by Kathryn Farris | Mar 5, 2019 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
The sounds of the latest Jonas Brothers single are echoing through dorm room halls across campus. A scene such as this hasn’t happened in almost six years, but last Friday the childhood boyband staple released a new single titled “Sucker.” “Sitting there, listening to the song with all my friends, brought me back to my eleventh birthday party,” history education major Madeline Knight said. “I had a bunch of friends over to watch the premiere of their new show Jonas.” When Knight first heard the song, she said it got her reminiscing for her childhood. “It really reminded me of the old Jonas Brothers, but with a grown-up spin.” The new music from the familiar band is driving a sense of nostalgia that has skyrocketed the single to the No. 1 spot in the official trending chart. As well as No. 1 on several streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. But it’s not only the new single that’s gaining success. The music video, featuring the Jonas Brothers with their respective wives and girlfriend, is also catching attention. “There was a lot going on in that music video, but I do love how they all featured their significant others,” psychology major Chloé Phillips said. While some praise the boyband’s revitalization of their sound, other students argued that they should have stuck to the classic “Jo Bros style.” “They started off with one style, and I’ve always been into that kind of style, so now that they’re leaning towards pop, it’s just kind of sad,” music production major Neida Flores said. “I didn’t expect that . . . [but] even...
by Carly Reams | Feb 2, 2019 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Student Spotlight
Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini both came from Lipscomb in recent years, and Lipscomb student Peytan Porter is making plans to follow in their footsteps. Porter started her singing career at the age of 12, but she said it wasn’t actually something she wanted to do at the time. She only wrote songs about how her mom was mean for giving her chores. “I didn’t take it seriously until at a church camp, and my mom was having to sing and act at the same time,” Porter recalled. “She was terrible. Then she was like, ‘Well then you do it,’ and I said ‘Noo!’ They ended up giving me a microphone behind the curtain. So I sang, behind the stage, and our music director came back and was like, ‘You’re a singer; you are doing this.’” Ever since then, Porter has been focusing on her songwriting, including her job as a full-time staff writer at Sea Gayle Music and doing a songwriting internship. She said she has always dreamed of becoming apart of the Nashville music scene, and even called it her “Disney World vacation” when she was able to visit at fourteen. “I would not be at Lipscomb if it was not in Nashville,” Porter said. “I chose to come here when I was young. My mom was like. ‘You can go on a cruise to Cozumel, or you can go to Nashville.’ My sister went on the cruise, and I came to Nashville.” Porter said she chose Lipscomb over Belmont’s music program because she liked how Lipscomb’s program felt like a small, Christian community. She is no longer...
by Quinn Gorte | Sep 20, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Nashville songwriter Tyler Russell has made a lasting impression on his teachers, and not just because of his talents. This Lipscomb alum wants to let God use him to bless others. Russell, a 2015 musical theatre graduate, intentionally chooses to live with joy. Whether it is in his music or while meeting new people, Tyler tries to let God help him to spread joy and love. “Now or Never,” which was released on August 17th on all major music streaming platforms, is Russell’s latest single. While the song isn’t specifically a Christian song, Russell said he and songwriting partner, Alexandria “Zandy” Fitzgerald from The New Respects, placed emphasis on “choosing joy.” “The Bible says there’s a time and a place for everything,” he said. “It’s just important to remind people to dance and have a good time.” Russell recalled his experience at Lipscomb as having a positive and inspirational impact on his songwriting. “The skills that I learned at the (Lipscomb) theatre department taught me so many things that I’m using now with songwriting,” he said. “I got to learn about so many different people’s stories, where people came from and what they go through. “I’m someone who loves to be inspired by what people go through, and I feel like God really puts inspiration through the people around me. I feel like lots of songs came from my time at Lipscomb.” Beki Baker, Chair of Lipscomb’s Theatre Department and one of Tyler’s old professors, was excited to hear Russell’s new single. “The song itself is such a great representation of Tyler,” Baker said. “It’s upbeat, it’s positive and it’s looking for the good things in...
by Erika Thornsberry | Sep 1, 2014 | News Slider
The city of Nashville is home to many musicians and recording studios, including one on Belmont Blvd. that used to be the home of famous musician and producer Cowboy Jack Clement. Clement passed away last year leaving behind his home, which was also his recording studio. He made his home into a recording studio because he felt as if he was more creative when he was home, and it was was a place where many music greats would come to produce their music. “Cowboy Jack has made some serious history here recording various people such as U2 to Johnny Cash,” the Co-Owner/ President of Zavitson Music Group Russ Zavitson said, “We want to continue with Jack’s history, but we also want to make our own history here with our singers and song writers.” The location of the house is in a residential zone, which means it can be lived in, but businesses or organizations cannot be run from the house. A proposal was made to allow the Zavitson Music Group to start running their operations from Clement’s former home. The Zavitson Music Group has now moved into the home, and has plans to make music history of their own. Russ Zavitson owns one of the biggest copyrights in Nashville with “Achy Breaky Heart”. “Our plan is to run our publishing company, production company and recording studio out of the house just like it has been for the past 40 years,” Zavitson said. The group is already in the process of recording several singer/song writers for their company, and the plan is for their first major release to be next year. Cowboy...
by Cory Woodroof | Aug 13, 2014 | News Slider
A flurry of Christian music’s finest filled the Hall of Fame Room at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena Wednesday morning to share the nominations for this year’s Dove Awards. Artists such as Natalie Grant, TobyMac, KB, Brandon Heath, Tasha Cobb and Karen Peck were all present for the announcements. Lecrae, NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Mandisa, Hillsong UNITED and Casting Crowns all made the cut for Artist of the Year. Newcomers Love and the Outcome, Andy Mineo, Ellie Holcomb, 1 Girl Nation, and Hillsong Young and Free all were honored with a New Artist of the Year nomination. Song of the Year titles included “Oceans (Where My Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong UNITED, “Revival” by Karen Peck and New River, “Overcomer” by Mandisa, “Hurricane” by Natalie Grant, “Fix My Eyes” by for KING AND COUNTRY, “Say Amen” by Brian Free and Assurance, “I Can Trust Him” by The Perrys, “Lord I Need You,” by Matt Maher, “That’s Why” by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound and “Hello My Name Is” by Matthew West. “Oceans (Where My Feet May Fail)” also racked up nods in the Worship Song of the Year, Contemporary Christian Performance of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year categories. The Doves ceremony returns to Allen Arena for a second year on Oct. 7 with a showtime of 6:30 p.m. The event will partner with Trinity Broadcasting Network this year to steam the show on all devices. To see all of this year’s nominees, visit the Doves’...
