When I stepped out of my $20 cab ride from the airport onto the sidewalk before Ardent Studios, what lay before me was truly a sight for sore eyes. I hadn’t slept the night before. It isn’t unusual for me to be up all hours of the night doing something (though sometimes nothing at all). However, on the eve of the Folk Alliance International conference, there was no way I would get any sleep.
I had been up all night packing, printing showcase fliers, and burning album samplers, all while having a US Foreign Relations paper due the next morning. My girlfriend, being the sweetheart she is, had been up all night with me, repacking my poorly packed bag and placing stickers on CDRs. I had a 6:45am flight out of La Guardia Airport that I absolutely could not miss. I was exhausted.
I had messaged Rachel Hurley to let her know that I’d be arriving early that morning and had no place to go, as my roommate for the conference wasn’t yet in town. She told me I was welcome to come on down and relax before the session. I was even pointed towards a room where I could take a load off and perhaps nap. But how could I nap?
I spent hours walking the halls of Ardent, looking at all of the pictures, encased gold records, and all other indications I could find of the magic that had taken place there. I sat by the atrium, munching on an 80 cent Cinnabon from the vending machine and drinking black coffee. I was welcomed by all. After all of the stress I had faced back home in New York, I had found solitude. I went on to meet a great songwriter, Eliot Morris, as well as reacquaint myself with Chris Milam. Both were fantastic to share a show with. Candles were lit and people filled the available seats and couches. I played old songs, newer songs, and was received warmly. Rachel and the entire crew were some of the best hosts I’ll ever hope to know. And I would do it all again.
Already a folk music veteran and not even 21, Anthony Da Costa is currently a student at Columbia University. In 2009, he was named an MSNBC.com “Top 5 Up-&-Coming Young Singer” and a “WFUV-FM New Artist To Watch”. In 2008, he released two, critically-acclaimed albums and was a Folk Alliance International “Emerging Artist of the Year” nominee. In 2007, at 16, he became the youngest winner ever at the Falcon Ridge and Kerrville Folk Festivals.
