NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition will welcome eight finalists to Asheville, NC, for an evening of songs and connection on Saturday, December 3, 2022. The internationally recognized event, now in its 21st year, is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters today. NewSong is proud to partner with Citizen Vinyl, a multifaceted event space in downtown Asheville, to present the finale showcase. The 2022 Finalists are: The Singer and the Songwriter (Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran; Oakland, CA ) — Rachel and Thu met and began writing and performing music together in 2006. This year they were named as a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition for Emerging Folk Artists at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Cozi Anda Flounder (Cozi and Ezra Vancil; Dallas, TX) — Father-daughter Americana-ish country duo. This self-described cosmic country / Americana-ish outfit sounds itself with a group of lifelong music friends. AC Sapphire (Portland, OR)— Ethereal folk-rock. Her cosmic sound blends disparate elements into an ethereal folk rock while her strong voice shakes listeners awake as she spins her passionate, dust-blasted tales. Indus Adams (San Antonio, TX) — Indie-pop. Indus Adams, aka Devin Castleton, used Covid quarantine to take a deep dive into songwriting and recording. He is currently at work on his debut album. Mikalyn (Guelph, Ontario) — Alt-pop. As an established singer-songwriter her journey had a significant boost when a Brazilian record label discovered her original, piano-driven songs on Soundcloud and offered to transform them into EDM hits, resulting in millions of streams. Justin Cross (Pelham, AL) — Americana. Justin Cross is a singer-songwriter and self-described “noise-maker.” Though his songs are based in American tradition, he hopes they can connect with a global audience. Lua Flora (Evan Button; Weaverville, NC) — Beach-pop. The Asheville, NC-based group’s sun-kissed melodies are rooted in the harmonies of Appalachia, rhythms of the West Indies, and lyricism of American folk. Kristian Phillip Valentino (Asheville, NC) — Indie-folk. KPV’s musical palette falls between the lines of indie folk, singer-songwriter and Americana. His lyrics are a healing balm from the daily struggle as they wash over you with a deep reverence. Kristian was also a finalist at the 2022 LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition, a collaboration between NewSong Music and LEAF Global Arts. The finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical chops to Asheville to perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner who will receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 500 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl, and a featured, paid performance at Arts Brookfield’s Summer Concert Series in New York City in the summer of 2023.