Tag Archives: UMC

Answering Life’s Tougher Questions: New York, Nashville, and the Road Ahead

Back in March — just after my 39th birthday — I posed a question to myself and all of you…

“How does this thing (UMC) fit into the greater mosaic of my life, and how do I want to show up going forward?”

2026 has challenged me to hunt for the answer ever since.

So… what is the way forward? It starts this week in New York City.

This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at City Limit Studios, Old Hickory, TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Learn more about The Quinn Spinn

NASHVILLE: Alfred Banks and Yung Delirious at Cobra Jan. 7

We had the pleasure of working with Alfred Banks while we were in New Orleans for NOLA MusiCon a couple weeks back.

That was only the beginning of an exciting run for the Grammy-nominated hip hop artist, who shows no signs of slowing down as the calendar turns to 2027.

In fact, Banks is coming to Nashville at the top of the year, and tickets are available now!

We invite you to join us on Thursday, January 7 at The Cobra (2511 Gallatin Ave., Nashville) for a night of hip hop that knows no city limits. Banks will bring some of that New Orleans spirit to Music City, where he will share a bill with Nashville-based rapper Yung Delirious, with additional support from Nashville locals CG The GOAT and CM Young.

For Banks, it’s a way to continue the momentum from a year that has seen him perform 80+ times all over the United States, alongside the release of his latest album, Yestermonth. In recent years, fans have seen Banks perform at notable events including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, and AthFest, in addition to a special performance during pre-game festivities for Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.

Likewise, Yung Delirious has been hard at work. The Brenham, TX native has been on the road in 2026 as direct support for notable artists including Skizzy Mars and Lil Xan, and began 2026 by releasing a six-track EP, Offline, inspired by the social media sabbatical he took in the summer of 2025.

Tickets for the January 7 show are now available here.

PHOTOS: Crescent City Crossroads II, Night 2

Night 2 of our Crescent City Crossroads extravaganza was where Nashville met New Orleans.

Despite this, there wasn’t a single cowboy hat in sight. Rather, we were treated to an eclectic tapestry befitting The Big Easy that offered us a mix of space-prog, spoken word soul, hip hop, and Brazilian funk.

This is the essence of being in New Orleans. From block to block, and neighborhood to neighborhood, you are bound to find diversity. Variety is always in great supply, and the artists on our Night 2 lineup made it clear that they understood the assignment.

Thank you to Gasa Gasa for hosting us, and to NOLA MusiCon for trusting us with the baby yet again. We can’t wait to see you all again in 2027!

HOMEWORLD (New Orleans, LA)

Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess & Cosmic Sound (Nashville, TN)

E.T. (ft. Kelsey Muse) (Nashville, TN)

Alfred Banks (ft. Kaye the Beast) (New Orleans, LA)

Lapis (New Orleans, LA)

PHOTOS: Crescent City Crossroads II: Night 1

New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures, musical genres, and perspectives. The Crescent City welcomes all to come as they are, and the city’s grit, soul, and determination make it one of the most unique and interesting places on Earth.

As we prepared for our third annual trip to New Orleans for NOLA MusiCon, we were once again tasked with putting together showcase lineups that would reflect the spirit of the city. And so, Crescent City Crossroads II was conceptualized as a two-day live music extravaganza at Gasa Gasa (4920 Freret St., New Orleans), featuring 10 artists (plus special guests) from different cities, and from across the musical spectrum.

Night 1 took place on Wednesday, October 28 featuring a mix of homegrown talent, alongside artists who traveled in from across the eastern half of the country. Here they are, in order of appearance:

Craig Greenberg (New York, NY)

ARREIS (Nashville, TN by way of Chicago, IL)

Aaron Maras (New Orleans, LA)

Kelsey Muse (Nashville, TN)

Damian CH (New Orleans, LA by way of Mexico)

Caffeinated Creatives: How Can We Change the Music Industry?

Over the summer, I was invited by musician, producer, and music technologist Danny Nagy to join him for an in-depth conversation about the state of the music industry, the origin story of Underground Music Collective, and how we define success.

The result? An EPIC conversation that covers all the bases. Among the topics discussed:

  • How a quest for purpose led to the launch of The Quinn Spinn.
  • The role of ArtsQuest and the city of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in shaping our vision.
  • How we ended up in Nashville (and how the people around me responded).
  • The definition of success in America and elsewhere.
  • The loss of originality in the music industry.
  • Overcoming perfectionism and fear of judgment.
  • The AI elephant in the room.
  • How we can eliminate gatekeeping and create a more equitable music industry.
  • Why today’s artists must function as entrepreneurs…

…and SO MUCH MORE!

I want to thank Danny for his time, insight, the opportunity to speak openly, and the incredible coffee!. If you’re an independent artist, an industry professional, or someone who just wants to know how all of this works, this conversation is a great place to start!

Creating Your Own Opportunities (ft. Eli Blackshear)

Eli Blackshear is an Americana artist hailing from the small mountain town of Manitou Springs, Colorado. Now residing in the Atlanta area, Eli has built a career and life for himself rooted in creativity, community, and advocacy — and he’s done it from the ground up!

Learn about Eli’s story and his new album, In Love and War, on this week’s edition of The Quinn Spinn!

This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at City Limit Studios, Old Hickory, TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Learn more about The Quinn Spinn

WATCH: Buddy Red Offers a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of ‘Sexy’

Buddy Red is gearing up for the release of his debut EP, Bad News, on November 20. The record figures to be a breakout moment for the Atlanta-based blues artist, and even includes a feature from hip hop legend Lil Wayne on the title track.

We’re here to give you a preview, courtesy of a new music video that provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Buddy Red’s studio magic.

“Sexy” debuted to the world on October 23. The new, self-produced single delivers a brand of high-octane chaos befitting two people stepping outside the lines of their relationships. In this scenario, our protagonists(?) are not out for love; rather, they’re chasing the thrill of something new, consequences be damned.

The tune’s devil-may-care disposition is supported by gritty behind-the-scenes studio footage, captured by Randy Fat Cats. It’s clear that the rock and roll spirit of “Sexy” carried over to the creative process, showing emerging artists everywhere that you can be serious about your craft and still have a blast.

It’s time to let loose. Check out the video for “Sexy” below!

LISTEN: On ‘October,’ ARREIS Looks Ahead with Optimism

It’s the last day of October (otherwise known as Halloween). It’s also our pal ARREIS‘ birthday, right after she joined us in New Orleans to perform and speak at NOLA MusiCon.

(We have showcase photos and a recap coming to The Blog this week, by the way).

Indeed, today is the perfect occasion to highlight the Chicagoland native’s latest single, “October.” Released this past Friday, ARREIS released the rootsy pop-folk tune as a nod to the good fortune that, like the autumn wind, sweeps around the bend after periods of tribulation. For anyone coming out of (or still going through) a difficult season, “October” provides a reason to persist.

Although we’re heading into winter, brighter days always lie ahead. Check out “October” below!

Building Community Through Common Values (ft. Ben Harris)

Ben Harris has turned the pain of loss into purpose, and a love of people into incredible community-building initiatives.

The Georgia native is the co-founder of Sibling Strong Retreats, a peer-support retreat program for bereaved siblings built on three pillars of adventure activity, grief work, and rest.

In the music industry, Ben also serves as the manager for Americana artist and fellow community builder, Eli Blackshear — who is our guest on next week’s episode!

Today, Ben joins us to talk about the importance of creating meaningful connections from one’s values — and the full array of experiences that shaped them.

Learn more about Ben: ⁠https://benharris207.com⁠.
This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at City Limit Studios, Old Hickory, TN.
Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become
Learn more about The Quinn Spinn: ⁠https://umcworldwide.com/thequinnspinn⁠

REVIEW: Craig Greenberg Offers Hope on ‘If You Stop Believing’

“So step out from the shadows,
The place where you’re alone
Wage another battle, throw another stone
Find another reason, to keep your hope alive
Cause if you stop believing then the dream will surely die
Yeah if you stop believing the dream will surely die.”

It’s safe to say we live in odd times. The economy is in shambles. The bourgeoisie class of tech bros and certain politicians seems dedicated to making life more difficult for all of us peasants. Sometimes, even the little things feel like they’re not going our way.

Through it all, the promise of a brighter day can illuminate the darkest corners of our minds. That’s where Craig Greenberg, New York City’s troubadour piano man, comes in.

Greenberg — who, you may have heard, is set to join us in New Orleans next week — offers hope with “If You Stop Believing,” an exuberant, piano-driven anthem that inspires us to keep the faith, even when the world has dealt a hand we don’t feel equipped to play.

Life is a complicated journey, and there is comfort in knowing we’re not alone. On “If You Stop Believing,” Greenberg walks alongside us, offering the perspective that every situation we encounter — whether good, bad, or bowling-shoe-ugly — has something to teach us, and holds the keys toward where we’re going next.

“If You Stop” believing was co-produced by Greenberg and Wayne Silver, who also mixed and engineered the track. Mastering was performed by Alex Psaroudakis. Greenberg performs most of the instruments — piano, vocals, guitar, and percussion — and received contributions from Hiroyuki Matsuura on drums and Tony Tino on bass.

We’ve shared the Bandcamp embed below, because it gives you the chance to buy the track after you try the track. Dig in — and be sure to keep the faith!

« Older Entries