Interview with Hicks & Ally Mayson

HICKS (Miqael Persson) is a country singer and an accomplished songwriter. While in Nashville, he was able to co-write with top songwriters Anthony Smith, Dallas Rogers, Dennis Morgan and Sharon Vaughn. He met with his U.S. publisher and learned that a song he wrote ‘Cuts Like A Diamond’ on his last U.S. visit was picked up by the Little River Band. Not only did they record it, but it became the title of their new album to be released in August when they start a nationwide tour of the U.S. to promote it. Other artists such as Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Giant (Dann Huff), Bobby Kimball (Toto), W.E.T (Featuring Jeff Scott Soto), Grammy nominated Toby Hitchcock and many more have recorded his songs. Born in the southern part of Sweden, Miqael grew up with a dream of making a living with his music. Playing in local bands he wrote music, toured and learned to be a better artist and songwriter. He soon moved to Stockholm to pursue his dream of being a songwriter. His first cut with another artist was the Swedish band Barbados that cut one of his country songs. Hicks' latest single is called Hayride.

Country singer ALLY MAYSON won the 2012 Ottawa Idol competition. Since then, she's recorded several songs written by writers from Nashville and Los Angeles. All of them have been produced by Eldon J. Fox and Brian Fox - and recorded at Pebble Studios in Ottawa. Her latest song is called Kiss Me Like U Mean It. On the importance of winning the 2012 singing competition, Ally says "“My favorite thing about being on Ottawa Idol was meeting new people and getting the experience to practice and play with a professional band, without that experience I would not be where I am today.”