Songwriter Girl

NASHVILLE meets YOUNGSTOWN

Nashville meets Youngstown for a night of original music by Youngstown natives, with #1 hit songwriter Kirsti Manna, and special guests, Leanne Binder and Taylor Borton. Emceed by Kirsti Manna, each singer/songwriter will perform their own original songs and share stories of their careers. Enjoy a casual evening in our beautiful home in the historic Ohio One Building.

Proceeds will benefit future SMARTS programming.

Sponsorship Packages

Sponsorship packages at various levels are also available! All sponsorships include tickets for the show. Promote your business or organization and support youth arts programming at SMARTS!

SONGWRITER GIRL WORKSHOP

Join #1 hit Songwriter and LuckySky Music label executive Kirsti Manna for REAL INFO about the music business, songwriting, and performing.

Get the opportunity to:

Network
Cowrite
Perform
Ask questions
Have fun

What You will Learn:
The truth behind cowriting, networking, how writers and music publishers make money with their songs

Those attending this workshop will leave with:

More developed, encouraged, and enhanced creativity
Laser focus on learning how to write better songs
Greater confidence as a creative
Friends for life

Check In begins at 9:45am
Workshop Sessions begin at 10:15am
Sessions will end at 2pm

Please bring your own lunch.

SMARTS' Songwriter Girl Workshop and Nashville Meets Youngstown are made possible in part by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

ARTIST BIOS

YOUNGSTOWN NATIVES, NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS

Kirsti Manna Leanne Binder Taylor Borton

Kirsti Manna

Kirsti Manna’s 6 week Billboard #1 smash hit, “Austin,” introduced Blake Shelton (of NBC’s The Voice) to country radio. Her company Kirsti Mannasongs is also the co-publisher on this smash hit. She’s also the co-writer/co-publisher for Big & Rich’s rockin’ hit, “Loud” (WB/Nashville) which was the theme song for CMT’s show Gone Country. Artists such as the 80’s pop star Tiffany, Colt Prather, Australian artists Angus Gill, Kirsty Lee Akers, Amber Lawrence, and many others have released Kirsti’s songs. Kirsti has enjoyed success internationally with five #1’s in Australia alone and over 100 cuts with independent artists. Her songs have been heard around the world in such places as CMT, ESPN, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Voice, The Hallmark Channel, Gayle King’s Grammy Special, The Tonight Show, The David Letterman Show, Friday Night Lights, and Dance Wars.

In addition to writing for other artists, Kirsti has recorded and released two of her own original projects. She has also performed as a songwriter in venues all over the world from Japan to Europe as well as The Bluebird Cafe and many other points in between. She has also been a songwriter on many song team building events.

As a featured artist with her show “Songwriter Girl”, - the music of Carole King, she has headlined on the Holland America cruise line, in performing arts centers, and venues throughout the US and Canada. Her inspirational podcast, KIRSTIcast spotlights guests who are entrepreneurial girls and women. Kirsti created her own online course “Spark Your Creativity: The Steps to a Successful Creative Journey.”

Kirsti is also the founder of Songwriter Girl, bringing together girls of all ages partnering songwriting education and creative empowerment. Known as the go-to person for inspirational information, Kirsti’s “whatever you do stay inspired” mantra has helped girls and women find their creative voice, launching Songwriter Girl Camps in 2008, hosting events in such places as Germany, Los Angeles, Alaska, and Florida to name a few. (www.songwritergirl.com)

Besides being a Nashville-based songwriter/publisher, she’s an actress with numerous credits that include creating and starring in her own national children’s TV show, “Kirsti’s Manor” viewed by 34 million homes. Kirsti is also VP and Creative Director of Publishing for the Nashville based record label, LuckySky Music.

Kirsti and her husband, Bill Warner, were also featured as a music biz power couple in the quirky mockumentary “Paper Heart,” released in 2009.

For more info about Kirsti, visit kirsti.com and songwritergirl.com

Social media:

https://www.facebook.com/kirsti.manna
https://www.facebook.com/SongwriterGirlPage
https://www.instagram.com/songwritergirl1/

Leanne Binder

Leanne Binder Music: where rust belt blues meets rock & soul!

Leanne Binder, a versatile singer, songwriter, and entertainer, boasts a diverse musical repertoire that has resonated with audiences worldwide. From intimate solo performances to commanding stages with full bands, she has graced venues of all sizes. With international performances at iconic venues like The Cavern in Liverpool and The Great Rhythm & Blues Festival in the U.K., she's a seasoned performer.

Notably, since 2018, Leanne has graced the stages of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since and shared the limelight with renowned artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Marshall Tucker, and Dickey Betts.

Additionally, Leanne is a respected vocal coach, operating SongMill Studio with locations in Ohio and Nashville, Tennessee. Her talents as both a performer and mentor continue to inspire in the world of music.

Taylor Borton

Taylor Borton is an award winning Nashville-based singer/songwriter, storyteller, and musician. Her distinct and eclectic vocals and music effortlessly cross multiple genres blending the best from country, Americana, folk, and singer/songwriter. She pulls from each of these genres to create a rich, pure, and unique style of her own adding raw, real-life experiences to create the story behind each of her songs. Her voice is traditional yet seasoned with an edgy, contemporary flair. Borton credits John Prine, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and singer/songwriter Lori McKenna as her biggest musical influences. She is an “old soul” with a young and charismatic spirit and her songwriting is mature well beyond her years.

In 2019, she decided to follow her musical dreams, leaving her hometown of Youngstown, Ohio to head to "Music City,'' where she attended and graduated from The Blackbird Academy, with a degree in audio engineering. Since her move to Nashville, Borton has been creating a buzz among industry professionals and fans alike. "Lyrics In My Head," the title track of her latest EP, was self-written and self-produced. The song shares a relatable and inspirational universal message encouraging listeners to listen to your gut (the lyrics in your head) and not to beat yourself up over things you can't control. The release was followed by “Glove Box Lighter,” “My Opry,” and “Lovin When It’s Leavin.”

Taylor plans to stay in Nashville to focus on her songwriting career, as she has written with multiple #1 writers, and won an honorable mention for the lyrics in her song "Honky Tonk Hair" in American Songwriter, co-written with Bill DiLuigi and Mary Zalla. She has been interviewed by WKBN, WKRN, Todays Country Magazine, Worlds of Country, Youngstown Business Journal, Bold Journey, Crazy Women of Country, Margie's Country Classics Hour, Indie Country Radio and many more.

With music festivals like American Roots Festival, Water Lantern Festival and Motorcycle Revival at Loretta Lynn's Ranch already under her belt, her biggest goal is to tour and perform around the world. “Chasing a music career is more of a challenge than anything, but that’s what makes it so worthwhile”, says she. Taylor is poised to gracefully continue that chase, with hope you’ll come along for the ride.