By Zach Collier
2023 was a huge step in the right direction for Provo as a developing music industry hub. From Spotify recognizing Provo as an influential Sound Town to Little Moon winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Competition, Provo Music Magazine was there to document it all. Below are our 10 most-read articles of 2023.
10. A Look Inside The Sweetwater Campus
In July of 2022 I got to visit Fort Wayne, Indiana and tour the headquarters of Sweetwater. Sweetwater is the world’s largest online gear retailer. Apparently Google is sending people our way, because this story didn’t crack our top 10 in 2022 but definitely made the list this year. This place is MASSIVE. Visiting Sweetwater should be a bucket list item for every musician. Read the full story.
9. Citizen Soldier Sells Out Back to Back Shows at Velour
To say Citizen Soldier is hot right now would be an understatement. They’re about to sell out their first full band headlining tour with months to go in 2024 before it even kicks off. Leading up to that, the band sold out a national acoustic tour in 2023, starting with back to back shows at Velour. Read about it here.
8. EJ Michels of Foreign Figures Slays On The Voice
If you tuned in to NBC’s The Voice last spring, you experienced a cover of Adele’s “Easy On Me” brought to you by a prominent Provo musician. EJ Michels, known locally as the passionate frontman of Foreign Figures, shared his powerful voice with the world while accompanying himself on keys and he turned several chairs in the process. Read more.
7. Provo Musicians Raise Funds For Heart Transplant
When the son of local musician Clayton Smalley was diagnosed with heart failure, they didn’t know if he’d be able to get a heart transplant. If he could, it meant serious medical bills – even with insurance. Luckily the Provo music scene stepped up in a big way, and a GoFundMe (which is still accepting donations) was able to raise over $18,000 for Clayton’s family. The operation was a success. Read more.
6. Bestselling Author Blake Snow Enters The Provo Music Scene
Blake Snow is passionate about writing. A bestselling author, he’s written for publications like Wired, CNN, USA Today, and more. New to the Provo music scene, he first got in touch with us after seeing an issue of Provo Music Magazine at Sensuous Sandwich. Take a deep dive into his music.
5. Little Moon Wins NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest
On May 16, 2023, NPR Music made an announcement during Morning Edition revealing the winner of the ninth edition of their Tiny Desk Contest: Little Moon. Read the original breaking news story here. Our interview with Little Moon was later the cover story of our Summer 2023 issue.
4. Lennon VanderDoes Wows on The Voice
2023 was a great year for Provo musicians on national television. During the blind auditions, Lennon impressed every single judge with his rendition of “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron, delivering the first line so serenely that it prompted coaches Niall Horan and Gwen Stefani to immediately smash those red buttons, followed by John Legend shortly thereafter. Read more about it here.
3. Album Review: When We Were Friends by The Backseat Lovers
Jordan Ottesen reviewed The Backseat Lovers’ debut LP all the way back in 2019. The fact that this nearly 4-year-old album review is in our top 3 is a testament to the band’s incredible, newfound popularity. You can read the review here. You can also read our review of their sophomore LP here.
2. This A-Frame House In Provo Is A Musician’s Dream
Not gonna lie, folks. We’re really happy that we covered Andrew Maxfield’s iconic home a full 3 months before KSL did. Bragging aside, we’re really happy that this Provo architectural gem is getting widespread attention beyond our cozy little publication. Read about Maxfield’s home and his A Frame Concerts here.
1. Why Is Provo Everyone’s Sound Town on Spotify Wrapped This Year?
Last year’s winner (by a long shot) was this little piece about Provo, Utah as a taste-making music destination. A ton of people all over the world got Provo as their Sound Town on Spotify Wrapped in 2023. Needless to say, they were all thoroughly confused. Luckily we were there to help.