You're Invited to The Nash News' 30th On The Verge Writer's Round

The Nash News will host its 30th writer's round with independent and up-and-coming artists this Thursday, July 6th from 6-9 p.m. in downtown Nashville at Assembly Food Hall in the Fifth and Broad complex.

Artists performing include Paulina Jayne, Madison Steinbruck, Kamryn Murphy, Jillian Cardarelli, Elia Esparza, Ryan Boey, Olivia Gunn, Katie Jack, and Aaron Clafton. Get to know the artists and their music below.

Paulina Jayne

Made in Detroit and a Nashville resident, Paulina Jayne’s urban country music is a marriage of the storytelling elements of country, the edge of rock and roll, the danceability of pop, and the thoughtfulness of folk. An energy-infectious, moment-making, candid, and rollercoaster performer, Paulina has opened for heavy hitters like Sheryl Crow, Sam Hunt, and Rascal Flatts and has shared Live Nation festival marquees all over the country with Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, and Luke Bryan. She has written with several #1 writers, including JT Harding, Shane McAnally, Bonnie Baker, Danny Orton, and the list goes on.

Madison Steinbruck

Madison Steinbruck is an Independent artist from Corpus Christi, Texas. Before the pandemic, she moved to Australia, where she took piano lessons and spent time writing her first album while in quarantine. The Nashville-based singer/songwriter is poised to make waves in the indie scene with her record, 'Australia's Lonelier,' which came out at the start of 2023.

“This album is how I came to terms with my life not going the way I thought it would. It was the start of accepting my own feelings rather than fleeing,” Steinbruck states.

Above all, her songs aim to encompass feelings of loneliness and despair, loss and love, the beauty of life and its unavoidable tragedies. All tied up into a folk-influenced alt-fever dream.

Kamryn Murphy

Louisiana native, Kamryn Murphy, has been gracing the stage as a vocalist and instrumentalist since she was eight years old. At the age of eleven, Kamryn began studying voice under the late Bob Westbrook, who coached singers such as Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. In 2022, Kamryn moved to Nashville, TN, after graduating from Louisiana Tech University School of Music, with a degree in Music Industry Studies. Kamryn is currently enjoying life as a full-time musician in Nashville and spends her days performing on Broadway with her band and writing/recording songs, as she is preparing to debut her original music in 2024.

Jillian Cardarelli

Her debut single, "Rerun,” written by Grammy Award-winning artist Maren Morris, Tina Parol, and Jordan Reynolds made a splash on CMT Music, with the music video spending two weeks at #1 and several weeks in the Top 10 (12-Pack Countdown). Her second single, “Souvenirs,” debuted on Radio Disney Country, while the music video spent eight weeks, due to fan voting, in the Top 10 on CMT (12-Pack Countdown). In December 2020, Jillian was honored to be asked to participate in the National Christmas Tree Lighting Virtual Concert in Washington, D.C. as she sang a classic, "O Holy Night." Her talent caught the attention of Rolling Stone Country who ranked her at the top of their list of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.” Jillian has opened for acts such as Reba, Willie Nelson, Jake Owen, Lee Brice, Hunter Hayes, Scotty McCreery, Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin, and Alabama.

Elia Esparza

Elia Esparza is a Latina pop-soul singer that has a way of melting her strong vocals in between adventurous romance lyrics and electric heartfelt songs. Her energetic personality projects through her recordings and impacts audiences during her live performances. As an El Paso, TX native, her influences from her Mexican culture along with her love of the classic dive vocalists, inspire a lot of her writing and musicality.

Ryan Boey

Country-Punk singer-songwriter, Ryan Boeymoved to Nashville in 2014 to attend Belmont University where he graduated with a degree in Songwriting and Music Business in 2018. Boey has frequented NSAI’s Ones to Watch list, is a two-time winner of the Kicker Country Stampede Songwriting Contest, and won the Heartland Stampede Festival in 2019. He has opened for artists such as Jake Owen and regularly plays at rounds and showcases at some of Nashville’s most iconic venues.

Olivia Gunn

Olivia Gunn is at the forefront of today’s sound, blending pop and R&B with purposeful lyrics. Originally from Ohio, she has quickly made Nashville her home with her ability of honest, relatable, and catchy writing. She was selected early in her career by Full Sail University as a spotlight artist from her cutting-edge style in 2021 and continues to connect with people through her unique and iconic sound. She has written with countless artists across multiple genres and continues to stay ahead of the game by touring, collaborating with others, and making lifelong friends along the way.

Katie Jack

Katie Jack has been writing songs and performing for over a decade. A bold lyricist, she writes for a range of genres from pop to folk and performs primarily country pop with a kick of attitude.

Brand new to Nashville as of May 2023, Katie performed at the Bluebird Cafe her first night in town, is a frequent face at the NSAI building, and will be performing at upcoming writer's rounds. She was a semi-finalist in the Song of the Year Contest 2022 and ranked at 5 stars in the UK Songwriting Contest 2022.

Aaron Clafton

Country storytelling rooted in the upper midwest. Aaron Clafton didn't grow up on a farm in central Minnesota he grew up in the suburbs, but that didn't keep him from falling in love with country music. Drawn to the stories and the melodies of old-school country songs like Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis and Little Bitty by Alan Jackson, Aaron began making up his own songs at a very young age. It wasn't until he received a guitar at his 13th birthday that he started taking his craft seriously. In high school, Clafton continued to be drawn towards music playing at church services, school talent shows, and county fairs. On a family trip to Nashville, TN in 2009, Aaron became drawn to the idea of eventually making music city home. Shortly after graduating from Bemidji State University in 2015, Aaron made the move to Nashville.

Surrounded by the best songwriters and artists in the world, Aaron continued to hone his craft. Since moving to Nashville in 2016, Clafton has released multiple singles and an acoustic EP. He has gotten to open for Dustin Lynch, Jordan Davis, Jo Dee Messina, and Elvie Shane. Looking forward Aaron will be releasing a 4 song project in 2023 including his latest singles "Things You Do When You're Young" and "Bar Changes." This project is some of Aaron's most honest writing and celebrates where he comes from.

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