Contest and Awards, Oh My

I write songs, because I don’t know how to not write songs. It’s as simple as that. I can’t help it, and it’s just what I do – It’s a part of me. The stories come into my head along with melodies and the chords. I play my guitar, and suddenly there’s a song. It’s what I’ve done since I’ve been about 12 years old, or maybe even younger.  I love it, and can’t imagine being otherwise.

I say that because it confuses and complicates things a little bit when I try to figure out if and how to promote what I do, or how to get these songs out to other people who might enjoy them or find meaning in them. It also makes me feel a little confused when I do get recognized for being a songwriter and performer.

So with all of that, I wanted to share with you two very exciting things that I’m still trying to understand a little better. First, I am a member of the International Singer Songwriter Association (ISSA), and very active in the New England and Northeast chapter. We’ve done a lot of great things over the past year and a half or so that we’ve been in existence, supporting each other, running a few shows, and generally being a great community.

I submitted myself for consideration for the annual awards, and I now find myself up for best male entertainer, rising star, and male emerging artist. It’s really very heady stuff and – while I recognize that I am one of probably about 30 to 50 people that will be nominated for those – it’s just incredible to see my name in the list alongside some of these people who I have admired for years. (I understand these are fan-voted awards, so I’ll share the links once I have them)

By the way, please join us for our March 2 ISSA showcase at One Broadway in Lawrence. Starting at 7:00pm, and I’ll share details as soon as I have them. 

And while on the topic of awards and voting: NPR has conducted the Tiny Desk Concert series for quite a while now, and the entry form came across my desk a couple of weeks ago. I went ahead and recorded a version of All’s Well That Ends off the upcoming album and submitted it. It has been accepted and is now on the entries page. My understanding is that this one is a judges’ vote rather than an open poll, but I will keep you posted. 

Once again, it is just amazing to be able to see a little of my own art positioned alongside that of people that I have admired for many many years. It’s a fascinating journey, and I’m looking forward to finding out what’s next.  

And I’ll probably write a song or two about it.

-Chris