For 16 years, the Sound Off! competition has supported all ages music by giving a platform to young, local artists. All competitors are under 21, reside within the Pacific Northwest, and almost always give us a few show-stopping moments. We've seen Sound Off! kick off the careers of Northwest favorites like The Lonely Forest, Dave B, Manatee Commune, Naked Giants, Tomten, Sol, and numerous others. Now you can add this year's first place winner, singer-songwriter Jason McCue, to the list. McCue stunned the crowd and judges, performing alone with his acoustic guitar on the spacious Sky Church stage on March 11 at MoPop. His intricate finger-picking and soaring hypnotizing vocals were undeniable, reverberating throughout the hushed room.
McCue may have taken home the title, but he was far from the only exciting talent to grace the finalists stage. In second place, Falon Sierra transfixed the crowd with her dreamy blend of R&B and soul. Electronic-meets-psych producer Torpoise came in third for the evening, invigorating the crowd while playing bouncy rhythms on his dazzling MPC. He even managed to break out a saxophone to liven things up further. Rounding out fourth place was Federal Way indie rockers The Good Weird, who won over fans with their chugging riffs and confessional lyrics. After this year's stacked finals round, we can't wait to see what the next year has to offer.
Jason McCue:
Falon Sierra:
Torpoise:
The Good Weird:
The 2017 Sound Off! winner hold together an array of musical ideas while he sings about breaking apart on new LP
The 2018 semi-finals conclude tonight, Friday, February 23rd, with our last round of competitors: Beyond the Woods, Claudine Magbag, EyezOthelo, and Misundvrstood. Here’s some info on what to expect.
The 2018 event continues tonight, Friday, February 16th, with our second round of semi-finalists: Micaiah Sawyer, NËSTRÄ, Sam Foster, and Step Dads. Here's some info on what to expect:
For 17 years, MoPOP’s Sound Off! has highlighted the best up-and-coming musicians in the region. The 2018 event kicks off tonight, Friday, February 9th, with our first round of semi-finalists: Dreadlight, Jawzilla, Maiah Wynne, and Strawberry Mountain.
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Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Mor…