We love singer-songwriters… their music has a way of saying the things we all feel but can't always put into words. That's why we flew six incredible independent singer-songwriters to Florida to spend a few days with us - and it was everything we dreamed it would be and more.
Why? To celebrate their endless hustle and unbelievable TALENT.
Music has always been woven into the DNA of Natural Life. So when we had the idea to bring together a group of incredibly talented Nashville artists — not to perform at a show or promote a product, but just to be celebrated for who they are and what they create — we knew it had to happen.
And it was PURE MAGIC.
A Listening Room in Our Lobby
One of the most special moments of the weekend? We turned our Natural Life lobby into a Listening Room speakeasy. The artists had been collaborating and practicing brand new songs together in our office during the day, and that evening, they performed those collaborations live — songs that had literally never been heard before. It was intimate, it was raw, and it gave everyone chills.
There's something incredibly powerful about watching artists create in real time — bouncing ideas off each other, blending their voices, finding harmonies that didn't exist a few hours earlier. That's the kind of magic you can't plan. You just have to create the space for it and let it happen.
Meet the Artists
We are so honored to have hosted these six amazing artists. They each bring something so unique and so real to their music, and we cannot wait for everyone to fall in love with them the way we did. Keep an eye on our blog and socials — we'll be doing individual Artist Spotlights on each of these incredible artists so you can get to know them even better!
The Band Loula: North Georgia duo Malachi Mills and Logan Simmons bring a swampy, haunting, soulful sound they call "swampgrass." Signed to Warner Records Nashville and produced by Brothers Osborne's John Osborne, they've toured with Dierks Bentley, Ashley McBryde, and Elle King — and recently made their Grand Ole Opry debut to a standing ovation. Their harmonies are the kind that stop you in your tracks.
Madison Hughes: You might already know Madison (she's Patti's daughter!). Madison is an incredibly talented singer-songwriter in her own right, based between Jacksonville and Nashville, writing and performing music that is honest, heartfelt, and completely her own.
SJ McDonald: A farmer's daughter from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, SJ grew up on a five-generation cattle and turkey farm before heading to Nashville to study songwriting at Belmont University. She's a first-place winner in American Songwriter's Traditional Country category, has been featured in Billboard, and spent years cutting her teeth on Lower Broadway. Her music is real, gritty, and full of heart.
Peytan Porter: Raised in Dawsonville, Georgia, Peytan is a songwriter signed to Warner Chappell Nashville who has been turning heads across the industry. She was named Billboard's Country Rookie of the Month, has been a CMT "Next Up Now Artist," and has opened for Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson. Her sound blends Laurel Canyon folk vibes with modern country storytelling in a way that is completely her own.
Jess Woodland: A Tennessee-based singer-songwriter whose deeply personal lyrics and striking vocals have earned her a growing following. After stepping away from music for seven years due to depression and chronic illness, Jess made her way back to songwriting — and the vulnerability in her music is what makes it so powerful. Her single "High Road" has been praised as some of the best new songwriting coming out of Nashville.
Anna Vaus: Born and raised in the canyons of Southern California, Anna found her home in Nashville by way of Belmont University, where she became the first recipient of the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Fund. She's signed with Big Machine Music, has had songs recorded by Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, and Maddie & Tae, has toured with Willie Nelson, and has graced the stage at The Grand Ole Opry. Her sound is what she calls "Laurel Canyon Country" — and it's as beautiful as it sounds.
To The Band Loula, Madison, SJ, Peytan, Jess, and Anna — you truly make a difference. Your music moves people, your stories matter, and we are so grateful you spent this time with us.
We cannot wait for everyone to fall in love with their music the way we did. Make sure you check out the livestream and our Instagram recaps to experience the magic for yourself — and stay tuned for our Artist Spotlights where we'll be diving deeper into each of these incredible artists and their music.
This is just the beginning of something really special. When Natural Life and music come together, it's always magic.
Artist Spotlights Coming Soon! We're rolling out individual spotlights on every single artist from this weekend — their stories, their music, and what makes them so special. Stay tuned to our blog and follow along so you don't miss a single one.
Follow these incredible artists:
