What Are the Odds? RI Artist Makes it to Another National Stage

As someone not from Rhode Island, I can appreciate the crop of artists sprouting from the country’s smallest state – a longtime perennial being Laney Lynx.

The locally grown singer/songwriter has a budding new project, entwined with a longtime knack for competition. Lynx is no newbie to the national stage, with roots in “American Idol” and Perez Hilton’s front page. These days she’s fighting for a slot in mtvU’s permanent rotation.

Lynx went through a brand revival for her debut video “Love Sick,” that has been described as connecting with audiences on a “musical and spiritual” level. The video itself has sparked the interest of international audiences, which led MTV to hand-select her for the mtvU Freshman Contest.

Each week, mtvU hand-selects five artists, with fan bases large and small. Artists get five days to collect as many votes as possible (that’s where we come in) with the winning artist in permanent rotation on mtvU’s national network.  For an independent artist, this means next level exposure, branding potential and a stepping stone into new territory.

Though she is an emerging star to Lil Rhody, she is still an underdog in the competition. For one, she is one of the only uncertified artists. What’s more, the Official “Love Sick” video was released only a week prior to being selected in the mtvU freshman competition. Sure this boasts a silent confidence in overall quality, but the audience is still warming up. Some competitors have had two years to get their work out to the masses.

Lynx’s songwriting ability, paired with her infectious blend of pop, soul and funk brings listeners to a time we desperately want back. In the video, Lynx weaves us into a parable where she treads the line between victim and villain of her own love spell.

The competition is tough, but Lynx has a good chance of winning. Her fan base is steadily growing, with interpersonal connection being her forte — she had a similar spark when I covered her at Firehouse 13. Her sentiments continue to fill the air with allure, as she hand-selects supporters to join her in an online event this Thursday. You can find out more by .

It seems some of her key obstacles to overcome today are catching up to veteran artists and finding a place in the market for her evolved image and sound. And despite all the melancholy, Lynx has a good sense of foresight and optimism on the outlook of her career. As she told me in 2013:

“I would not be able to do anything else. So I’m here, now and forever…”