DRUMMING BIRD
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Drumming Bird is the main vehicle of singer-songwriter Austin Sawyer. The 26-year-old has been writing and performing music as Drumming Bird for over 8 years, meticulously crafting a sound that lies somewhere between the youthful noise of indie rock and the poignant working-class introspection of Americana. Drumming Bird’s latest chapter is defined by Nashville’s once-renowned culture of honest songwriting and steel guitars, and the clamor of DIY home studios that litter the city today.
BAERD
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BAERD is an indie-folk artist/producer hailing from Nashville, TN. Often described as dynamic, ethereal, and contemplative, BAERD’s music dives deeply into many relatable themes all with the hope of connecting the audience more deeply with themselves. Influenced by many great artists such as The Beatles, Punch Brothers, The Carter Family, and Milton Nascimento. BAERD grabs the audience with his powerful voice, intricate guitar playing, and spellbinding lyrics sprouting from his drug filled teenage years into his mediation and introspective filled present, BAERD aims to wrestle with the darkness in order to unearth the light.
DARREN JESSEE
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Darren Jessee is a familiar presence to alternative music fans thanks to his long tenure as the drummer / backing vocalist in Ben Folds Five. (He also co-wrote that group’s biggest hit “Brick.”) Outside of that outfit, he’s logged time touring with Sharon Van Etten and Hiss Golden Messenger, as well as fronting the indie rock ensemble Hotel Lights. But perhaps Jessee’s most affecting work has been the three albums he has released over the past five years under his own name. On these recordings, he scales everything back to the purest pop essentials, with strings, acoustic guitar, and a smart application of vintage keyboards serving to put further emphasis on his languid vocals and plainspoken, yet elegiac lyrics. Jessee’s latest full-length Central Bridge is his best yet. A hushed understated affair recorded primarily in the artist’s North Carolina home, the album revels in the small details of life—a crumpled pack of cigarettes found in an old jacket, a pile of wet swimwear on the floor—that somehow leave a lasting impression on a person or stir up deep seated memories.
