The Road to Nashville Announces Winner at Legendary Exit/In

Edi Callier was selected from 11 finalists in this global music and mental health initiative

The Road to Nashville: Liverpool International Song Contest (TRTN) is thrilled to announce its winner after the final live performances were presented at the renowned EXIT/IN on John Lennon’s birthday, Sunday, Oct. 9.

Hosted by the BBC’s Claire Simmo and live streamed by Music Crowns, The Road to Nashville finale was judged by a panel of legendary music industry representatives, who, after much deliberation, crowned Edi Callier as the winner of the global mental health program.

Out of over 21,400 songwriters from 31 countries, Edi wowed the judges with his original song, Alone, which included moving lyrics such as, “I need someone to come and hold this heartbroken man, I need trust in an uncharted land. Oh, someone please help me to understand why I feel so alone again.”

“It means so much to me to be able to be a part of The Road to Nashville, especially because it’s something bigger than just me and more than what the song meant when I put pen to pad,” said Callier. “Now, my song is in a place where it can actually do some good. I’m not used to winning yet, and so this is a new, wonderful feeling. It’s pretty great.”

“We have made history with these eleven finalists who were chosen from among 31 countries. All incredibly talented, but what a fantastic winner we have in Edi Callier, especially after he lost his loved one,” said Dr. Shamender Talwar and Daniel Xander, trustees of TUFF. “Very proud to say The Road To Nashville global mental health project from Liverpool, UK has become the largest songwriting contest in the world.”

Flying in from Los Angeles, California, Edi Callier is a recording artist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer originally from Portland, Oregon. Inspired by the likes of Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, EWF, Aerosmith, and Nirvana, Edi’s roots playing and singing alongside his father in the church at a young age led him to the city of Atlanta where he rapidly made a name for himself. He built a following through his genre-bending brand of music, commanding stage presence, extraordinary musicianship, and his distinguishably smooth yet passionate vocals. A former contestant on FOX Television’s The Four, Edi Callier and his music can best be described as an eclectic blend of soul, funk, rock, pop, R&B, and jazz with international flare.

“I am thrilled to have served as a judge for the finale of The Road To Nashville with other music industry powerhouses,” said Pamela Lewis FRSA, Founder of PLA Media. “I was truly impressed by the raw talent the contestants brought to this competition, as well as the genuine camaraderie displayed backstage. Edi wrote a phenomenal song that touched us all, and we were happy to present him with the Mic of Unity to honor his accomplishment.”

The judging panel for The Road to Nashville included Gary Morris (Grammy, ACM and CMA award winning singer/songwriter, Broadway star), Jeff Cohen (six-time BMI Award-winning Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer, publisher), Pamela Lewis (Owner of PLA Media: Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, CMA’s “Artist Manager of the Year,” MTV launch team), Tim Wipperman (Managing Director of ONErpm) and Regie Hamm (Five-time SESAC “Writer of the Year”).

Throughout the process, The Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF), co-organizers of The Road to Nashville, worked to connect artists worldwide with the mental health services they need. TUFF is providing continued access to complimentary counseling services for the 3,600 participants who opted into the free program.

To stream the finalist submissions, visit roadtonashville.us/finalists-3.

The 2022 Road to Nashville finalists included:

• Ammon & Liahona Olayan – Salt Lake residents from Hawaii
• Liz Beatty & Nate Strasser – Brentwood, TN
• Edi Callier – Los Angeles, CA
• Alex Boye – London, UK
• Charles Cleyn – Canada
• Twayn – Newcastle, UK
• Sean Kennedy – Nashville resident from Scotland
• Abi Muir – Australia
• Jennifer Sanon – Miami, FL (SAE Student)
• Skinny Living – trio from Ireland
• Neeve Zahra – Manchester, UK

The Road to Nashville partnered with the following to support the program and its contestants:

• Liverpool City Council
• Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County
• Visit Music City
• Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
• Country Music Association
• Music Crowns
• Exit/In
• BMI
• SAE Institute
• The Cavern Club Liverpool
• Middle Tennessee State University
• BBC
• Porter’s Call
• Gaylord Opryland Hotels
• Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville Downtown Capitol View
• Virgin Hotels

The Road To Nashville closed with a celebratory reception at the British Consulate in Nashville on World Mental Health Day (Monday, Oct. 10). At this event, the Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson and Nashville Deputy Mayor Brenda Haywood joined hands in solidarity for the continued support and efforts of TRTN mission and its talented finalists.

About Liverpool International Song Contest

Last year, Liverpool City Council played a role in supporting the International Song for Kindness which was created by the charity TUFF (The Unity of Faiths Foundation) to support their wider goals of empowering young people and promoting acceptance, equality and respect for other cultures.

The Liverpool International Song Contest is a vehicle used to tackle discrimination and the stigma of mental health, providing support for those most in need and developing a bespoke mental health service infrastructure specifically tailored toward those in the creative sector.

Participants in the 2020/21 Liverpool International Song Contest were invited to attend one of 23 workshops across the Liverpool City region, delivered by TUFFs Music division and led by TUFFs co-founders Anna Prior and Dr. Shamender Talwar FRSA (renowned social psychologist) and Liverpool based producer Daniel Xander BSc MA (TUFFs Head of Music). These engaging workshops provided education in music, production and human values, and provided education on mental health and one to one counselling with mental health practitioners.

In addition to the thousands who attended the in-person workshops, TUFF also provided an online version of the syllabus for those unable to attend through medical reasons, Covid-19 and/or mental health disorders such as social anxiety and depression. This online digital format provided people with the same opportunities and one to one counselling, delivered in a way that best suited their needs.

The connection with Liverpool came about because TUFF developed the global #KIND20 campaign as a way to demonstrate and promote social integration, which reached a staggering 6.5 million people from around the world. After conversations with The Cavern and other organizations in Liverpool, they came up with the idea of an International Song Contest to celebrate what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday. Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music, was involved on behalf of the city and attended the final event at The Cavern in October 2021. The songs were judged by an impressive panel of industry figures (including Adele’s agent and respected musician/songwriter Andrew Roachford MBE who had a number of hits with his band Roachford) who all attended the event in Liverpool. Entries were received from 28 countries in the inaugural contest.

About TUFF — The Co-Organizer

The Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF) is a British secular charitable organization working in four continents. They bridge community sectors, organizations and government by rebuilding social integration and global community cohesion. TUFF also empowers youth through participation in sports, music and science. Teaching education in human values, acceptance of integration, individual liberty, gender equality, understanding environment, respect for other cultures, the rule of law and democracy. They have been established since 2011 and have the support and acknowledgments of many dignitaries like H.H Pope Francis, H.M the Queen, President Barack Obama to name a few. The ultimate goal is to share kindness and facilitate the integration and empowerment of those people who do not have a voice, due to numerous challenges and obstacles they face in their daily lives.

To make learn more or make a donation to TUFF, visit: tuff.earth.

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