songwriting finalists
2024 is a new year and with it there are new promises and the excitement of a fresh beginning! we are thrilled to announce these talented high school students as the finalists for our school of music songwriting contest!
lipscomb's commercial music department is committed to raising up the next generations of artists, songwriters and producers in nashville's fertile music community and this is only one of the things we are doing to contribute to that mission.
if you are an aspiring high school songwriter and are concerned that you missed out on this year's opportunity, don't worry, we will be posting info for the 2024-2025 contest very soon.
judges for the contest were:
overall winner:
anna louise bramlett
anna louise bramlett, born and raised in naperville, illinois is a singer/songwriter and indie musician. she released her concept e.p. “angels", in 2022. with musical influences such as lana del rey, wet leg, harry styles, faye webster, djo, and beyond, she released her 12-song debut album titled “i promise i’m happy” in october of 2023- all songs are written and performed by anna louise. she directed and released music videos for the songs titled: “i promise i’m happy”, “let’s get coffee”, and “if i weren’t an ocean”.
anna louise has always loved to create/be a part of the creative process. understanding what it takes to convey the human experience is something she explores day in and day out. finding ways to create moments of “yes, i understand, i’ve been there”, is something she seeks through writing every song.
you can listen to her song "if i weren't an ocean" here on spotify and apple music
sadie fine
additional finalists:
sadie fine is a senior in high school, singer/songwriter, and pop artist based in clarksville, tn. growing up in a military family, there weren't many constants in her life, except music. at 4 years old, she discovered her love for singing and hasn't stopped since. at the age of 13, she began writing her own songs and learned to play guitar shortly after. she plays all over nashville with her band and as a solo act.
fine released her debut single “grow up” off of her debut ep "detox" in late 2022. the ep, released may of 2023, has since amassed over 2m streams on all platforms. her latest single, "lose her" resonates with anyone who has ever experienced a relationship in which your boyfriend is insecure and jealous. it aims to let audiences know that they are not alone in wanting more than is offered. the single is the third to drop for sadie's sophomore ep set for release in 2024. it continues to prove that she is wise beyond her years, intentional, and vulnerable.
you can listen to her song "lose her" on spotify and apple music
evelyn goldin
evelyn goldin is a singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, and composer. goldin has participated in the singer-songwriter summer program at interlochen center for the arts and was named a fine arts award winner by the faculty in 2023. she has received recognition for her original music, including in competitions hosted by the national association for music education and youngarts. goldin has released her self-produced original music on streaming platforms; her debut single, “goodbye (but we’re already gone)," has been streamed over 10,000 times. she has recently begun exploring her passion for choral composition; in december 2022, her choir premiered her piece, "winter's warmth," at their winter showcase concert. she received a microgrant from youngarts to fund a professional recording of the piece.
you can hear her song "haunted dreams" here
emma james
emma james is a texas born and raised singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist. she has been singing, and creating melodies since she was a toddler but she wrote her first structured song at the age of nine and she hasn't stopped since then. emma believes in the power of rhythm, rhyme and melody to connect and heal people. she is an advocate for women in the music industry and she loves to share how songwriting and creating music can improve mental health. emma helps lead worship in her church student ministry each week and she plays gigs around her hometown and throughout texas. she has released four songs on all streaming platforms and is in the process of recording and releasing her first ep. emma plans to move to nashville after high school to pursue a career in the music music industry.
you can hear her song "worst enemy" here
colt jaxon
colt jaxon is part of the worship team at his church and has served as a youth worship leader for four years. he has received numerous awards for singing, songwriting, and instrumental guitar and performs at various festivals and community venues. besides music, jaxon loves history, geography, and ranching. he has also served as vp of his county 4h group.
colt jaxon aspires to be a county music artist who will use his platform to honor his faith and to bring back powerful storytelling in songs.
you can listen to "bluebird" here on spotify and apple music
preston lemacks
preston lemacks is a singer-songwriter/producer from houston, texas currently completing his senior year of high school. music has held an important place in his life since a small child, but the solitude of the 2020 lockdown encouraged him to pursue music as a career. captivated by the art of songwriting, he soon learned how to play the guitar, piano, and produce. since then, preston has known that god has called him to pursue this passion that he placed on his heart. preston’s music is known for its raw, emotional depth, taking listeners on a journey guided by the ebbs and flows of human emotion. inspired by heavy-hitters like ryan tedder and ed sheeran, he doesn’t let genre constraints guide his songwriting. instead, he focuses on crafting music that resonates on an emotional level, fueled by honest and vulnerable lyricism. since releasing his debut ep in july 2023, he has been dedicated to pursuing music full-time and making a living out of his passion. preston’s ultimate goal is to continue creating music that speaks to the hearts of listeners, hoping to connect with them on an intimate level. he will be moving to nashville in the fall to run forward into the dream that god placed on his heart.
you can listen to "wreckless in love" here on apple music and spotify