Demi Michelle closes the “Dear Diary” era with the release of “Across the Pond” today, February 25th. The song was written as a thank you note to her fans in the United Kingdom. “Across the Pond” combines storytelling lyrics with a sweet melody. You can listen to it here. 
 
Demi is a pop-country singer originally from Pittsburgh. When she was young, Demi would write songs with her friends. At the age of ten she started playing piano and later joined her school’s choir. In her junior year, Demi released her debut single. She notes her influences as Julia Michaels, for her songwriting, Taylor Swift, for breaking into country music as a young female, and Kelsea Ballerini for her pop-country melodies. In fact, Demi released her own version of “homecoming queen?” adding her own bridge. 
 
Demi plans to release more folk leaning music in the next era of her career. On March 17th, she will “Four Leaf Clover.” Moving forward, she will continue to show her love for the independent artist community and belief in the importance of music education and mental health awareness.
 
You can find Demi’s music on all streaming platforms and her website demimschwartz.com. 

Krystal King has released a special project! “Honky Tonk Love Songs”, a 3 song EP can be heard here. The first song of off the EP is “Rhinestone Ring”, a song that came to King and some friends while discussing some of the crazy scenes they have seen in and around Nashville with all of the bachelorette parties that come to town. The next song, “Cowboys & Whiskey” is about an artist who travels but they always have someone to come back home to. The idea behind the last song “You’re The Reason That I Drink” came from King’s husband because King says “sometimes I can be a handful so when my husband sits down sometimes, he says in a joking way that ‘you’re the reason I drink’. All of these songs have a 90s country production. They all have that honky tonk feel with the mandolin and they are all love songs in a way. I grew up on 90s and those are the sounds that made me love this genre”. The project was produced by Mike Loudermilk (Crystal Gayle). 
 
King hails from Hickory, North Carolina and loved to sing as a child. “My mom listened to rock music like Kiss and Joan Jett while my sister loved pop. I was the odd ball that liked country. Growing up, I don’t remember wanting to do anything else other than music. My guitar teacher got me connected to local coffee shop gigs which is how I started writing songs. No one in my family is musical so I did not know what to do or what direction to go in”. Krystal ended up making the move to Nashville four years ago and has never regretted it. “I am a such a workhorse. I’m either on or off. When I am working, I can’t stop. I love what I do. I do all my own marketing, booking, and PR. It is the passion for me that keeps me going”. It was not always the perfect story for King. “When I first moved to Nashville and I got a job that was not fulfilling to myself. I then found a job that gave me fulfillment and flexibility to do my music. I have lost a gig here and there and not everybody is going to like you”. Krystal has found that since her music career has taken off in Nashville, the city and the music community is very supportive. Some of King’s favorite writers and musicians include Taylor Hughes, Audra McLaughlin, Stefanie Joyce, and her tour mate, Kirstie Kraus. Krystal wants aspiring artists to know that they should “just dive in and do it. I waited a long time but moving to Nashville was what forced me to get out there and do what I love”. 
 
​You can follow Krystal on Instagram at @krystalkingmusic and find more information on her website here.  

Shelly Leatherman recently released her song “We Go Hard”, you can check it out here. “The song is about my music industry team. We are always working hard; we have long days with crazy hours. We let our music fill us with the energy we need. We drive and push each other”. While shelly has launched her own career, she used to be behind the scenes in the studio and has recently branched out to the microphone. “Weather I am the artist or working in the studio in a different role, my team and I created a workout plan for the artists we work with and ourselves. Before we do anything in the studio, we go for runs and write songs, it keeps our energy up”. 
 
Leatherman grew up in North Carolina. Her Mom moved to Bristol, Tennessee when she was five. “I grew up in two Nascar towns and around race cars. I also grew up with music. My family always had music playing in the house and we even had some family bands going on.  I always found myself practicing songs in my room and putting on shows with my uncles”. At 19, Shelly moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. She spent all of her time writing songs and making music. “I thought to myself that I could actually pursue this as a career which was something that never hit me when I was younger”. Leatherman enrolled in a music school for Audio Engineering, Live Show Production, and Music Business. Shelly eventually made her way into working in the industry at Palm Beach Sound Studios with Chuck Hemann. “Chuck has been an incredible mentor to me and my career”. Since Leatherman made the move to Nashville six years ago, working at Dark Horse Recording where some of the most notable artists like Reba, Dolly Parton, and Faith Hill have recorded. In addition, she has gotten to showcase at CMA Fest a handful of times, and even getting to play in the same venue as the legendary Tanya Tucker. 
 
Shelly dreams of playing legendary venues like the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Madison Square Garden. “I have dreamt about those venues for years. Even just having the opportunity to play at any venue is a gift”.  Leatherman does have new music in the works, a song called “Rockstar”. “This idea came to me because so many people around me have called me a Rockstar and it really made me realize all of the things I have done and accomplished to this point in my life”. She is also working on a full album. In addition to her own music, Shelly is working on a program called Mic Check TV. “When I was in the studio these artists, I was working with would tell amazing stories that nobody gets to hear”. Some guests include Bob Marley’s band The Wailers and artist Amy Grant. Leatherman wants new artists to know that they should “Believe in themselves and listen to their gut instincts. People pull in many directions but stay authentic”. 
 
​You can follow Shelly on Instagram at @shelly_leatherman and find more information on her website here.  

Singer-Songwriter Kasey Tyndall has released her long-awaited song, “Jesus and Joan Jett”! You can check it out here. “This song was one of the first songs I ever wrote in Nashville. I needed a song that was me. I always ask myself what would Jesus do and what would Joan Jett do? I have been trying to put it out for years, but it was never the right time. This song is in the DNA of my career. I wrote it 6 years ago and I have been playing it live ever since. The fans know every word of it and they are glad it’s finally out!” Tyndall wrote the song alongside Evan Coffman (twenty-one pilots) and Greylan James (Kenny Chesney, Chris Young, and Blake Shelton). The song was produced by the award – winning musician Derek Wells (Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, and Maren Morris). Kasey’s previous release in May 2021, Middle Man, which she co-write with friend Lainey Wilson, launched her career into the spotlight with her honesty in her lyrics. “Middle Man is a matter of fact song. I wasn’t planning on releasing that one, but I really needed to get a good song out into the world to show who I am”. 
 
 Tyndall grew up in Greenville, North Carolina. Kasey picked up a guitar at 10 and taught herself some chords. She was enrolled in nursing school, accompanied by her three jobs all while playing local gigs. Kasey got lucky one day by winning a local radio contest which won her a chance to sing alongside Keith Urban on a local tour stop. Kasey’s inspirations for her music include Miranda lambert, Avril Lavigne, Allison Kraus, and of course, Joan Jett. “Joan Jett, paved the way, Miranda (Lambert), I just really connected with her music. I listened to Allison Kraus so much that I’d say I learnt pitch from her”. Eventually, Tyndall had her heart set on Nashville, Tennessee. “If I want to do this, Nashville is the place for me”. Since moving, Tyndall has surrounded herself with the best possible people for her. “The songwriting community here in Nashville is incredible. I have never felt more involved, appreciated, supported. There are moments where I still feel intimidated but that makes me want to get better.” A typical Nashville day for Kasey includes waking up, going to the gym, writing songs during the day, and attending writers rounds in the evening. Some of her friends and co-writers include Lainey Wilson, Meghan Patrick, Ashland Craft and more. Tyndall wants aspiring artists to know that they should “stay the course. It changes all the time. When I got to town, streaming or TikTok wasn’t really a thing. People know when you are not authentic, but they can also tell when you work hard”. 
 
Kasey will be heading out on tour this spring as the special guest on Drake White’s The Optimystic Tour, you can purchase tickets here. You can follow Kasey on Instagram at @kaseytyndall and find more information on her website here. 

​Sounds Like Nashville 2022 Artist to Watch and CMT Next Women of Country artist Sacha, is making waves in country music! Hailing from a small town of less than 250 residents in a musical family, Sacha felt she had no choice but to pursue a career in country music. Although influenced by the great Patsy Cline and Shania Twain, it was Taylor Swift who ultimately encouraged Sacha to play the guitar and write her own music. 
 
A songwriter, Sacha demonstrated her talents on TikTok, when she commented on a demo of “What the Truck” posted by The Reklaws. Jenna, of The Reklaws, later reached out offering for Sacha to join them on the track. The song instantly blew up. What began as a duet on TikTok became a music video, viral summertime hit, and finally led to a debut appearance at the Canadian Country Music Awards for Sacha. 
 
“What The Truck” is included in the track list on Sacha’s latest release “We Did.” Listen HERE. The four-track project demonstrates Sacha’s powerful vocals and storytelling ability. Sacha saying, “I love the fact that storytelling is the foundation of country music and that I have been given the opportunity to tell mine with this new music. With these new tracks, I can’t help but feel I’m releasing music that speaks to who I am, which is a new feeling for me. I’m so excited for everyone to hear it.” 
 
Sacha is hitting the road this year on the CMT Next Women of Country Tour with Maddie & Tae and hopes to perform at various festivals over the summer. You can follow Sacha on Instagram at @SachaOfficialMusic.