Sal Gonzalez
Sal Gonzalez, a singer-songwriter from Boyle Heights East LA with a love of music, appears from the shadows with an optimistic grin. He stepped up to the proverbial mic and clapped his hands once and began to speak about his life in front of MTSU Records. Gonzalez may have been born in Los Angeles but his love of country music and an attitude to win in the entertainment industry sets this young man apart from the many other hopefuls in the country.
Gonzalez has a multitude of artists he finds his inspiration in, but Garth Brooks was the major influence that founded his love for country music. In 2004 Gonzalez served in the U.S. Marines. He did a tour in Iraq where he lost 10 of his friends and was injured on Halloween. He was sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital where he spent months recuperating with the support of family and friends. He returned to Los Angeles and tired to go back in the military world again, and couldn't.
Today, Gonzalez is a freshman at Middle Tennessee State University majoring in Music Business. His thoughts about college were "since the military was going to pay, why not." In between school work, visiting family and friends, and playing his guitar and writing songs, he works at the Bluebird Café as a host.
In 2010 Gonzalez will be coinciding with MTSU Records and Notalone.com to film a documentary about his adventures in Iraq as well as his love and desire to create music.
Jason Lane
Jason Lane has been playing music for most of his 23 years on this Earth and began writing songs at the ripe age of 13. Some describe him as a musical prodigy as his talent is evident immediately and became obvious to many as early as 8-years old.
The multi-faceted singer/songwriter/producer/engineer transferred to MTSU a year and half ago to pursue a degree in production from the Recording Industry Department. Dick Williams, who teaches his MTSU Records class says of Lane, "There are times when you can just hear raw talent and Jason has that in so many ways."
Lane counts producers like Max Martin, Mutt Lange and Guy Sigsworth as influences because although his songwriting and artist abilities are getting the most attention, Lane feels production is his strong suit.
His current CD is called Demonstration and he is the first to admit that he has evolved as an artist and producer since its release 31/2 years ago. "I'm proud of that project because I wrote, produced and played everything on it. It really allows people to see what I can do but I have evolved…matured."
Lane is in the studio currently working on a new EP that he can take on the tour he has planned for the summer.
Being on the road is nothing new to Lane who has spent most of his life moving around with parents that have been extremely supportive of his talent. After being born in Bangkok he has called Ohio, New York, Arkansas and now Tennessee home. "I remember when I was 13 I came home from a long trip and my dad had built a studio for me in our home." He admits that a lot of the technical knowledge he has acquired is self-taught but he has found value in the class Williams is teaching because it is helping him learn about the international aspect of being a touring artist. He recalls, "We had a contest where we had to route a fictional artist throughout the world and learn the ins and outs of what goes into making a proper itinerary. I found that extremely interesting and it taught me a lot." It is good that he excelled at the exercise as Williams himself fully expects that international itinerary will one day belong to Jason Lane.
"For the Haters"
Pjaye Jones
Pjaye Jones is a nineteen-year-old singer/songwriter from the Atlanta, GA. After realizing that music was a necessity to her life she pursued an education at Middle Tennessee State University in Audio Engineering. Due to her infectious personality and ability to be musically versatile, Pjaye Jones has already built a strong fan base. With the very first listen, her songs have been receiving a lot of accolades with the students and faculty of MTSU.
A spontaneous songwriter, Pjaye Jones has a flair for writing catchy songs that leave the listener wondering what she plans to do next. Although her roots are firmly placed in R & B and hip-hop, she draws inspiration from many different lyrical and musical influences. Pjaye Jones' style is eclectic. She can write a rock ballad today and a soulful ballad tomorrow. It is that versatility that has landed her songs into the hands of such people as Donnie Lyle.
Still attending school at MTSU, Pjaye Jones is currently located in Murfreesboro, TN. She is sharing her time between educating herself about the recording industry and spending plenty of time in the studio where she writes material she hopes to pitch to publishing companies in the near future. Based on the reception of her latest compositions, the future looks promising!
"Cupid"
Christina Adams
"I'm the kind of artist whose running out of the shower with shampoo still in my hair, just to get some lyrics down on paper..."
Born in Houston, TX, the charismatic Christina Adams grew up with music in her blood. Mentored by her grandfather, an accomplished Big Band musician, she began establishing her career as a performing singer/songwriter as early as middle school. Influenced by a variety of artists including Sara Bareilles, Brooke Faser, and Etta James Christina has tailored her own unique sound, embodied in her breathtaking vocal ability.
Christina places great emphases on the lyrical character of her songs, which are inspired by her own personal relationships, as well as, the hope and encouragement she has experienced in her spiritual life. She constantly strives to write authentic, relatable music that "meets you where you're at."
Christina is currently in the studio writing and recording her first EP with an illustrious team of producers including Grammy Award winners John Jaszcz and Louis Resto. To check out some of her current projects, visit:
→ www.myspace.com/christinaadamsmusic
→ www.christinaadamsmusic.com
"Gravity"
Jeremy Randolph
Straight from the streets of Louisville allow me to introduce Jeremy. Dubbed tha Prince of Hip Hop/R&B, this vocalist/lyricist is next! Not only does he sing and rap but he writes all his own music. Jeremy has appeared on numerous mixtapes, performed at venues all over Louisville and is now ready to take over the world. Just when we pronounced R&B dead, tha Prince has resurrected it.
"Whatcha Say"
Charlie "Professa C" Collins
Collins, who hails from Chattanooga Tennessee, is currently a senior at MTSU. He has quietly been in the game for a few years now with his partner under the group name Tha CareTakuz, but he is expected to drop his first solo Mix-tape entitled "Class N Session" by the end of the year. Focusing solely on hip-hop, he is a very well rounded artist who can easily grasp one's attention with his powerful punch lines and catchy lyrics. As powerful as he is in the hip-hop scene, this multi-toned producer/rapper/musician/songwriter can pick up an acoustic guitar without skipping a beat. When asked what his upcoming mix-tape will sound like he states, "it is hip-hop with a little twist of urban pop." However, it doesn't just stop with the performing aspect of Collins, when asked what he will be doing in ten years he says, "I want to have a prominent role in developing other talented artists; maybe heading the A&R department for a major record label or songplugging." There is no doubt however that whatever path the Professa decides to take he's going to blow up big doing so.
Allyson Gelnett
Allyson discovered her love for music at a young age. While in high school she performed in numerous plays and choir ensembles. Her passion for the performing arts led her to college with the desire to become a choir instructor. But things changed her first semester on campus. "During my fall of my freshmen year I already knew I wanted to transfer and possibly go to school somewhere in the Nashville area. I wanted more for myself, I wanted to reach for my dreams." After working and saving money for year she was ready to make the move from Philadelphia to Nashville. Her search for a school brought her to Murfreesboro where she is launching her career as a recording artist on MTSU records. Her first song I Should Be Sleeping is country pop perfection. Allyson's influences are vast and they include the legendary Frank Sinatra (thanks to her grandmother), Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Maroon 5, Dixie Chicks, The Beatles, and Miranda Lambert.
"I Should Be Sleeping"
Brandon Watson
Brandon Watson is a musician hailing from Huntsville, Alabama. He began his music career after spending most of his life playing basketball. His first love was music, and continues to be his strongest passion. It was this passion, manifested in an abstract interest that drove him to want to emulate the sounds he was hearing on the stereo. This came first through guitar… then followed with vocals. His entrance into music was proudly in the punk scene (and all that underground music encompasses). Being surrounded and influenced by all of these derivations of alternative music bred in Brandon a strong desire to understand the aesthetics of music. As his local punk scene became a tired wash, he searched for more sustaining and deeper qualities of music, which he found in jazz (studying this on the guitar), country, and rap. As of a year ago, Brandon's desire to have thorough creative control has lead him to more concise and popular forms of songwriting and performing. "I believe this is a coming of age. It is showing a true progression of my listening skills, which are translated in what I write and my aspirations as a performer".
Attention to detail and a heightened understanding of how recorded music is produced were made a stark realization by Dick Williams's MTSU Records class. This knowledge is necessitating the learning of production—the techniques, philosophies, and nitty gritty work behind taking a fledgling song idea and turning it into a consumable product. "It is now no longer just about art for myself, but a consideration for my audience. My music has a greater purpose now, and that is to bring enjoyment and escape to as many people as possible".
Zaneta Lewis-Barnes
Bio coming soon.
→ www.myspace.com/lewiszaneta
→ www.facebook.com/lewiszaneta
→ www.twitter.com/lewiszaneta
→ www.youtube.com/lewiszaneta
"Just Dreaming"
"Turn Me On"
