News
Natalie Grant Wins 3rd Consecutive Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
On April 23, 2008 the 39th annual GMA Awards were held in Nashville, TN with Razor and Tie Music Publishing well-represented. Natalie Grant received the Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, an honor she has won for the third consecutive time. Natalie was nominated along with Amy Grant, Christy Nockels, Darlene Zschech, Krystal Meyers, Mandisa, and Sandi Patty. Her award in this category has complemented her critically acclaimed release of Relentless in February of 2008. Natalie is currently on a North American tour in promotion of the album. Congratulations to Natalie on all of her success!
Razor and Tie Music Publishing Breaks into Top 25 with Two Songs on R & R Christian AC Chart!
Razor and Tie Music Publishing/Maxx Music songwriter Phillip LaRue’s “Love is Here” from Provident Records break-out band 10th Avenue North makes its way to the #10 slot on the R&R Christian A/C Chart. 10th Avenue North is currently on tour in support of their highly anticipated album Over and Underneath, due for release on May 20th.
Razor and Tie Music Publishing enjoys another success this week with Natalie Grant’s “I Will Not Be Moved” currently charting at #21 (rising from # 25) on the Christian AC Chart. “I Will Not Be Moved” is the second single from Natalie’s album, Relentless, released in February on Curb Records to critical acclaim. Natalie has been nominated for 5 Dove Awards in 2008, including Female Vocalist of the Year as well as Artist of the Year.
Catt Gravitt
“Anything is possible”, according to Coal Valley, Illinois native Catt Gravitt. After writing songs that were recorded by the likes of country music superstars Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, JoDee Messina, Craig Morgan and Emerson Drive, perhaps it is. Catt’s powerful songwriting ability garnered her success not only in the country music world, but also in Christian music. She co-wrote the No. 1 single “In Better Hands”, for Natalie Grant, the reigning Dove Award “Female Vocalist of the Year”.
While living in Los Angeles early in her career, Catt toured and played in a band but something wasn’t right. She missed the country music she had been brought up on and moved to Nashville to work with producer Garth Fundis, whose past projects include Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland and Don Williams. In Nashville, songwriting took precedence over pursuing a career as an artist and Catt began focusing on writing for others. Before Catt knew it, she was writing for some of the biggest acts in country music.
Anders Osborne
Since 1994, Anders has been working as a professional songwriter in New Orleans. His song, “Watch the Wind Blow By,” was recorded by country music star Tim McGraw and released to overwhelming success. The song reached #1 on the Country Music Charts and McGraw’s album sold over 3 million copies. McGraw isn’t the only artists who’s recorded Osborne’s songs. Artists like Keb’ Mo’, Tab Benoit, Double Trouble, Dr John, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux have all recorded songs by Osborne and some have even garnered Grammy nods for songwriting and production.
As a solo artist, Osborne has released 7 albums. His most recent output, “Coming Down”, was highly received with high praise. Paste Magazine described Osborne as having “cooked up an altogether tasty gumbo of soulful blues, hard-won wisdom, and that impossibly great voice, magically conjured across the space of 35 years.” (Paste Magazine)
Razor and Tie Music Publishing Signs Legendary Songwriter Hugh Prestwood
Razor and Tie Music Publishing Signs Legendary Songwriter Hugh Prestwood to Exclusive Co-Publishing Deal
(New York, NY) – Razor & Tie has added legendary country songwriter Hugh Prestwood to the roster of its publishing unit. Senior Vice President, Music Publishing J.W. Johnson commented, “It’s an honor to work with a songwriter of Hugh’s stature. We look forward to adding to his legendary acheivements with future hits”. Prestwood’s deal with Razor & Tie Publishing is co-exclusive worldwide co-publishing with Skyline Music.
Hugh Prestwood has been a fixture in the country music scene for almost thirty years. He got his start in 1978, when Judy Collins discovered him and gave him his first hit song, “Hard Times For Lovers”. Collins subsequently recorded five more of his songs. Since then, Prestwood has penned #1 hits for Randy Travis (“Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart”), Trisha Yearwood (“The Song Remembers When”), Crystal Gayle (“The Sound Of Goddbye”) and more. He has also written songs for such iconic country music stars as Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty and The Judds.
Three of Hugh Prestwood’s songs have been nominated for Grammys. In 1994, he received a Primetime Emmy for “Outstanding Individual Achievement In Music And Lyrics” for his composition, “The Song Remembers When”, featured in the Disney special “Trisha Yearwood – The Song Remembers When”. Prestwood was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame last year.
On September 26th, Skyline Music, BMI and The Bluebird Café will present “Bluebird on the Bridge: An Evening With Hugh Prestwood and Friends”, a special acoustic performance to benefit the Nashville Songwriters Association International and the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum. Special guests will be announced shortly.
Dave Barnes
Although Dave Barnes’ first two albums (“Brother, Bring the Sun” and “Chasing Mississippi”) made him an independent phenomenon, achievement hasn’t changed the guy who honestly expects to replace David Letterman someday. He still puts out countless YouTube parodies and has even been know to rehearse his stand-up routine at shows. But Dave is serious about his music and who wouldn’t be after selling 45,000 units as an unsigned artist? Now with Razor and Tie, Dave is looking to his legion of loyal fans to help him duplicate his previous success on his upcoming “Me + You + The World”, due early this year.
Matisyahu
Since the release of his 2004 debut, Shake off the dust...ARISE and the phenomenal success of last year’s Live At Stubb’s, Matisyahu has continued to bring his uncanny, electrifying fusion of orthodox Judaism and classic reggae music to you with an incessant touring schedule and unbelievable energy. Now, Matisyahu and the band bring you their sophomore studio album, YOUTH.
Born in West Chester, PA and raised in White Plains, NY, the young man formerly known as Matthew Miller would undertake a monumental odyssey before discovering his path - and voice - as Matisyahu (the Hebrew equivalent of “Matthew,” and the name he became known by when he became observant). Via adventures in Colorado, Israel, Oregon, and New York City, he not only heard a profound spiritual calling, but also discerned a revolutionary way to share his discoveries and reflections, via the reggae and hip-hop sounds that had long been an integral part of his day-to-day soundtrack.
Matisyahu simply seeks to serve as a conduit for the messages of peace and unity that flow through him, to improve the world the world by sharing his music, and without letting ego or worldly desires interfere in that communication. “That’s what I’m aiming for,” he admits. “I don’t think I’ve fully gotten there, but that’s the goal.” And with Youth, he makes a quantum leap closer to attaining it.
Visit on:
Ari Hest “The Break In” Album Review
Ari Hest:
The Break-In
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars of 5
Label: Columbia
Released: 2007
Ari Hest has not had much rest in the last few years. Though his last full-length major label debut was three years ago, he’s released two EPs in the interim and claims to constantly be writing new songs. Thankfully, Hest’s prolific ways give him a wealth of music to choose from when delivering a full length project, making the concentration of quality material a given. And that’s exactly what’s happened with The Break-In, Hest’s sophomore Columbia Records effort. This is not just a coming of age. It’s something that is going to cement Hest’s place among some of the greatest singer/songwriters of the last two generations. And that’s because the songs on this record are, in a word, stunning.
You won’t tire of Ari Hest’s vocals, because they are smooth, smoky and politely listenable. Producer Mitchell Froom also worked some magic on the songs, keeping the arrangements simple enough to bring out the songs themselves, while giving them enough polish to give them a life of their own. In particular, the guitar work on The Break-In is tasty and complementary.
The simplistic beauty of “When and If” kicks off the album, and is followed by “Bird Never Flies,” a song Hest co-wrote with Gary Louris (Jayhawks, Golden Smog). This song, as well as “When to Quit” or the title track, have a throwback vibe akin to ‘70s coffeehouse music like America, Firefall, or Loggins & Messina — or in today’s world, like another prolific artist in this genre, Josh Rouse. “Leaving Her Alone” is equally sad and painfully triumphant, the sign of someone who is trying to move on after a breakup. That, and it may be Hest’s best song to date. “Right of Way” is a driving number along the lines of “Aberdeen” on Hest’s debut. Finally, “I’ve Got You” has the classic feel of a crooner, but with a modern pop sensibility.
While it’s true that Ari Hest should be following the natural progression of an artist with a few albums and a ton of songs under his belt, he certainly isn’t expected to be this good this soon. But he is. If you’re a fan of Hest’s already, you’re going to fall in love with this album in no time flat. And if you’re not a fan yet, well, you should be.
~Mike Farley
http://www.bullz-eye.com
Visit on:
Matthew Mayfield
Matthew Mayfield has shared the stage with the likes of Switchfoot, The Fray and Pete Yorn, opening for all three with his former band Moses Mayfield. After substantial touring and buzz, Moses Mayfield signed with Columbia Records and released the band’s major-label debut “The Inside” in March 2007. After the band called it quits in January of 2008, Matthew is ready for something new. He addresses his fans on his myspace page saying: “My name’s Matthew. I used to be in a band called Moses Mayfield. I love those guys to death. We made a big record with big sounds. Now I wanna try something small and unrefined.”
Drive-By Truckers
“As guys wrestle with the encroaching responsibilities of work and family, they still often romanticize or cling to their shit-kicking youth; the Drive-By Truckers’ principal songwriters, Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, represent each side of this coin.” (Pitchforkmedia.com) With two songwriters who are capable of so much, its not wonder Blender magazine called them “America’s greatest rock band…” Drive-By Truckers isn’t your average southern rock band, what makes DBT so unique is their ability to cross genres, tour relentlessly and, all the while, garner nearly universal critical acclaim. DBT is on tour this spring and will be featured on the upcoming compilation disc from the ground-breaking NBC show “Friday Night Lights”. Drive-By Truckers enjoyed a highly successful release in 2008 of their 8th studio album “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark.”
What the critics are saying about “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark”:
“You could argue that the Truckers should have revved up this Skynyrd side more often. But instead they let the songwriting speak for itself, and it sings loud and clear.”
- Rolling Stone, 4 stars
“The men and woman of Drive-By Truckers are masterful storytellers, Hemingways of our time.” - Marquee Magazine, 4 stars
“Drive-By Truckers’ seventh album is a sprawling scorcher, and while these guys certainly aren’t strangers to long records, “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark” is one of the meanest, leanest 19-track albums you’ll ever spin.” - Billboard Magazine
Visit on:
