Lilly Casolaro
News Editor
A Troy student and rising country singer has been selected as a finalist for WLWI radio station’s country music singing competition.
Ryan Waters, a senior physical education major from Luverne, is performing in the NASH Next competition, hosted by sixty-eight of the WLWI participating stations.
According to his bio, “My music contains stories from my life; they are real, they are personal, and I hope that they can speak to others, in a language they can relate to and have a positive effect on their lives.”
The competition has several phases, beginning with an audition round where fans can vote for their favorite entrant. Next, competitors endure two challenge rounds where they record an original song and a cover.
Those who advance move to the state competition. The finale is in Nashville, and the winner will receive a major record label and contract as a country recording artist.
Waters will be performing live with seven other finalists on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Shoppes at Eastchase in Montgomery at 2 p.m.
Competitors will have the option to perform two covers, two originals or one of each. They will not know what order they will play until they arrive on Sunday.
Waters heard about the competition while listening to WLWI and decided to participate.
“I definitely hope to win,” Waters said. “Whether I do or not, I want it to better me as a musician.”
Waters said he started writing music when he was 17 and has been playing the guitar and piano since he was younger.
“At the age of fourteen, I picked up a guitar and taught myself how to play, then I did the same with the piano and the drums,” his bio said.
Waters said balancing the recording schedule with his work and school responsibilities was a struggle for him.
“It’s hard to maintain a full time job, school and have all the recording in on time,” Waters said.
For more information visit www.wlwi.com and www.ryanwaterscountry.com
