From left to right: Kalie Shorr, Emily Hackett, Maren Morris
The Best Demos of the Year list is aimed at women who don't necessarily have a record label, or a publishing deal, or they haven't released a full collection of music yet. They're on the cusp of making it, and they're all quite capable of doing so, as shown from this list of incredible demos. These demos were taken from the 250+ artists Queens of Country follows on SoundCloud, and are the Top 10 out of all the songs all of those artists have released this year.
meganandlizweb on tumblr
#10: "White T-Shirt (Acoustic)" — Megan & Liz
An acoustic version of a song most likely going to be on the duos new EP (to be released in 2016,) Megan & Liz have hit the jackpot with this song. With over 100,000 listens on SoundCloud, their fans seem to agree. A pop-gone-country duo, the two have been struggling to find their new country sound for a while now, and this sweet love song could be another step closer to finding it. "White T-Shirt" captures the blindness but purity of young love, and true love.
An acoustic version of a song most likely going to be on the duos new EP (to be released in 2016,) Megan & Liz have hit the jackpot with this song. With over 100,000 listens on SoundCloud, their fans seem to agree. A pop-gone-country duo, the two have been struggling to find their new country sound for a while now, and this sweet love song could be another step closer to finding it. "White T-Shirt" captures the blindness but purity of young love, and true love.
calirodimusic.com
#9: "Friends Like Us" — Cali Rodi
A new version of the song that country/rock singer and songwriter Cali Rodi released for free through her website earlier this year, this song continues to be a special and beautiful song. "Friends Like Us" manages to address friendship without sounding forced, and the light acoustic accompaniment emphasizes the innocent and almost naive tone of the track. Throwing back to "Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift, Rodi has created a demo and song that best friends everywhere will cherish.
A new version of the song that country/rock singer and songwriter Cali Rodi released for free through her website earlier this year, this song continues to be a special and beautiful song. "Friends Like Us" manages to address friendship without sounding forced, and the light acoustic accompaniment emphasizes the innocent and almost naive tone of the track. Throwing back to "Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift, Rodi has created a demo and song that best friends everywhere will cherish.
soundcloud.com/morgandawson-1
#8: "Rebel Child" — Morgan Dawson
The acoustic version of this song has been on YouTube forever, on the Song Suffragettes YouTube page. Having a produced demo of the track — finally — is such a blessing. The song is impeccably written, describing a good girl gone bad. The demo is a pop/country affair, upbeat and catchy, but still somewhat dark and mysterious. Dawson's vocals are flawless, and this demo marks her as another female chasing the heels of Carrie Underwood and Lauren Alaina.
The acoustic version of this song has been on YouTube forever, on the Song Suffragettes YouTube page. Having a produced demo of the track — finally — is such a blessing. The song is impeccably written, describing a good girl gone bad. The demo is a pop/country affair, upbeat and catchy, but still somewhat dark and mysterious. Dawson's vocals are flawless, and this demo marks her as another female chasing the heels of Carrie Underwood and Lauren Alaina.
soundcloud.com/kalieshorr
#7: "Timebomb" — Kalie Shorr
The sound of this song is a bit out of the box for the country, pop and rock influenced singer/songwriter Kalie Shorr, but sometimes risk pays off, and it does on this track. A country song with rock influence nods to Shorr's rock beginnings (she was in a Nirvana cover band in her early teenage years), and also brings back that sass that was lost on some of her other releases. Her vocals are edgy and expand her repertoire even more. Shorr continues to impress, and this song
The sound of this song is a bit out of the box for the country, pop and rock influenced singer/songwriter Kalie Shorr, but sometimes risk pays off, and it does on this track. A country song with rock influence nods to Shorr's rock beginnings (she was in a Nirvana cover band in her early teenage years), and also brings back that sass that was lost on some of her other releases. Her vocals are edgy and expand her repertoire even more. Shorr continues to impress, and this song
twitter.com/elizabethhuett
#6: "Dad Like Mine" — Elizabeth Huett
Elizabeth Huett has been coming into her sound more and more with every new song she posts on SoundCloud. This song was released on Father's Day, and is one of the best songs dedicated to a father out there. It's written beautifully, and it's obvious that it comes straight from the heart. Huett is proving herself to be so much more than Taylor Swift's old backup singer. She's an incredible artist, in her own right.
Elizabeth Huett has been coming into her sound more and more with every new song she posts on SoundCloud. This song was released on Father's Day, and is one of the best songs dedicated to a father out there. It's written beautifully, and it's obvious that it comes straight from the heart. Huett is proving herself to be so much more than Taylor Swift's old backup singer. She's an incredible artist, in her own right.
lacygreen.com
#5: "Common Ground" — Lacy Green
This is a country song at heart. This is what country songs should be like. The writing in this song (by Green, Jason Duke, and Chris Yurchuck) is outstanding. It tells the story of a couple that seemed to be doing fine, but suddenly the man no longer wants to be together anymore. It's a song full of emotion: love, confusion, desperation, and there isn't really ever a resolution, but it's a song that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
This is a country song at heart. This is what country songs should be like. The writing in this song (by Green, Jason Duke, and Chris Yurchuck) is outstanding. It tells the story of a couple that seemed to be doing fine, but suddenly the man no longer wants to be together anymore. It's a song full of emotion: love, confusion, desperation, and there isn't really ever a resolution, but it's a song that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
soundcloud.com/melissa-sheridan
#4: "Good Red Wine" — Melissa Sheridan & Hannah Bethel
Written by Hannah Bethel and Melissa Sheridan, and sung by Bethel, "Good Red Wine" is a relaxed song, one about letting things (and love) happen when they happen. Bethel sings: "Baby love takes time / like a good red wine." The alcohol comparison isn't overdone, and the song flows softly and effortlessly form the verse to the chorus and back again. It's a simple song, but a gorgeous one.
Written by Hannah Bethel and Melissa Sheridan, and sung by Bethel, "Good Red Wine" is a relaxed song, one about letting things (and love) happen when they happen. Bethel sings: "Baby love takes time / like a good red wine." The alcohol comparison isn't overdone, and the song flows softly and effortlessly form the verse to the chorus and back again. It's a simple song, but a gorgeous one.
soundcloud.com/emilyhackett
#3: "Kick" — Emily Hackett
This is a somewhat dark song, as Hackett plays on the idea of a love being an addiction. The song doesn't over emphasize that metaphor, however, and instead focuses on how the 'addicting' love makes her feel. Hackett has a haunting voice: it's full, clear, and flawless. This song flatters the lower end of her range,and although this is a live acoustic demo, her voice sounds recorded: it's that beautiful. The production is also done excellently, adding to the eerie feel of the track.
This is a somewhat dark song, as Hackett plays on the idea of a love being an addiction. The song doesn't over emphasize that metaphor, however, and instead focuses on how the 'addicting' love makes her feel. Hackett has a haunting voice: it's full, clear, and flawless. This song flatters the lower end of her range,and although this is a live acoustic demo, her voice sounds recorded: it's that beautiful. The production is also done excellently, adding to the eerie feel of the track.
soundcloud.com/tayloredwardsmusic
#2: "Young at Heart" — Taylor Edwards
This is the most personal demo Edwards has ever released. The singer-songwriter tends to release banjo heavy pop/country songs about love, and while this song is about love, it's about a different kind of love. Edwards wrote this song for her baby sister, who she doesn't get to see as often as she would like instead of a boy. Being personal has led Edwards to create the bed song she has ever released, and one of the best demos of the year.
This is the most personal demo Edwards has ever released. The singer-songwriter tends to release banjo heavy pop/country songs about love, and while this song is about love, it's about a different kind of love. Edwards wrote this song for her baby sister, who she doesn't get to see as often as she would like instead of a boy. Being personal has led Edwards to create the bed song she has ever released, and one of the best demos of the year.
marenmorris.com
#1: "Your Whiskey" — Maren Morris
Up and comer Maren Morris has been in the spotlight recently, with her song “My Church” blowing up on Spotify, and her EP receiving recognition from almost everyone, artists and critics alike. But before that, SoundCloud was where all her music was, with many increible demos, including this one. Written with Kree Harrison, Brett Tyler and Ichabod Morris and her team used a common country theme — whiskey— and turned that theme and heartbreak into a beautiful country song.
Up and comer Maren Morris has been in the spotlight recently, with her song “My Church” blowing up on Spotify, and her EP receiving recognition from almost everyone, artists and critics alike. But before that, SoundCloud was where all her music was, with many increible demos, including this one. Written with Kree Harrison, Brett Tyler and Ichabod Morris and her team used a common country theme — whiskey— and turned that theme and heartbreak into a beautiful country song.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Yesterday's Makeup — Stephanie Lambring
This Town — Amanda June
When The Sky Runs Out Of Stars — Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Yesterday's Makeup — Stephanie Lambring
This Town — Amanda June
When The Sky Runs Out Of Stars — Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
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