Jezebel Music Finds & Promotes Quality Independent Music in NYC.


November 23, 2008

The WLSC2008 Comes to an End!

[caption id="attachment_930" align="alignright" width="269" caption="Photo by Jen McManus"][/caption]

And the winner of the $4,000 grand prize of the 5th Annual Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition is Mr. Matthew Dorrien (pictured, middle)! In second place with a cool $750 is Ms. Rosi Golan (pictured, left). And in third place with $250 is Ms. Becca Stevens (pictured, right).

From 700 submissions, 150 were chosen to perform live over 8 nights at alternating venues in Williamsburg to an audience of fans, friends, and industry judges. From these 150, 18 advanced to the Semi-Finals on Friday night. From these 18, 9 advanced to the Finals last night. And from these 9, 3 were awarded with a cash prize.

If you’re turned off by “competition,” “cash prize,” or “first place,” let’s rewind: 700 people submitted a song to Jezebel Music, and 150 of them (149, minus the kid who was kicked out for drunken disorderly conduct on the opening night) came together to showcase their talent and make new friends and fans. It cannot be said enough: there is only one grand prize winner of the WLSC. Although it is an entertaining and appealing aspect of the event, the WLSC is best enjoyed when “prize” and “winning” and “competition” are stricken from our mindset. These things are simply a noble ploy to gather inordinately talented songwriters together under one metaphorically collective roof.

What happens when you get 150 musicians together in one place? Friendships, fans, collaborations, networks, and a damn good time are imminent. As Michael Grubbs – our esteemed host – has humorously reminded us, $4,000 can pay your rent in Williamsburg for only a month. Exaggeration aside, money is temporary, but the contestants who have performed live in the WLSC2008 have directly participated in the making of an absolutely incredible week of music in one of the most diverse, talented music communities in the entire world. If just one person heard their song, one person went to their MySpace the next day, one person asked to join their mailing list, one person said “hey, you sounded great!” – they won. And trust me, there were many winners!

Thank you to all who have submitted, performed, and made possible the 5th Annual Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition!

We will see you next year!

Go here to see photos from the WLSC2008!

All images copyright Jen McManus 2008





Songs of the Week by:
Matthew Dorrien


Feature Archives:

October 2008: The Art of Shooting
September 2008: The World Without Magic
August 2008: The Secret Life of Sofia
July 2008: The Antlers
June 2008: Cassettes Won't Listen May 2008: Neckbeard Telecaster

April 2008: Ravens & Chimes
March 2008: J.A.C.K.
February 2008: Kat
January 2008: Wakey!Wakey!
December 2007: Elizabeth Harper & The Matinee

November 2007: Abigail Warchild
October 2007: Project Jenny, Project Jan

September 2007: Inlets
August 2007: Paleo
July 2007: Breakup Breakdown
June 2007: WLSC 2006 CD Release Party

May 2007: Mistakes
April 2007:
A Place To Bury Strangers
March 2007: Meowskers
February 2007: The Lisps
January 2007: Beat The Devil
December 2006: Via Audio
November 2006: Nick Ogawa
October 2006:
Tom Rhodes
September 2006: WLSC 2006
August 2006: Louis
July 2006: Dynasty Electric
June 2006: Slow Learner
May 2006: The Gritty Midi Gang
April 2006: The Black Spoons
March 2006: Hula
February 2006: Jaymay
January 2006: Lowry
November 2005: Proton Proton
October 2005: Black Bunny
September 2005: Creaky Boards
August 2005: The Crooners
July 2005: Leah Siegel
June 2005: All Night Chemists
May 2005: The Animators
April 2005: Theo Eastwind
March 2005: WLSSC


Jezebel Music's Fourth Annual Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition 2007

Recorded at Luna Lounge, Brooklyn, NY


The Press
November Feature 2008



Read the Feature Article by Dan D'Ippolito...


Similar to the nature of water -- soft, yet powerful -- there's something Zen about the art of songwriting. Many of the best songwriters communicate life effortlessly in a conversational, non poetic manner -- a skill most certainly easier said than sung. But as it turns out, taking it easy isn’t easy. A good stuntman knows that the best way to take a fall is to relax, but intuition might tell the average Joe Six Pack otherwise. Like Joe Stuntman, The Press knows how to not take themselves too seriously, and the result is free of pain. (Of course, as is the case with any good band, when it comes to the execution of their music and the furthering of their career, no jokes are made... for the most part.) This fact is made clear almost immediately when listening to tracks from the Press' upcoming LP, recorded at the Fort in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and due out early next year....


Read more...







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Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition


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