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rwahlmusic

Excited to be a part of this wonderful event!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2018
 
Songwriter Serenade competition
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018
Parish Hall, 11135 FM 957, Moravia, Texas
Tickets: $10
 
SONGWRITER SERENADE
SELECTS SEMI-FINALISTS FOR CONTEST
 
15 outstanding performing songwriters showcase their original music
 
Austin, Texas — 15 Semi-Finalists have been chosen for the Songwriter Serenade competition, now in its twelfth year. The event will be held on Saturday, May 5 in Moravia, Texas. The semi-finalists were selected from 160 entrants from 22 states and Canada. Acclaimed Texas singer-songwriters Susan Gibson, http://www.susangibson.com, Walt Wilkins, https://www.waltwilkins.com and Phoebe Hunt, https://phoebehuntmusic.com will be judging the competition.  
 
The competition starts at 11 a.m. with the winner and finalists determined by 5 p.m. Tickets for the event are $10 and are available for purchase online at www.songwriterserenade.com or at the door. Advance purchase is recommended. Parking is free and Children under 12 are free; there will also be food and beverage for purchase by Simply D’Lish catering company http://www.simplyd-lish.com
 
The crossroads town of Moravia is centrally located just off Interstate 10 between Houston and San Antonio and is also just a short drive from Austin. The competition will be held in a classic wooden dancehall surrounded by live oaks and picnic facilities.
 
The 15 accomplished performing songwriters will compete for $7,000 in cash and prizes. 
 
Also, on the evening of the contest (May 5) the winner of the 2018 contest will perform as an opening act for the three Judges, Susan Gibson, Walt Wilkins & Phoebe Hunt at the Bugle Boy Venue in La Grange. For more information and to purchase advance tickets www.TheBugleBoy.org
 
The 2018 semi-finalists are (in alphabetical order):
 
Alphin, Clint Nashville, TN www.clintalphin.com
Archer, Edan Nashville, TN www.edanarcher.com
Baizan, Jordi Houston, TX www.jordibaizan.com
Boling, Daniel Albuquerque, NM www.danielboling.com
Bragg, Mary Nashville, TN www.marybragg.com
Bryant, Charles Pasadena, TX www.charlesbryantmusic.com
Emmer, Jackson Carbondale, CO www.jacksonemmer.com
Johnson, Dan Fort Worth, TX www.danjohnsonmusic.us
Krueger, Rich Evergreen Park, IL www.richkrueger.com
Lewis, Jodee Chicago, IL www.jodeelewis.com
Lynne, Mia Rose Cross Plains, TN www.miaroselynne.com
Pounds, Brian Austin, TX www.brianpounds.com
Richard, Chad Orange, TX www.chadrichardsongs.com
Styka, Heather Chicago, IL www.heatherstyka.com
Wahl, Renee Nashville, TN www.reneewahl.com
 
Accomplished singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Ken Gaines, of Houston, will emcee the event.
 
Established in 2007, the Songwriter Serenade competition gives performing songwriters a platform to showcase their skills. Sharing a deep passion for original music, co-chairs musicians Mike Stroup and Brian Kalinec, philanthropist Tom McDaniel, Stallion Springs Concert founder Rob McDonald and Lane Gosnay of the Bugle Boy in La Grange, founded the Songwriter Serenade to create a valuable career stepping-stone for songwriters and a memorable listening experience for the audience.
 
Past Winners:
 
Andrew Delaney-2017
Gabrielle Louise-2016
Gina Chavez – 2015
Allie Farris – 2014
Frank Gilligan – 2013
Phoebe Hunt – 2012
Jean Synodinos – 2011
Jessica Graves – 2010
Bill Pasalacqua – 2009
Abi Tapia – 2008
Brian Kalinec – 2007
 
For more information about this event and a short video with highlights of prior competitions, please visit www.songwriterserenade.com or contact info@songwriterserenade.com.
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Hush, Shh, Psst And Don’t Tell A Soul…

Renée Wahl – Sworn Secrets

Part 1 of 2 – EP’s

1st Release Out September 30

She can go from the sweetness of a Dolly Parton to almost the sharp tone of a Maria McKee…” – No Depression

“With a touch of gallows humor and a dash of powder keg passion, Renée Wahl’s songwriting grabs me by the ears on the first listen.” – Sloane Spencer, CountryFriedRock.org

Set for a September 30 release, Sworn Secrets is filled with pain songs, love songs and reflection songs from Nashville singer-songwriter Renée Wahl that capture her life in a bottle. This is the first of a two-part EP series to be released with the second in the winter. Produced and mixed by Patterson Barrett at Joe McMahan’s Wow & Flutter Studios in East Nashville; she will release this through her label Double R Records. The Pennsylvania native is carving out her own space at the recently rediscovered intersection of East Nashville, where the sounds are grittier than a polished Music Row, just a few miles away.

Inspired by groundbreaking artists including Neko Case, Buddy and Julie Miller, Linda Ronstadt, and Ryan Adams, Wahl deftly crafts accessible songs that explore the human experience. From escaping emotional torment to finding a short-term solution to a temporary loneliness problem, few topics are off limits when it comes to Wahl’s powerful and personal approach to songwriting.

Wahl’s thoughts on some of the tunes:

Wild Living – “The song came about while reminiscing about when I lived in Philadelphia and looking back at all the unbelievably crazy things I did. I was feeling melancholy about being so uninhibited then and wanting to be that way again, and yet, thankful not to that be destructive and irresponsible anymore. It’s a fine line…”

See You on the Way Down – “When I came up with the title the overall idea was about knowing you shouldn’t do something, but you do it anyway.  So it can apply to anything and, at first, it wasn’t really about a relationship, but the song wanted to go that way!”

Better the Devil “I clearly remember the time I came up with the first few lines of this song.  I was making significant life changes with so many unknowns when suddenly, I dropped a light bulb, and it shattered on the floor.  I started to feel a sense of panic over what I was doing and the idea just spilled out.”

Her writing and singing voice recall Jessi Alexander, Lucy Kaplansky and Jude Johnstone, whose careers have been long and diverse. As her approach is tried and true, she tries to echo an old Cowboy Jack Clement’s tip – “reveal some of yourself with most of your songs.”

“Songwriting can be very personal, and in some ways, it can be secretive,” Wahl says. “When writing, I dig deep, and that sometimes brings up subjects that I might not normally talk about in an open environment.”

Inside the studio can be a daunting experience, but with Patterson Barrett, a long-time veteran of the Americana genre, it was easy for her to relax. “Renée’s songwriting talent is obvious, but for me as a producer, she’s a joy to work with. She’s such a good singer; she makes it sound so natural and effortless that you might not even notice when you first listen to her,” gushes the native Texan. “During recording, she’s very receptive to suggestions regarding her performance. I’m proud of the record.”

A native of Harrisburg PA, Renée was raised in a large working class family. She started to play piano at 6, voice at 7 and guitar at 8 and violin at 10 and finally saxophone at 11. While show business may be in her blood — her grandmother was a Vaudeville singer and tap/acrobat — Renée owes much of her grit and determination to her grandfather, who served as a tail gunner on a B29 “Superfortress” in World War II. She caught the Air Force bug from him when she was at Wagner College, then left for boot camp after her freshman year.  After graduating from East Stroudsburg University with a physics degree, Renee joined the Air Force. She earned her Masters Degree in Aeronautics and then was assigned to the NSA as a staff scientist.

As Renée pushes forward with Sworn Secrets, she embraces the future of touring, more songs written and more albums. So as for now, she just shows you the first five Sworn Secrets time will tell.

Renée is represented and managed by Rodney P. Metoyer: rpmetoyer@gmail.com – Tel:  (615) 260-8787

For publicity needs: Jill Kettles – Miss Jill PR – T- 404-213-8542 or Email: Jill@missjillpr.comwww.missjillpr.com

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