Music City Madness

Hahnville’s Michael Aaron goes head to head with musicians across the country in CMT’s video contest

Courtesy Photo

For the third year in a row, CMT.com is scouring the nation in search of the best unsigned country acts by launching its annual “Music City Madness” competition.

And in the mix of the contest’s top 64 finalist is Hahnville musician Michael Aaron.

“My parents actually found the contest for me, so it is all thanks to them that I even got to enter it,” said Aaron. “My project for the competition is a music video of a song I wrote called ‘Under the Blankets.’ The video portrays me underneath a tree just playing the guitar.”

Aaron, a 2006 Hahnville High School graduate says that he first became interested in music as a child and always loved to sing.

“I didn’t start playing the guitar until my senior year in high school,” he said. “Music is pretty much my outlet. I don’t like talking about my feelings, but with music I have a way to express myself.”

Aaron describes his music as unique and points out that it doesn’t fit into one category.

“I really don’t write my music to fit a certain genre,” he said. “I write what I feel, so I may write something country, then something alternative, and then a ballad.”

Although no records have been professionally released, Aaron has given out free CDs containing several songs to fans at his recent shows.

“I’ve handed out CDs at a few of my local performances at Mochaccinno’s, Sailfish, the Alligator Festival, the Belle Chasse Chili Cook-Off, The Green Bean in Hammond and I’ve played a couple of times at Garrison’s Global Coffee Bar also in Hammond,” said Aaron.

Aaron, who also plays the saxophone and piano, says that his ultimate goal is to perform music for the world to hear.

“I want people to hear what I have to say, and I really think that they would enjoy the music,” he said. “Also, if I do succeed in my goal I want to somehow help other younger artists have the chance to showcase their talent. I know how difficult it is just to get someone to listen to your music, let alone actually make a career out of it.”

The Country Music Television network’s online contest is the first user-generated talent search that offers undiscovered singer/songwriters a chance to showcase their talent and let fans decide who takes home the prize in the online battle of the bands.

Aaron submitted an original video performance to the contest and was chosen as a contestant in the first round of the competition.

The top 64 finalists were announced on Oct. 21 and will now compete in single-elimination, tournament-style fan voting over a period of eight weeks. CMT.com visitors narrow the field week by week by voting for their favorite act, with the grand prize winner revealed on Dec. 16.

If Aaron is chosen as the grand prize winner, he’ll receive an all-expenses paid trip to Nashville to record an episode of the CMT online series “Unplugged at Studio 330,” a private audition with Warner Bros. Records A & R department and a mentoring session with country superstar Randy Travis.

“Music City Madness” will also be featured in a half-hour television special that highlights the best and worst submissions.

Log onto www.cmt.com to vote for Aaron and view other “Music City Madness” entries.