the songs to life. Cynthia’s voice is nothing like the cookie cutter voices we have in Country music today. Cynthia’s voice is pure Country sound. Which for my taste is like a breathe of fresh air. So, I highly recommend you check out Cynthia Rausch Band @ https://www.cynthiarausch.com/ and her YouTube page. Here are some questions I was able to ask Cynthia. 1. How long have you been playing music? 17 years. 2. How many bands have you been in? 2 including the one I’m in now. I traveled with my family when I first started playing and singing and we were the band Crossroads. 3.Where were you born? Virginia. My dad was Navy, and I was born when he was stationed in Portsmouth! 4.Are you self-taught? Yes and no. My dad started me off on guitar and I took it from there. Vocally, my mom, music major in college, taught me to sing at the start and I have studied to improve since. 5.Who are your biggest influences? My parents for sure. I enjoy music by Chris Tomlin, Don Francisco, Aaron Watson, etc. 6.What style of music do you consider yours? Texas Gospel Red dirt. 7.What was your first gig? Church with my grandpa pulling me onstage for sing amazing grace. Lol How old were you? 12. 8.What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? Be teachable when people give you constructive criticism, don’t get upset just because someone says something. YOU decide what advice you take. And research the industry and your craft and always try to improve. 9.Do you write your own songs? Yes, I do! Been writing over 16 years. 10.What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? Like what I listen to myself? Lol Probably that I love music by Skillet and Lincoln Park. 🤷🏼♀️ Lol |
AuthorHello, My name is Michael. I am into music, have been for over 48yrs. Big fan of all kinds of music, right now it has been the Blues for the last 10yrs. I do not play any instruments, But I very interested in the recording aspect of the industry. Have messed around with it a little and always learning new things about it. I have met many wonderful people because of Music.. Hope you enjoy my Blogs... In the last two years I have been producing House Concerts. I also in the past 2 years got to produce and engineer an album for a very good friend of mine from Sweden "Magpie". Archives
February 2024
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