Solo by Andrea Vasquez

Solo, Andrea Vasquez's most recently released song kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated from mid-September to mid-October. Solo co-written with Eitan Snyder, Bailey Morgan, and Andrea Vasquez, brings spicy Latin energy to create a spirited mood with these lyrics. Solo radiates a sense of confidence in singlehood, embracing the idea of being alone when a relationship reaches its conclusion. Rather than fearing solitude, finding strength and comfort in the independence that comes from recognizing when a relationship isn't fulfilling.

Andrea Vasquez’s former single Moving Target was also written by this trio (Vasquez, Morgan, and Snyder) boasting nearly 53,000 listens on Spotify alone, charting on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown, and receiving support from Billboard and Music Row Magazine.

Andrea Vasquez has been writing a lot of music, is constantly brainstorming, and said she has a “giant batch of music to release for 2025”. Andrea’s goal is not to be repetitive with her music style, focusing on a variety of tempos and lyrics that celebrate her Latin heritage and blend it into a country music style. She plans to release an EP in mid-2025 and to be looking into spinning those songs into a full album.

Andrea Vasquez performs at local writers' rounds in Nashville, frequently at The Listening Room as Andrea Vasquez and Friends, and in a residency at Anzie Blue.

Thank you Andrea for chatting with me In A Country Minute.

Andrea Vasquez Instagram

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Andrea Vasquez on X

Sarah Morris, A Minnesota Songwriting Star

Sarah Morris is a singer, songwriter, and performer who wholeheartedly loves music. I first heard Sarah Morris perform live at the Midwest Country Music Organization’s awards show a few years ago. Sarah’s positivity and gentle demeanor shined through her lyrical talents quite gracefully.

Sarah Morris, photo by Emily Isakson

Sarah Morris is a well-known Minnesota artist with national recognition. She has been featured in many publications including the Star Tribune and American Songwriter. I recently reached out to her and connected through social media in order to discuss her career and music-filled life. I learned how Sarah is involved in the Minnesota music scene in a variety of avenues. Sarah collaborates with many other artists, performing and writing.

Creativity is at her core, and she is an advocate for her craft, focusing on music in a tight-knit community.

Sarah Morris writes a blog for Adventures in Americana, interviewing other artists, and writing about the songs that have impacted them. Sarah has a video series on YouTube, Toilet Tunes with Sarah Morris and friends, which is staged in her big green bathroom. Sarah said it was a creative way to invest time in other artists and sing unrehearsed songs and converse in an interview format. (Acoustics are really good in a bathroom if I don't say so myself.)

Sarah mentioned that she is open to collaborating with any artist, as it is always beneficial to explore different ideas.

Sarah Morris keeps her calendar full with a large variety of shows anywhere from singing in church, solo showcases, duo performances, listening rooms, and full band sets. On a personal note- she prefers to see shows in a seated, more intimate setting so she can listen deeply to the lyrics.

Sarah has made it a skill to be a family-centered career musician, dividing her time between writing, performing, booking shows, and the administrative details of independent artistry, and her 2 children and supportive husband. A retreat is the next trip she was looking forward to and she is planning on working on a few songs she has started she wants quiet time in nature to finish. Sarah has studio time reserved for 2025 and has been collaborating with Matthew French on an EP due to release this fall. Sarah's most recent singles, Maybe You Already Know This were a separate project but deserve their spotlight.

upcoming performances

Thank you Sarah Morris for chatting with me about life, your love of music and songwriting. It was a pleasure to connect with you In A Country Minute.

Connor Daly Celebrated "Colors Fade" with an album release party and a move to Nashville

Connor Daly , photo by Jeremy Ryan

There is no better way to celebrate a move to Nashville from Virginia than to kick it off with a celebration of an album release. Connor Daly celebrated the release of Colors Fade with an album release party to share his creative writing skills and mesmerizing vocals with his closest friends and family at the end of July. Closing out the week after emptying boxes and organizing his new place in Nashville, he was ready to celebrate. Melissa Farrior opened for Connor's release party to kick off the celebration. With the help and recommendations from Connor's dad and team, Colors Fade is a collection of 12 songs chosen out of many singles he has written over the last 6-7 years. The first song Connor wrote in 2018 he admits “is a decent song” but has progressed nicely after writing 200-plus songs. Connor said narrowing it down was a process of choosing a variety of song types, and a theme but he also could have swapped out a few with 10 other songs to fit the album but those songs can make it onto a future album.

The final 2 singles from Colors Fade are completely different viewpoints and styles. Aint Got A Cape takes you on the heartbreaking journey of a mentally ill person in a relationship who isn’t getting the help they need and the struggle tears the other one apart, leaving them in a helpless state. Ain't Got a Cape was finalized by an emotional short film video portraying the couple in that very struggle and lyrically grasping your attention. Connor said, “My goal for all my music is to make you feel something and make each song a memorable song.”

Before the full album release, Connor Daly partnered with cowriters Jennifer Heart and Robert Ricotta on Fake One Tear. Connor connected with Mary Heather Hickman on social media and contacted her manager to propose a duet performance of Fake One Tear and then a video for Fake One Tear was released on Aug 2nd. Combining the vocal talents of Mary Heather Hickman and Connor Daly brings the story to life for the lyrics.

Connor Daly is a George Mason University graduate who studied criminology and was pursuing a career in law enforcement, intelligence, or investigations. Connor was offered an internship in pandemic recovery with an office of investigation for auditing. The funding was withdrawn, and the position was terminated, which sent Connor back to his writing and singing hobby. He explored his creative talents more fully after his first year in college, recorded demos, and wrote a few songs and now is turning his passion for music and writing into a career. Connor has an appreciation for the whole process of songwriting; "writing and singing are a small portion of a song", and there are so many pieces to that puzzle. Connor continued to play at wineries and breweries while living in Virginia and is looking forward to more shows in the upcoming months after he is settled in his new Nashville residence. He had been focused on writing and finishing his first album and creating videos for some of those songs, all available on his YouTube channel and website.

Connor Daly Facebook

Congratulations Connor Daly on your album release, your move, and your celebration party. I look forward to catching up with you again In A Country Minute!

Connor Daly Instagram