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Best Folk
Lori Dreier
"A lot of stuff is pensive and thoughtful," she said. "But I wanna write happier -- happy but still meaningful." The way Dreier sees it, life on the farm could be a metaphor for life in general. You could say hers at this point is all Green Acres. She's working on new material with a full band, Compulsive Jamming Disorder, while also churning out songs for her folk-acoustic solo project, which she keeps separate from the rock stuff. Wherever she plays, audiences immediately warm up to her soft voice and charismatic stage presence. The moment she arrived in Fort Worth from Nashville, where she had been living for a spell, she almost immediately began gigging. "I asked the manager of Four Star Coffee Bar if I could play there," she said. "I really stepped out and swallowed my pride and started playing. I was just trying to get comfortable." She recorded her first c.d. in April, and is planning on starting an independent record label. You can catch her live show at Four Star or CoffeeHaus. --AM
Best Hip-Hop
Sandy Redd is only 14 years old, but ... wait a minute. You don't have to be an "adult" to rap anymore these days. (Lil' Bow Wow, Lil' Romeo anyone?) Still, Sandy Redd is an anomaly if only for her gender. It's hard enough breaking into the rap game as a woman. But as a high school freshman? You might say stardom is an especially steep uphill climb for this young Fort Worth native with no apparent industry connections (Lil' Romeo is Master P's son, by the way). No matter. Sandy Redd raps with an authority way beyond her age. She's in the studio now putting the finishing touches on I Got Next, her first full-length c.d. Her teen-age friends, she admits, will get a little bugged-out hearing about how Sandy opened for R&B crooner Jaheim a few weeks ago in New Orleans or hearing about her other adventures in the spotlight. Still, they take her popularity all in stride. "I think they get a kick out of it," she said. "They don't treat me no different, though. I got good friends." You won't hear any rap about drugs or sex in Sandy Redd's music. It's all about having a good time -- because that's why she does what she does anyway. "It's all fun," she said. "Touring isn't a problem for me. When it's my turn, I wanna get out there and do my best. I always like to do my best." --AM
Best Latino
Carlos and Leo Saenz grew up playing the same traditional Mexican music their father played on the accordion, and before they even got out of high school, Carlos had launched Latin Express. That was in 1975, and today the Latin Express is still going strong. "Now we have our kids playing with us," said younger brother and horn player Leo Saenz, who joined the band in 1979 at 14. "We're real close, real tight. It's like going camping with your family every weekend." The multi-generational act is a hit at festivals around the state and throughout the Southwest. It has also extended its reach even further during the past two years. They've headed as far east as Florida, and last year played at George W. Bush's inaugural bash. "The first time they called me, I thought it was one of my friends playing a joke on me," said Saenz. "So I hung up on them. But they called back and said they really were with the inaugural committee, so I looked at the caller I.D. and it said 'U.S. Government' so I knew it was for real. So we went there and played our little hearts out." And that's exactly what Latin Express does each time it hits the stage -- something that just might explain the group's popularity. --Paula Felps
Best Christian
As the sons of a preacher, brothers Reggie, Tim, and Phil Scott always thought they would land in front of a congregation sooner or later. They just didn't know it would be a lasting gig. But for the past six years, the brothers have been working as half of the Christian band Rhythm, which performs at churches, Christian festivals, and conferences nationwide. "When your dad is a pastor, you're bound to be on stage one way or another, but the next thing we knew, we started touring," said Reggie. "We've played with a lot of national bands, like Altogether Separate, Newsboys, Fusebox ... almost anyone you can think of in Christian music." The band is working on its third disc, which, like the previous two, will contain original songs penned by the band. Like many contemporary Christian bands, Rhythm creates a righteous brand of pop-rock that is a far cry from hymns and the e-z listening pop long associated with the scene. "I think that's due to a lot of Christian artists who've not felt the call to be in the Christian scene," said Reggie. "A lot of artists before us have been very mainstream, and that allows us to be able to produce good, mainstream music with a positive message. We're not pushing God, we're not preaching, but we are giving a positive message. "If it's good music, people want to listen to it, whether they're Christians or not." --PF
Best New Act
With a little more than a year under its belt, Aggressive Christine already claims a following that is as diverse as its sound. "My sister's still in high school, so all her friends have our c.d. and listen to us," said frontwoman Tiffany Rebstock. "I'm in college, so we get people from there, and my mom and dad bring their friends out to our shows." She admits a stronger following in the 17-to-25-year-old bracket, which isn't surprising given the alternative sounds created by this quartet. "We started out as a pop-punk band, but we've changed our sound to more of an alternative-emo thing," said Rebstock, adding that Aggressive Christine still pulls out the poppy punk material onstage. "We've had a lot of discussions trying to figure out what [sound] we are, but we just call it flat-out alternative rock because that covers everything." The band, which also includes bassist Judah Cade, lead guitarist David Stuckler, drummer Austin Green, and rhythm guitarist David Moran, has released one c.d., This Photograph, and plans to head back into the studio in the fall. Until then, fans will just have to be content to catch the group's energetic stage antics at places like the Ridglea Theater and Dirty Perches. --PF
Best Producer
These days it's an advantage to know your way around a mixing board, especially if your specialty is R&B or hip-hop. Producers like Swizz Beatz and Mannie Fresh have become as well known as the rappers they provide beats for. Fort Worth's Virgule Marshall could then be seen as part-Swizz Beatz, part-Brian McKnight: He's got the technical know-how to craft some unique beats and the soul to give those beats life. The 27-year-old has been working as a musician for about eight years and as a producer for the last three. It's only been recently that he has started to believe his time is coming. "I hang around with some big players," said Marshall. "They all recognize me, and I can hang with them. I don't know where it came from. It had to be God." Marshall, who said he's released at least four albums' worth of singles over the years, is fine-tuning his first full-length c.d. while producing beats for Sandy Redd (Best Hip-Hop) and Latino pop singer Paloma. "I wanna be the greatest, baby," said Marshall. "I'm doing a lot of work, and I'm listening to the industry and, man, I'm needed. I'm not boasting or bragging, but I see myself at the top. Who else?" --AM
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