Popular music has gone through numerous cycles and thankfully the new cycle is learning towards the return of artists showing originality through songwriting and storytelling in music. The trend of sampling other works just to fill three to four minutes is beginning to give way to another group of singers that put their own feelings and emotions into their music.
Scott Atkins, 19, is one of a breed of young upcoming artists who are part of this renewed trend in music. People of varying age groups and tastes can relate to his soulful and purposeful lyrics along with his unique acoustical style.
Entering his sophomore year of college at the University of Delaware, Atkins music includes influences from Dave Matthews and John Mayer, yet there is still a distinctive sound. His first album, Stand Corrected, is nearing completion and he will be debuting many of these songs in his debut live performance at CBGBs Gallery in New York City this August.
"Theres a difference between someone who performs just to sing and play, and someone who truly sings and plays from their heart with true emotions," Atkins says. "I think my lyrics allow me and my music to relate to many people."
Through websites such as Pure Volume and MySpace and one of Delawares most popular radio stations, WSTW, Atkins has been able to broadcast his music to variety of fans. Through these different outlets, Atkins has found some dedicated followers who find his music inspiring.
At just nine years old, Atkins learned to play the guitar. He also comes from a family of performers. His uncle, Rob, was a session guitarist and his grandfather, Norman, was a renowned baritone singer that performed on Broadway and in operettas. Atkins says that the music he writes comes from experiences and emotions from everyday life.
Atkins recalls the first words he ever wrote. I come out in words when I think about it, are the beginning lyrics of Stand Corrected, which was inspired by two significant events in his life. "I was writing about my experience of traveling the country on a teen tour, and my feelings about my first true love."
Atkins is a graduate of Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey, a school that has also produced entertainers such as comedians Bill Maher and Tom Papa, actors Kerri Green, Matt Mulhern and Jon Doscher and television series creators Rick Hurvitz and Bruce Beresford Redman. His manager, Jeff Levin, who Scott met when he attended Pascack Hills High School, has high hopes for Scotts future.
"His ability to capture peoples attention is amazing," Levin says. "The music rings true and so do the lyrics. People are always willing to be enthralled by performers who arent fake but have a sense of truth to their music. There is plenty of truth in what Scott is singing about."
Certainly Scott Atkins is on his way to reaching a broad music audience with his ability to write songs about life that are timeless, which will allow him to keep and grow the audience he currently has in the years to come. Its nice to see there are still songwriters and storytellers out there; Scott Atkins is one with a soul that deserves a chance to be heard on a national level.
