Ramona musicians made a strong showing in the list of 2024 San Diego Music Awards nominations.
Ramona musicians dominated the Best Folk or Acoustic Song category. Nominees included Cathryn Beeks, Astra Kelly, Ashley E. Norton, Thea The Band and Jason Winters, according to the list, which was released Feb. 26.
Chloe Lou Liddell is a double nominee; she is in the running for Best Pop Artist, as well as Best Pop Album for Chloe Lou & the Liddells “XVII.”
RosaLea Schiavone, a member of the San Diego Music Awards nominating academy since 2017, said there are thousands of musicians in San Diego, and 825 submissions this year.
“The music community in Ramona has grown so rapidly and there are some good musicians there,” Schiavone said. “But we don’t nominate because of where the music comes from, but because it’s good music.”
Having won Best Pop Album in 2020, Liddell is hoping to take home the honor again for “XVII.”
Released in October, the songs on the album are “more about relationships, love, heartbreak and all of the different feelings we feel; all the things I’ve gone through in the past five years,” Liddell said.
She said the nomination is recognition of her hard work.
“I would like voters to do their due diligence, listen to the album and vote because they like the music,” she said.
She also credits Alec Moore, from Studio West, who was producer and engineer for the album.
Cathryn Beeks has made the list before in various categories, but she said this year’s nomination for “I Love Ramona,” part of the “Our Ramona Compilation Album,” is an honor.
“This year is extra special because I am there on the merits of my own work,” Beeks said.
She said inspiration for the song — one of the most requested at her gigs — came shortly after she moved to the town in 2023.
“There is so much female energy in this town, and so many women run businesses such as wineries and breweries,” Beeks said. “I’m inspired by that.”
Jon Hasz, owner of After Hours Studio in Ramona, produced and recorded the song and album.
Astra Kelly said her song “Soul Fires” was written in 2022. It’s the title track of her fourth album release.
“I went on the road for eight months and lived in an RV,” she said, noting that her mother had recently died and she needed time to process her grief.
“I’ve been kind of alone most of my life, but the song is about the love that I know is out there somewhere,” Kelly said. “Not only an internal love, but the spark and fire in all of us, a universal love.”
“Hitchhike to Heaven” is a collaboration between Ashley E. Norton and Thea Tochihara of Thea The Band. Hasz produced and recorded the song.
“It’s exciting to see us bridge the gap between San Diego and Ramona artists, and it’s very exciting to see ‘Hitchhike’ nominated,” Norton said.
She said the song was inspired by a story a mutual friend of both Norton and Tochihara told the pair about a hospice patient.
“If you actually dissect the words of the song, anybody can find meaning in it,” Norton said.
The two songwriters had praise for each other.
“Thea is always a blast to work with and it’s really cool how organically it all came together. We both love the song so much it just naturally became a duet,” Norton said.
“Everything fell into place and the recording went so fast and smooth,” said Tochihara. “To have the song written, released, a video recorded and then nominated in just a couple of months speaks measures of what is going on in Ramona right now.”
“Walk Alone,” by Jason Winters, and featuring his wife, Heather Winters, was included in the “No More Wanderin’” album, nominated in the Best Americana or Country Album category last year. Hasz produced and recorded the album.
“I wrote it a long time ago, about people struggling with life and depression and feeling like they are going through it alone,” said Winters, one of the lead pastors at Mountain View Community Church.
“I feel excitement for the song to be picked, but also feel the loss of two musicians who have since ed since the song was recorded,” Winters said.
Hasz and Norton are co-founders of the Ramona Music Alliance, as well as Co-Citizens of the Year for Ramona.
“It’s an honor to have recognition on stage, in front of some of the best musicians and producers in the industry,” Hasz said, referring to the nominations. “We’re so appreciative of the and we’re just getting started.”
Awards are based on votes. Voting is online only; visit https://dosd.com/p/sandiegomusicawards. Public voting began at noon Feb. 27 and continues until March 27 at 5 p.m. Voters can vote daily; one email address per day will be counted.
Hasz said he also hopes voters will write in the “Our Ramona Compilation Album” for Best Local Recording.
The RMA was behind the making of “Our Ramona,” which features 16 songs about Ramona, performed by local musicians, singer-songwriters and artists.
“I don’t think there is anywhere else in San Diego with the density of musicians that Ramona has right now,” Schiavone said. “Ramona has become ‘Little Austin’ in my eyes.”
Winners will be announced at the San Diego Music Awards on April 30 at Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego. The public is invited. Tickets go on sale Mar. 1 at: sandiegomusicawards.com
The San Diego Music Academy, host of the San Diego Music Awards, has been awarding artists and albums since 1991. The Awards program is the primary fundraising vehicle for the San Diego Music Foundations Guitars for Schools.
Both Barnett Elementary and Olive Peirce Middle School participate in the program.
