The Chattanooga music scene resounds with original talent, says Cody Ray, speaker and artist relations lead for TEDxChattanooga and guitarist and vocalist of local folk band New Quintet.
Often, the difference between a local band and a national act is marketing and money, he says.
Last August, TEDxChattanooga, which brings speakers together to share “ideas worth spreading,” hosted its first music-centered “Sessions” event at Barking Legs Theater, showcasing local musicians.
“It was an opportunity to pull back the curtain and hear what drives them,” Ray says. “I’m a believer that we don’t highlight the unique perspectives of this region enough.”
Artists’ life experiences can influence their music in a myriad of ways, sometimes overtly through song lyrics or genre.