by: Carol Hazel
New Mexico Singer/Songwriter Andy Mason, and Recording/Mastering Engineer Mike Davidson, won Best Children’s Song of the Year at the 31st Annual New Mexico Music Awards held in Albuquerque on May 20. Andy has been nominated 9 times, since 2015, in various categories, and won 4 awards including Best Children’s Song and Best Music Video in the State of New Mexico in 2015, Best Album Cover Design in 2017 and now another Best Children’s Song Award in 2018 with this year’s entry “Children’s Garden.” He shares 4 of those nominations and 2 of those wins with Mike Davidson of Portales, NM.
Andy is a former resident of Portales best known for traveling statewide, nationwide and worldwide connecting and performing with children, teaching them the love of music and raising awareness, and money, for such causes as Smile Train, a life changing cleft palate surgery charity.
Mike stated, “In 2014 Andy approached me asking if I would be interested in recording and producing a song for him. I usually don’t do third party recording as my own projects keep me busy but for some reason I thought why not.”
Mike Davidson
“When I was told the project was a children’s song, my first thought was, what did I get myself into. The song, “Empty” is about an animated torn up cardboard box, not like the other nice new boxes, being ok with the way he was. It was kid speak for respect yourself the way you are, and it also contained a powerful anti-bullying message. For the project, we brought in some awesome musicians, Dusty Deen produced an animated video, and Josh Belter wrote a complimentary children’s book. That song was entered into the 2015 New Mexico Music Awards and won Best Children’s song and Best Music Video in the State of New Mexico.”
After recording and mastering the song “Empty,” Mike stated, “I was hooked! Mixing children’s vocal tracks is far harder than I expected with 30 voices or more, some meek and quiet, some belting it out, but it does melt your heart to hear the children’s passion when they are singing the lyrics. I spent a good portion of my life playing rock music and a few years playing country music. If someone would have told me someday I would get a high five for children’s music I would have laughed and thought, they were crazy.”
Andy and Mike continue to work on their musical dreams in the streets of Santa Fe, Portales and beyond. More info about both artist can be found on andymasonmusic.org and crazydog.audio
