Musician Spotlight: Rising Singer Katie Belle Akin

Musician Spotlight: Rising Singer Katie Belle Akin
BY: David Mills

Marietta, GA - We are bringing our readers a brand new Wednesday "Musician Spotlight" edition. Musician that we are featuring in this "Musician Spotlight" is on a very talented 12 year old Singer/Songwriter from Georgia. The Musician we are featuring is the lovely and talented singer/songwriter Katie Belle Akin. Katie is a raising Singer/Songwriter with her country/pop/Country style that has a very bright future ahead. Lets meet this lovely, talented, 12 year old, Singer/Songwriter.

Katie Belle Akin is a 12 year old country pop singer/songwriter on the rise.  Taking cues from her idols Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Miley Cyrus, Katie’s songs encourage being strong and confident and the stories in her songs convey the message to always have faith in yourself. To date Katie has written, recorded and produced 7 original songs. Her production has been done in Nashville by Murphy/Good Studios and redredstudios; all of Katie’s music is available on iTunes.

The Georgia native got her musical start by singing in the school and church choirs.  Her calling as a singer and performer became clear when she landed and nailed the lead part in her school production of School House Rocks Jr. She hasn’t stopped performing since!  Katie has been catching audiences’ and music professionals’ attention by singing in school, church, local fairs, talents shows and competitions.  In summer 2010 Katie was a part of an auditioned inspirational choir at a talent convention performing before a crowd of over 1500, In January 2011 Katie sang at the Martin Luther King Celebration in Cobb County to a crowd of 1000. Katie’s music is currently getting spins on several internet radio stations! 2012 is starting off strong with the release of her 5 original songs on her first EP.

Katie's single Up To Me, won in the Country Category recently in www.eyerocksradio.com 2ndBattleoftheBands Jan. 2012

Katie has been a repeated Featured Artist of the Week @ Music X-ray, The Nashville Universe, dssr Rock & Radio, GirlsRockRadio, Whotunes and PMW Live radio.

"Up To Me" video was the Grand Prize Winner in the Ark Music Factory Video Contest Sept. 2011

"Who I Am" video addresses the topic of overcoming bullying, Katie is being considered for spokesperson for a national Anti-bullying campaign, “Rachel’s Challenge... as of February 2012 Katie’s song will be a featured song on an upcoming compilation CD produced by the Rachel’s Challenge organization.  Congratulations Katie!!!

Katie has just returned from Los Angeles where she was invited by Patrice Wilson, CEO of Ark Music/PMW Live for the filming of her new music video, for her original song "Born for This". Born for This is the title track from her EP. Katie caught the attention of Mr. Wilson by submitting her music to his radio station in Los Angeles.  Mr. Wilson loves Katie’s Country vibe and had been playing her music when he heard her new song “Born for This”... Mr. Wilson called Katie personally and invited her to LA because he wanted to film this video. The music video for “Born for This” is scheduled for a late February/early March 2012 release.

Upcoming performances Katie has booked are:

March 3^rd, Nashville Palace

March 30^th, Auburn University Benefit Concert

April 14^th, Nashville Spotlight TV

May 4^th, Nashville Palace

July 4^th, Katie will perform a Benefit Concert at “Camp Happy Days” near Charleston, S.C. a camp for children and siblings who are Cancer Patients… Katie will spend an entire day visiting, performing and spending the night at camp as she encourages and entertains the camp participants to never give up and to pursue their dreams. Katie can’t think of a better way to celebrate freedom and share her gifts at the same time.

This spring Katie is kicking off a Facebook/YouTube campaign against bullying.  She has been bullied thru out her school years and has overcome some tough situations caused by this. Katie feels strongly that a person can stand against bullying by relying on family, friends and support networks. Katie knows firsthand and relates to others who have also experienced this.  Katie says “don’t give up; don’t cave in, STAND UP AGAINST BULLYING.

Katie currently enjoys communicating with her fans on her Facebook, twitter,  reverbnation pages and YouTube … booking performances, taking weekly guitar lessons, performance training and working on new music in Atlanta and Nashville; all the while pursuing her “passion for performance”.

Katie’s social media links:

www.katiebelleakin.com -- undergoing an update March 2012 

www.facebook.com/katiebelleakin

www.twitter.com/katiebelleakin

www.apple.itunes.com/katiebelleakin

www.reverbnation.com/katiebelleakin

Katie Belle Akin seems to us as being a wonderful Singer/Songwriter with a Country/Country/Pop style of singing that sounds great. This young Singer/Songwriter will be one to watch for big things. Akin has writing some songs that you should listen to has they are wonderful. These songs are "Movin On", "Boy In My Dreams", "Next Thing In Tennessee", Born This Way", "Up To Me", "Who I Am" and "Grow Up". It was also announced to us that Katie is up for a role in  Cool Carolina Nights", filming will be this spring and summer for a walk on role about bullying. The production company BJGproduction is in Katie's hometown of Atlanta, Ga. Cool Carolina Night's is a new cable soap opera drama. We can't wait to see where Katie's singing and songwriting will take her.

Born For This is the title track to her ep.
This song was written by katie in the middle of the night on a trip to Nashville for songwriting... katie couldnt sleep and got up because she kept hearing this song in her head. She used the light coming from underneath the door to write by as she didnt want to wake her mother up, she ran out of ink in one of the pens she was using  hence the lyric " I'm gonna bleed my pen dry".....

written by Katie Belle Akin, Kipp Williams & Joshua Silverberg

ALL SONGS:  recorded/produced in Nashville at redredstudios, producer Joshua Silverberg, co-producer Kipp Williams,  mixed in NYC by John Castelli, mastered by Nathan Dantzler, Los Angeles
next thing in tennesee

Katie wrote this song riding in the car on the way to Nashville for songwriting... Atlanta is home to Usher and JZ hence their mention.. the lyrics include many known sites in Nashville and the names of many country stars which have influenced Katies style of music... Katie loves Nashville!

Katie helped select the insturments she wanted on the song, especially the banjo!!

Boy of My Dreams

This song is written about a boy katie knows, but he doesnt pay any attention to her... she used alot of her "favortie" things i.e. strawberry mango smoothies lyric to create her imaginary boyfriend!! she really wanted the fiddle which the fiddle solo turned out really well…

Movin On

This was a callaboration song with Kipp and Joshua,,, Katie has been dumped by alot of friends, it just seems to happen alot, but she knows to bounce back and keep "movin on" the lyrics reflect the empowerment of moving forward and getting over hurts, because in life that happens...

fiddle in this song... and that part turned out really well.

Final song on the Katie's ep is Nothin on the Planet

This song is a departure from the other country influenced songs on the ep.  it is really fun and high energy, similar to Born for This. still uses some "country" music instruments but basically is a pop song... the vocals were really alot of fun.

We want to share with you a Music Video of her song "Who I Am". Please listen as she did a wonderful job in this Music Video.

What did you all think?


Our Next "Musician Spotlight" will be on The Veayo Twins from the great state of Maine, going live this Friday.

Rocky Coast News is pleased to have Katie Belle Akin as our latest "Musician Spotlight", where we highlight, promote up and coming musicians that have amazing vocals, sound, style and/or who are able to play an instrument well singing.

Rocky Coast News

Reporter, David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastnews@live.com

Rocky Coast News is a division of Rocky Coast Media delivering Nautical, Community & Entertainment News