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Two Kids Who'll Change the Nashville Music Scene, or Leave it
Within Nashville’s musician-saturated limits lies Belmont University, the band camp of Music City. Band campers include Josh Turner, Brad Paisley and Vince Gill. This year’s winners haven’t graduated camp yet, but are already changing the Nashville music scene. About half of Belmont students are music or music business majors, so when I was earning my journalism badge from Belmont, I watched this scene closely. And the winners are… About this award: I just made it up. Just as the speed of the Internet spurs the music industry to adapt, I’ve created something new beyond traditional conventions. The prize: The prize for the recipients is whatever they decide to give each other. Lame? perhaps. Sprinkled with a good dose of potential energy? Absolutely. Keep an eye on Future and Lance Conzett, winners of the 2009 Nashville Music Young Innovator Award. These kids have the strength of core to distinguish themselves among the masses and here’s why they’ll succeed in what they pursue. Oh, and it’s not because they have crazy talent. “Rapper/Producer/Singer/Songwriter/Futurist” -twitter Future wins this award for his outreach methods. He makes a plethora of music and shares his life and music in as many channels as he can. He raps at parties, fashion shows, dances, anywhere that has oxygen it seems. I wouldn’t be surprised if I walked through a door tonight, and he was spitting fire on the other side. This is how I’ve heard of him: He came to my space. His latest project is a weekly mixtape project. The Overnight Mixtape, Vol. 6 was released Friday. I’m really impressed. His transparency draws you in, and after listening I was inspired to get entrenched in the creation of art. Another outreach post is his twitter feed, where he has a knack for storytelling unlike many musicians using twitter today. He’s finding ways to invite people on an adventure, and people are getting addicted. Below is the pilot video for project Sidewalk Scenes produced by Belmont University’s Belmont Vision. The video was shot by fellow award winner, Lance Conzett. Funny how innovative people naturally find each other.
“I’m a journalism student and a photographer and a multimedia dork. That, my friends, is a trifecta.” -twitter Lance wins this award for burying himself in music culture to the point that he is adapting physical characteristics of instruments. Quick! Comment on what his face looks like this week after his high dose of shows and vinyl. He’s a critic living in the sweaty, loud basement venues of our city and he knows things. Not only is he entrenched in our city, he has the ability to describe the nuances of what he hears and sees using all the tools available: video, audio, web and print. Below is a project Lance helped launch with Erin Carson. In response to the rise of The Daily Show as a news source, the Belmont Vision has entered one of the fastest growing spaces in news. So if one of these kids approaches you and wants to collaborate, say yes. They both are on track to graduate in 2010. If they hand you a resume, hire them before they go on to bigger things in bigger cities. If they want to represent your record label or entertain your crowd, don’t be intimidated by the high top. Say yes. And if you are about to say no, you should check to see if your answer is as innovate as them. What can you see from your view of the city? Who is changing the Nashville music scene?
Prediction. These two kids will be innovators in the Nashville music scene if they stay, or they’ll thrive in a larger space.
My Freshman roommate came from Germany to record as much Jazz as he could. He watched David Letterman at night not for the jokes, but for the Jazz.
I’ve watched and I’ve spent time actively discovering music in Nashville, but I’ve only skimmed the surface. I’m also not familiar with other strong music programs such as MTSU’s music program, so here’s one view of the city.
I don’t have a view from the Batman Building, but I can see a few hills from here.
Winners of the 2009 Nashville Music Young Innovator Award
Future
Lance Conzett
