Music
Press
Billy Redfield and Kyle Andrews are the official winners of the American Songwriter Craft of Music Vol.1 Online Song Placement Contest. Decided by online voting, Redfield's "Die for You" edged out 15 other finalists, who competed for the final slot online from August 18th through the 25th. Rounding out the top 6 were Dawson Wells Some Hot Chicks and Bob's "Gracey & Henry Martin's First Summer," Katy Bowser's "All Of My Friends," Mind & Soul's "Life," David Condos' "I Should Be Lost Without You" and David Ross Macdonald's "'Til I'm Gone."
The AS staff picked Kyle Andrew's "Amos in Ohio" as the other song and along with "Die for You" was submitted exclusively through Sonicbids submission. Each track will to be placed on the sampler alongside artist such as Ray Lamontagne, M. Ward, Cat Power, Pete Seeger, Roger Miller, Regina Spektor, Leadbelly, Patsy Cline, and Bonnie Prince Billy.
Go to billyredfield.com or Billy Redfield EPK for more info on his music.
Kyle Andrews can be found at kyleandrews.com
The winner of the Gary Bennett guitar compliments of Samick Guitars will be chosen and posted this week. Thanks to Oasis CD Manufacturing, Onlinegigs.com, Sonicbids, Samick, and all who entered and participated. There will be 20,000 copies of Vol. 1 manufactured by Oasis CD Manufacturing and distributed to national newsstands at Borders, Barnes and Noble, Borders as well as to American Songwriter Magazine subscribers.
Regards,
American Songwriter Staff
- American Songwriter Magazine
Billy Redfield’s “Die For You” Named November “Best Song Of The Month”
By Dale Kawashima
Billy Redfield, a talented, acoustic-rock singer/songwriter based in Baltimore, MD, has won the SongwriterUniverse “Best Song Of The Month” Contest for November, for his song “Die For You.” This song is featured on his 11-song CD Two Steps Closer, which he released independently this past April (2006). The album has already sold 4,000 units in the past six months.
Billy Redfield
“Die For You” is a graceful, heartfelt love song, which is musically in the vein of soulful, acoustic cuts by Jack Johnson and David Gray. The song starts out with a sparse, acoustic guitar riff in the intro, then gradually builds to a full-sounding track in the chorus. The recording provides an excellent showcase for Redfield’s expressive lead vocals, and also features elegant piano playing by Daniel Park. “Die For You” was expertly produced by Chris Keup, who is known for producing Jason Mraz and Liz Phair.
Redfield grew up in Potomac, MD (a suburb of Washington, D.C.), and then he moved with his family to Baltimore when he was 15. Early on he was very active in sports, playing basketball, soccer and joining the swim team. However, when his father bought him a guitar at age 14, he began to focus more on his music and songwriting. After high school, Redfield attended Loyola College in Baltimore, where he subsequently graduated with a B.A. degree in Business. During college, Redfield continued to develop his music, writing songs and playing gigs at coffeehouses.
Then after college, Redfield began writing and recording new material, and he released a five-song EP called Made You Smile in October 2005. Redfield received good feedback on his EP, which led to modern rock station Z-104 inviting him to perform his songs live on a broadcast. Redfield also won an Opening Band Contest held at the 9:30 Club – his performance earned him the opening slot for a concert headlined by the Pat McGee Band and Hanson.
Billy Redfield
Redfield continued to build his career momentum with the April 2006 release of his first, full-length album, Two Steps Closer. “I wrote the album during a two-month period in 2005,” explained Redfield. “For ‘Die For You,’ I came up with the opening guitar riff first, and then came the music, followed by the lyrics. The theme of the song is, ‘Would you give up everything for the person you love?’ I thought this would be a good theme to write about.”
“Die For You” was recently selected to appear on the CD compilation “Craft The Music,” which was produced by American Songwriter magazine. And Two Steps Closer has already sold an impressive 4,000 units. Currently, Redfield is aggressively promoting his CD in two different ways: (1) he’s hired the firm Planetary Group to promote his CD to college radio stations; and (2) he’s signed on with agent Eugene Foley to shop his CD to major labels. “I would also like to sign a publishing deal,” said Redfield. “I love the whole songwriting process. Besides writing for my own albums, I would like to collaborate with writers for other projects.”
- Songwriter Universe
Ranked as top 5 local EP release in 2005 - Entertainment DC
Billy Redfield/Made You Smile This album is full of stories with intrinsic lyrics and underlying lessons. With a subtle pop/folk delivery, Billy's style harnesses an excellent blend of acoustic strums and smooth backing electric leads. Throw a steady beat, and a few perfectly planed piano licks into the mix, and you've got "Made You Smile". After already spending some time at ..2 on the Awarestore charts, you can expect big things from Billy Redfield. -Jamestown Music
- Jamestown Music
Billy Redfield is a memorable talent on a music scence that features enough quality songwriters to make it easy to get lost in the shuffle and he proves it on his debut full length album Two Steps Closer.Having assembled an impressive studio production team including Chris Keup and Stewart Myers and a talented crop of studio musicians including Mark Goldenberg, Max Fisher, Brian Jones, Daniel Clarke, and J.C Kohl, Redfield proceeded to create an album of understated modern pop that puts a sepecial emphasis on mood and emotion. I'm not sure what it means, but two of the standout tracks on Two Steps Closer are both named after women. Although "Amy" and "Miss Melissa" have that fact in common, the similarities end there. "Amy" is a shimmering and concise pop gem with a radio friendly hook, while "Miss Melissa" is a moody and subdued six minute rumination on lost love. Featuring haunting lines like, "And I am am losing my mind / And I can't stop rembering all the good times" and a perfect sax accompaniment from Kohl that brings to mind the amazing Virginia band Agents of Good Roots, "Miss Melissa" is easily the best track on the album.With an outstanding debut album under his belt and with national accolades pouring in from places like the Independent Music Network and XM Satelitte Radio, things are looking very good for Billy Redfield. -Greg Yost, Music Monthly - Music Monthly July 1st 2006
Nov. 2006
Billy Redfield's "Die For You" is a clean concise lover's plea. - American Songwriter Magazine
Congratulations you were selected as a finalist out of 15,000 entrants in the world. Winners we be selected in March 07.
www.songwritingcompetition.com - ISC
Billy Redfield wins the grand prize in an international talent competition held by Famecast Int.
Prize includes $10,000 and national exposure.
- Fame Cast
Meet The Band : - Baltimore Sun
Discography
Made You Smile.
Two Steps Closer
Two Steps Closer has been added to over 200 college radio station playlists
Been a featured artist on z104, Washington's Modern Music.
Songs are streamed on internet radio stations.
Photos
Bio
It's about time. On the heels of a self-released EP and a slew of national accolades, singer/songwriter Billy Redfield has just released his debut full lengther entitled "Two Steps Closer." It's a CD that builds on his reputation for breezy acoustic-based ballads and upbeat pop anthems delivered with equal parts earnesty AND urgency.
Working with an uber- talented studio team that includes producer Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, Josh Kelly) and engineer Stewart Myers (Rachel Yamagata, Lifehouse) "Two Steps" is an impressive effort for the 26 year old Maryland-native;especially considering he's a relative newcomer to the art of songwriting. Full of tasteful guitar phrasings, shuffling beats and lilting Hammond B-3, Redfield's musical reference points clearly extend beyond his birth date. "Guys like David Gray and Dave Matthews really changed my way of approaching writing songs," Redfield admits.
Redfield recently received honorable mention in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition for his track "Die for You" no easy feat considering the sheer number of entries and a panel of judges that includes Frank Black, Tom Waits, and the Strokes' Julian Casablancas. It's recognition like this that the soft-spoken Redfield doesn't take lightly. "It was pretty amazing [to win]. It was really validating."
Redfield's continued evolution as a young songwriter continues lyrically, where on pensive numbers like "Miss Melissa" he sings, "And I'm trying to melt the pain/But each day goes/And I'm nailed to the ghost/The weight of it all keeps my face long/I Miss Melissa."
"I write from a personal point of view;it's what I know best," admits Redfield. And it's clearly what his fans;who've cleverly dubbed themselves "redheads"relate to most. The coming months will look to see Redfield expand his flame-colored flocks and continue to hone his songwriting chops on the road in support of "Two Steps Closer." A title, which based on his current round of career success, could prove prescient.
Links
