Nashville is a city in flux. It seems like there’s a new building going up every other day, each skyscraper climbing higher while rubbing shoulders with the tried and true honky tonks and clubs that have launched the careers of countless artists. Many people have lamented that the city has lost touch with itself, forgoing its rich musical heritage for its recent reputation as a party mecca. 

Those who fear that Nashville is no longer minting the caliber of songwriter that it once did need look no further than Vinnie Paolizzi. A Nashvillian by way of Philadelphia, Paolizzi has spent the better part of the last decade in the songwriting trenches, making a name for himself as a rising singer-songwriter to watch. Equally comfortable in various styles of rock and country, he’s displayed his lyrical versatility scoring cuts from upcoming independent americana acts and mainstream country artists alike. His abilities as a live performer have led him to various roles from playing guitar for rising star Brittney Spencer to playing his original music in the round with songwriting legend Dean Dillon. 

This year, Paolizzi has declared he is an artist ready to break out onto a larger platform. In May, Paolizzi released “Proud of What I Did Today,” a grooving anthem with Everyman themes. The lyric is a recipe for living, a declaration to be proud but not prideful. His first single since the release of his 2021 EP Private Sky, “Proud” is the perfect introduction to Paolizzi’s unique capability to teach a life lesson in three minutes – with great guitar playing to boot. 

Set to be released in November 2023, Paolizzi’s self titled full length record promises to be a project showcasing a pocket of the Nashville community that has blazed its own trail in a time when Music Row seems to have forgotten its past. Produced by Old Crow Medicine Show’s Mike Harris and featuring a cast of co writers including rising stars Meg McRee and Ben Chapman, as well as tried and true road warriors like Adam Hood, this record seems to embody the spirit of 1970s Nashville and the halcyon days of open collaboration between people like Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, and Guy Clark before they were household names. 

More than proof that Paolizzi is one of the “In Crowd,” this record is a testament to his community building ethos. For years, Paolizzi hosted Revival, a weekly writers round where songwriters of all stripes shared songs and a pew. Started by hit songwriters Rob Snyder and Channing Wilson, the community Revival fostered included artists and writers that have gone on to score number ones as well as left of center poets interested in a different kind of success. It was a place for writers to rub shoulders and talk shop, and Paolizzi was at the center of it, developing relationships and honing his craft with everyone else. This time not only netted great songs, but cemented lasting friendships that have bolstered Paolizzi’s creative partnerships within Nashville. After Revival went on an indefinite hiatus at the end of 2021, he crafted his own “Fam Jam,” this time at iconic Music Row watering hole Bobby’s Idle Hour Tavern. Hosting close friends and new co-writers on the dive bar’s small stage, Paolizzi has continued to create spaces in town for writers to showcase songs, practice their craft, and grow relationships with other writers. 

In short, it is quintessentially Vinnie. Descending from Italian immigrants, Paolizzi grew up surrounded by his large family and at an early age learned the importance of community. While some young writers may come to town eager to go it alone and prove they have that elusive “thing” to stand apart, Paolizzi has bet on the old adage that a rising tide lifts all boats. He knows that if Nashville really is a ten (or twenty) year town , that you can’t get anywhere without friends in your corner. And if it’s true that you get what you give, Paolizzi is ready to cash in on that good karma. His self-titled record is not only slated to be the one to introduce Paolizzi to the world, it is a testament to the thriving creative community that he has invested himself in. 

In a world increasingly fixated on finding the next big thing, it’s become commonplace for the loudest voice to be the best. People want something new and glitzy to make its way on to their timeline and take them by surprise, if only for a moment. Paolizzi’s music is more than that. It’s the well that always gives water, the neighbor who’ll always have a cup of sugar when you need it, the guy in the parking lot with jumper cables and nowhere to be when you’re stuck in the rain. “My best days are ahead of me,” Paolizzi promises on the closing track of the record, his easy croon reminiscent of Jackson Browne circa Late for the Sky. There’s a quiet confidence in his voice that knows the good days will outweigh the bad. So whether you’re just finding Vinnie Paolizzi’s music or have been in on Nashville’s well-kept secret, you know that, like the rising sun of a new day, the best is yet to come.

Rob Snyder is a Nashville-based songwriter and artist, recognized for his work on the Diamond-certified, 10x Platinum hit “She Got the Best of Me.” Since relocating from West Chester, Pennsylvania in 2012, Snyder has built a reputation as a consistent and versatile writer within the Country, Rock, and Americana spaces.

His catalog includes cuts by Luke Combs, Zac Brown Band, Ashland Craft, Brent Cobb, Tim Montana, and Giovanni & The Hired Guns, among others—spanning mainstream country to roots-driven artists. In addition to his writing credits, Snyder is the founder of “Revival,” a respected songwriter showcase that has become a staple in the Nashville creative community, known for spotlighting both established hitmakers and emerging talent.

With a proven track record of commercially successful songs and deep ties to the songwriting community, Snyder brings both credibility and authenticity to every stage.

Becca Rae is a country music songwriter in Nashville, TN. In November 2019,  she was declared the grand prize winner of "Nashville Rising Song" for her original song, "How Lonely Looks on Me." In June 2022, Megan Moroney released "Fix You Too", a song Becca Rae co-wrote with Megan and Adam Wheeler. The song was re-released as a duet with Kameron Marlowe in September 2023 for Megan's "Lucky - Deluxe" album. Megan Moroney earned a nomination for 2023 ACM "Best New Female Artist", and 2023 CMA "New Artist of the Year." The "Fix You Too" duet marks Becca Rae's first major label cut, and first cut to be played on Sirius XM "The Highway."

Country music trio Old Hickory released their debut album "Tuesday Nights at Scoreboard" in September 2023, including the song "Little More in Love With You"- written by Timothy Baker, Scott Sean White, Helene Cronin, and Becca Rae. In April 2023, Texas-based country artist Jessee Lee released "Where He Ain't"- Becca Rae's first cut to be played in regular rotation on Texas Country Radio. 2023 also saw the release of Makena Hartlin's "Less Lonely", a song co-written by Makena, Michael Keys, and Becca Rae.

Becca Rae has also had songs recorded by independent artists like Ava Paige, Tory Grace, Jon Mullins and Jessie Wilson. 

She has opened in concert for country music recording artists Jake Hoot, Rissi Palmer, and Clare Dunn, as well as bluegrass icon Mountain Heart. She has performed her original music on legendary stages - The Bluebird Cafe, WSM 650 Radio, and The Ryman Auditorium. Becca Rae was also asked to sing the National Anthem at the White House on July 4th, 2023.

After attending Vanderbilt University on a full academic scholarship, Meg McRee traded her newly earned degree for the pursuit of an unpredictable dream as a songwriter. After a few years of waitressing at The Listening Room and nannying in between co-writes, McRee was validated as more than a driven idealist with the signing of her first publishing deal at Hang Your Hat, a creative joint venture with Concord Music Publishing and hit-songwriter Hillary Lindsey. Since, her musical prowess has earned her cuts with Elle King, Warren Zeiders, Ella Langley, Grace Potter, Colby Acuff, Paul Cauthen, Ashley Monroe, Shelby Lynne, Ben Chapman, Harper O’Neill and more.

McRee introduced her artistry with debut record Is It Just Me?, produced by Andrew Petroff (Sheryl Crow, Devon Gilfillian), delivering stand-out track “Mary Jane & Chardonnay”. With playlisting across Folk, Americana, and Country playlists, SiriusXM The Highway On The Horizon supported the release with more airplay, following her intro to radio with “Gone As It Gets”, a stand alone collaborative track written and recorded by McRee, Brit Taylor, Adam Chaffins, and Ben Chapman, on SiriusXM Outlaw Country.

This past year has been full of notable milestones for the budding McRee, receiving a standing ovation her debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage, performing at coveted festivals including Stagecoach, CMA Fest, and Moon Crush, and supporting tours for Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, Morgan Wade, Marcus King, Hailey Whitters, Lukas Nelson, Flatland Cavalry, Brent Cobb, Red Clay Strays, and Elle King. 2023 closed out with the release of Meg’s live-to-tape History of Heartbreak EP, a collection of new songs about old feelings. Tracks “Wildflower” and “The Moon” feat. Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna were highlighted heavily across playlists, with the project as a whole scoring Spotify’s Nashville billboard upon release.

Her latest single, “Usually You,” showcases her songwriting prowess with a groovy, genre-blending sound and vivid imagery that transports listeners to Coastal California.