Emily Elbert is going places. Full of love, soul, and wanderlust, the 23-year-old has performed all over the U.S. and in 13 countries around the world, from Peru to Palestine and Turkey to Thailand. Raised in Texas on a musical diet of Antonio Carlos Jobim, James Taylor, and ’60s radio, Emily first fell in love with guitar when she was 14. Electrified, she dove into writing, singing, performing, and recording, and set her sights on attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. She soon landed a coveted spot in the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Foundation’s jazz ensemble, and was awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship. Now the recent Berklee graduate has played over 500 shows internationally, released three independent albums of original material, and won awards on both sides of the Atlantic. Known for her strong melodies, straight-to-the-heart vocals, and intricate guitar work, Emily has performed at some of the best listening rooms and clubs in the country. She has also opened for artists including G. Love & Special Sauce, Leon Russell, Tuck & Patti, Richie Havens, Kaki King, Kate Voegele, Joan Osbourne, Ryan Montbleau, Livingston Taylor, and Patty Larkin. Recent awards include being selected as the First Place Winner of the 2012 B.W. Stevenson Memorial Songwriting Contest, as well as a 2012 Timberland Community Eco-Friendly Artist. Glamour Magazine selected Emily as one of their Top Ten College Women in 2010, and she was also named to the top five of the Mountain Stage/NewSong contest. She’s a winner of Scotland’s 2009 BurnSong International Song Contest and was named the Best New Artist of 2008 by WUMB-FM Radio in Boston. The Dallas Morning News selected her as Local Rookie of the Year, 2007. Music lovers have watched Emily’s YouTube videos in droves, including over 400,000 views of her version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and over a million views of her YouTube channel. Emily co-produced her debut album, Bright Side, in 2006 and her second album, Proof, in 2010. Her third CD, a live, full-band recording, entitled Alive, In Love was released in May, 2012. The Boston Folk Festival says, “Emily is among the most glowing of the upcoming generation of American singer-songwriters, if ‘upcoming’ even applies to this phenom any longer.” What was your first instrument? My dad and grandmother are both pianists, so I started out there. Picking up the guitar was my 14-year-old rebellion. I wanted to be like Jimi Hendrix. Still do. What is your current obsession? Running. It’s my favorite way to get to know a new city on the road. I love waking up in a new place, finding a cool place to run to, and then seeking out a local vegan place to grab breakfast. Starts the day off with some spontaneity; makes you feel good. One word description of yourself? Chelsea Berry is a singer/songwriter with incredible edge, power, and finesse. Her presence has been described by listeners as compelling. “She draws the entire house into her world like moths to a flame. Her vocals are controlled, smooth, and intensely powerful. Her original lyrics are reminiscent of the folk music of the sixties.” Chelsea was born and raised in Alaska and made her way through Montana, Nashville, and Chicago before settling in the Boston area three years ago. Her music is played regularly on Sirius XM’s The Loft radio, and she has been played on Boston’s 92.5 The River, WXGR and WSCA in Portsmouth, NH, and many other stations in the Northeast. Liv says, “A voice of remarkable power and control with a joyous soul. Brave and bright, Chelsea Berry is the real thing.” What was your first instrument? My parents put me in the Alaska Children’s Choir at age 5; I was always singing at dinner, in the tub, at school, in the car–I guess they figured my obsession could be put to good use. As for something besides voice, I picked up the violin at age 10, but that didn’t last long. I guess the Suzuki Method doesn’t work for everybody. What is your current obsession? I’ve recently picked up the electric guitar, and I’m working really hard on my piano playing–more an investment than an obsession. My actual obsession is with soy lattes at the moment. One word to describe yourself Dedicated. Considering all the sacrifices of time, money, and resources it takes to make it in this business, I’m surprised I haven’t been committed yet. Worth it? Absolutely. Liv keeps me working hard. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Samantha Schultz is 21 years old and graduated in June 2009 from the Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts. She began singing at the age of 3 and has been playing the guitar since she was 11. Samantha writes her own lyrics and music and has a subject range far exceeding her years. Influenced by the likes of Jonny Lang, India Arie and Justin Nozuka, Schultz has created her own unique sound, which appeals to ages of all types. She has had many opportunities to showcase her talents by entering local competitions and playing at open stages and folk clubs. Samantha has performed at numerous music festivals across Canada, most notably the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Music Festival; she was featured in the Sirius Satellite “Six Pack,” including artists such as Serena Ryder, Sam Roberts, Bedouin Soundclash, Sierra Noble and Elliott Brood. She adds to her credits opening for such artists as Ryan Cabrera, Livingston Taylor, Kyle Riabko (starring in HAIR! The Musical), Ruthie Foster, Gaye Delorme, and Jennifer Warnes. In February 2009, Samantha opened for Schuyler Fisk and Ben Taylor at the famed El Mocambo club in Toronto, Canada. In November of 2006, Samantha was the youngest nominee in the category of “Young Performer of the Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. In 2007 and 2009, Samantha was a nominee in the Edmonton Mayor’s Evening for the Arts in the category of the Stantec Youth Artist Award. Samantha has completed her junior year at Berklee College of Music in Boston, on the generous Gary Slaight Family Scholarship, and will be continuing into her final year in the fall of 2012. Samantha has performed at Cafe 939′s The Red Room, as well as at the Berklee Performance Centre in various Berklee College of Music productions. Samantha was also one of four students chosen to be a part of Berklee’s premiere award-winning and critically acclaimed a cappella group, Pitch Slapped, in 2009. In January of 2012, Samantha embarked on her first trip to Europe. She was a featured artist in the Close Encounters: Helsinki and St. Petersburg Music Festival, where she took part in the international songwriting/collaboration band. Schultz performed at multiple venues in Helsinki, Finland, and in St. Petersburg, Russia. In July 2011, Samantha released her sophomore album, Ink To Paper, a follow-up CD to her 2006 debut release, Both Sides. The album earned Schultz two 2012 Edmonton Music Awards in the categories of “Blues Album of the Year” and “Female Artist of the Year.” As a bonus, Ink To Paper will be sold in Tokyo, Japan, at the Shibuya Tower Records Store – an already familiar sight for Both Sides. The sky is the limit for this up-and-coming artist. 1. What was your first instrument? I would say that the first instrument I ever used was my voice. I have been singing for as long as I can remember (and thanks to a few home videos of me singing Celine Dion and songs from “The Lion King,” I think I remember a little more clearly!). As for the very first external instrument that I ever learned to play, that was the recorder, in elementary school! I even got as far as learning the alto recorder. Not too long after, though, I was given the opportunity to learn guitar, and so I did – on my dad’s old, nylon-string guitar. I haven’t gone back to the recorder since! 2. What is your current obsession? Musically, I am currently – and very enthusiastically – listening to the various singer-songwriters of today, including the likes of Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, and Jason Mraz. I am a sucker for artists that bare their souls (and the souls of others) in such a beautiful and classy way, and I am lucky to know a few of them, both inside and outside of my direct circle of musical friends. You can’t fight with pure honesty in the form of extreme talent, vocally and instrumentally. As songwriters, we are responsible to relay the feelings and experiences of those that cannot express themselves accurately. I only hope to learn as much as I can about this, and give anyone who listens to my music the feeling that they are not alone. There is at least one person who understands. Non-musically? I am currently obsessed with…well, you could say that I’m obsessed with life and living it to the best of my ability – but I feel that way every day. 3. One word that describes you? “Destined.” I don’t know for what yet exactly – what the details are, or where I’m going to end up – but I know that I’m destined for something. We all are. An award-winning singer/songwriter and pianist, continues to wow audiences and prove that he is the real deal. He is a gifted self-taught musician who excels in jazz, pop, and soul, as demonstrated by his expert writing and arranging skills on his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album of 2009. That same year, Matt won (by unanimous vote) the John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s top annual prize – the Maxell Song of the Year – for his jazz ballad “One of Those Nights”. That song also won the Billboard Songwriting Award in the Best Jazz Song category, and came in second in the International Songwriting Competition, as well as being nominated for a 2011 Los Angeles Music Award for “Best Male Vocalist” and “Best Jazz Song”. Matt attended Berklee College of Music, where he performed in the exclusive “Singer Showcase”, which highlights the school’s top eight singers. He cites many musical influences, such as James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Djavan, Miles Davis, and John Mayer, just to name a few. Even more impressive is the list of artists he has performed with, including Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, the Roots, Babyface, Christina Aguilera, and Livingston Taylor. Matt has been working and touring with his mentor and friend, Brian McKnight for the past several years. He also performs regularly with Javier Colon, the 2011 winner of the hit NBC show “The Voice”. Matt performed with both Javier and Cee Lo Green for the 2011 Rockefeller Tree Lighting show. Javier sings the soulful duet “Same Old Song” on Matt’s debut album, and Matt is a featured pianist on Javier’s upcoming album with Universal Records. Matt is a three-time “Amateur Night at The Apollo” winner, has performed with Brian McKnight on “Live with Regis and Kelly”, and was a musical guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ABC’s “The View”, and Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker”. He was a featured performer on the international “Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror” tour in 2010. Perhaps more inspiring is his constant effort to share his talent by supporting various charities, such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Songs of Love, Defenders for Children, Hillcrest Educational Center, and Community Resources for People With Autism, as well as his local food pantry. It has always been in Matt’s nature to give back, and although Matt has performed all over the world, he remains very close to his family and friends in his hometown of Pittsfield, MA. What was your first instrument? What is your current obsession? One word description of yourself Matt Cusson In the short time since her graduation from Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music, singer-songwriter Liz Longley has assembled quite an impressive resume. While best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Liz has quickly built a reputation as an accomplished songwriter, crafting intimately personal portraits through her music. Liz’s ever expanding fan base is not the only group to acknowledge her talent. In 2010 alone, Liz took home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country; the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Chris Austn Songwriting Contest. While she has frequently opened shows for established artists such as Mindy Smith, Nanci Griffith, Paula Cole, Livingston Taylor, Amos Lee, Shawn Colvin, Colin Hay and America, it is becoming clear that Liz is coming into her own as a performer. The Washington Post declared that she is “destined to a bigger audience,” Dig Boston called her “a rising acoustic sensation” and even John Mayer is a fan, calling her music “gorgeous, just gorgeous.” Most recently, executives at Sirius XM caught wind of Liz’s cover of Van Morrison’s hit “Moondance” and added it into regular rotation, along with her award-winning original song, “When You’ve Got Trouble.” They even invited her to perform live in their studios – not too shabby for a recent college grad. Liz may blush at the mention of her many accomplishments, but, if the last year is any indication, the momentum won’t be slowing anytime soon. Liz is currently touring the country in support of her most recent album, Hot Loose Wire, and preparing for a move to Nashville, TN where she hopes to write and record with some of the best in the business. What was your first instrument? What is your current obsession? One word description of yourself Videos: Liz Longley Born and Raised in London, Ontario, Ken Yates holds true to his roots as a Canadian singer/songwriter by following the influence of such folk stars as Neil Young. Self described first and foremost as a guitar player, Yates reaches out to his fans by crafting rhythmic guitar arrangements blended seamlessly with melodies that transport his listeners into the world of his lyrics. A recent graduate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, his debut CD, “The Backseat EP” has been grabbing the attention of listeners worldwide, most notably from John Mayer who recently blogged about the up and coming singer/songwriter’s song “I Don’t Wanna Fall In Love”. Artist Questions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E02TF9UUAE
Julia Easterlin is a vocalist, songwriter and performer from Augusta, Georgia. As a secondary student, Julia attended Davidson Fine Arts School where she received training in dance, classical piano, acting and visual arts, until committing to studies as a vocalist in 2005. Since then, Julia’s talents as a performer and songwriter have been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, The Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles, Downbeat Magazine, The John Lennon Foundation and the TEDxWomen Organization. Most recently, this Berklee College of Music grad performed at Lollapalooza and was recognized by the Improper Bostonian as an “Act to Watch”. Questions: First instrument – Voice! (It’s attached to my body. Easy access.) My first external instrument was piano. current obsession: Thumbing through design and architecture magazines. I love bold shapes and colors, and I’m inspired by the photographs in design periodicals. I have a recurring dream in which I live in a huge white room with enormous windows and high ceilings, and I’m hanging a massive red glowing sphere from the rafters. one word: Is the word “human” a good enough answer? I like it. “Human.” "No singer-songwriter makes electronics come across with more straightforward, organic verve than Julia Easterlin. She’s made a name for herself in Boston — as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, and electronic-music brainiac. Easterlin’s ability to build a song with loops as she sings and strums would be nothing more than a stunt if not for her rigorous compositional focus — and charisma. " - The Boston Phoenix
"Do Without"
"Seeds Show"
"Dialed In and Opened Up"
Emily Elbert
Ok, well “human” is the best one. Props to Julia and Liz. But since that’s taken, I’ll go with “evolving.” I’m in flux.
"Never Saw Blue Like That"
"You Me and Mary"
Chelsea Berry
"Light of My Life"
"On the Sidelines"
"Walking Strong"
Samantha Schultz
"Every Step"
"Comfortable"
"Here's to You and Me"
"One of Those Nights"
Matt Cusson
My Voice
Macaroni & Cheese
Happy
Twitter: @MattCusson
Facebook
"Little White House"
"Overdue"
"Goodbye Love"
Liz Longley
Piano! My grandmother found a free upright piano at a house sale and that day, it was in our house. My parents signed me up for piano lessons and I stomped my feet. I wanted nothing to do with it! Fifteen years later, that piano sits in my parents house… right where I wrote my first song and fell in love with music.
Eating healthy and taking care of myself. In January, I was in a serious car accident. Because of my injuries, I haven’t been able to run (which was a previous obsession). Now I’m focusing on nurturing my body to the best of my ability until I can hit the pavement again.
Human
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Twitter: @Liz_Longley
Facebook Page
"Into The Backseat"
"Strawberry Sleeves"
Ken Yates
"The Next Right Thing"
"Walk Katie Home"
"Lauralee"
Seth Glier
Julia Easterlin
New Noise
Emerging artists from the classroom of Livingston Taylor
Emily Elbert
Chelsea Berry
Samantha Schultz
Matt Cusson
Liz Longley
Ken Yates
Seth Glier
Julia Easterlin
