New Mexico
Truth or Consequences singer, songwriter lands award for New Mexico inspired song
Small town singer and songwriter Neil Michael Anderson is based in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and just received an award for his T or C inspired single “What’s Your Truth?”
Anderson received the Best Music Production Award at the 2024 New Mexico Music Awards hosted May 19 in Albuquerque.
The song “What’s Your Truth?” was inspired by the town of T or C and New Mexico.
Anderson said he felt like he was “visiting a new country” when he began meeting new people in Truth or Consequences, whom, he said have done nothing but welcome him with open arms.
Anderson, who is originally from Kansas City, Missouri said that when he first began traveling, he never found a place quite like T or C. He said the town provides a wholesome experience for travelers as he was able to immerse himself in the culture.
“The question kind of implies that this is a message for the world. So, I am singing this song from New Mexico to the world,” Anderson said.
He said that he loves how accepting people are and that New Mexico has a culture that allows people to be themselves.
“For instance, this song when I was writing it, I had the doors open and all the birds chirping. I was trying to write a song that was like a slow Pink Floyd type ballad of “Wish You Were Here.” I had some lyrics, like what’s your truth or consequence, and so that question is always asked but no one ever addresses the consequence part,” he said as he laughed.
“I think it’s wise to ask questions and allow people to arrive at the answers, right? Asking questions is powerful as it allows people to progress their thinking and that’s what this song is for.”
Anderson said although he wanted to mimic a bit of Pink Floyd, he sped up the tempo and found himself with his own song, “What’s Your Truth?”
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Anderson said the environment and community had much influence on his song as he found himself writing many of the lyrics among ocotillo cacti and pulling narratives from his everyday conversations.
“The song is about finding what we can all agree on when personal truths do not align. I wanted to emphasize how the song presents “love” as being key to finding an agreement,”
Longtime friend Ryan Strong said Anderson has always been a traveler whom allows his environment to influence his music in a purely positive way.
“I think with anything in life, especially with creatives, when you change your environment it kind of changes your perspective and I would not say New Mexico or Kansas City is a negative change or positive but when you’re a visual artist and sonic artist like I know Neil is, it just changes your inspiration and aspiration and Neil loves being outside, the nature, hiking,” Strong said.
“Although Kansas City is great and has its beauty in the Midwest, I think New Mexico has a vastness and a number of places for him to hike that can truly inspire him and his creativity. I can feel that vastness when I listen to his single. I can almost picture Neil driving in the New Mexico skyline.”
Strong added that Anderson is a people person who loves to engage in any conversation, as he admires a person with passion for a topic they feel strongly about. Strong said he thinks in this way, Anderson is able to grow his discography as he “can hear it in his music.”
The song was submitted in categories as an americana-country rock song and a religious/gospel song, but Anderson said he is not a traditional gospel artist. Although the award was given for Best Music Production for Religious/Gospel, he said he was happy that his music could reach other genres.
Anderson has been working on three different albums but has a new single he hopes to release before the end of summer 2024. He said oddly enough, his next single is also inspired by T or C and New Mexico.
“I am currently working on scheduling some shows in Kansas City this summer but also some shows in late summer and early Fall here in New Mexico but no dates yet,” Anderson said.
“It’s fun to mention the three albums because I have built off quite a few songs that I felt were stand out songs that were worthy of recording. I call them jangly-12-stream power ballads, they are great but then I came to New Mexico, and it just captivated me so much. So, “What’s Your Truth?” is the first single but targeting the next month or two, I want to release another song. Kind of a cross between the Black Crows and The Oasis but with a country twang.”
“Say You Would,” is inspired by a conversation with his co-producer and a random group of travelers at the Truth or Consequences Brewery Company. “Say You Would,” is about the joy and experience of meeting new friends and being on the road, Anderson said.
“Say You Would” was supposed to debut on June 28 but Anderson said he is not sure if that is finalized and hopes it debuts no later than July.
To listen to “What’s Your Truth?” find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal and at the following link, Freshnoise.com.
Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.
This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico inspires award winning song
On average, more than once a week, there is a shooting near a school in New Mexico, and nearly half the time, someone is killed.According to data obtained by the Get the Facts Data Team, there have been 833 shootings adjacent to New Mexico’s schools in the past ten years, resulting in 526 people killed.”When you first told me the numbers, I thought I heard you wrong,” said Darren White, former Bernalillo County sheriff and public safety director. “I was shocked that there are so many shootings close proximity to our schools,” White said that numerous state laws make penalties harsher for crimes occurring near schools, including firearm possession and drug dealing. “We put laws in place years ago because we recognize that schools should be sanctuaries, right?” White said.La Mesa Elementary in Albuquerque’s International District leads the list. In the past ten years, there have been 24 shootings within 500 yards of this school, resulting in 20 deaths. However, this school is not alone in being close to gunfire.A map from the data team shows that statewide, Missouri Avenue and Valley View Elementary Schools in Roswell had 11 and 8 shootings, respectively, while Las Montanas Charter and Lynn Middle Schools in Las Cruces both had 8 and 8 respectively.”If it’s being reported that it’s over 800 in this period of time, how many more are taking place that haven’t been reported that we didn’t know about?” White asked. “And so I would argue, like in many of our crime stats, that number is even higher. And, uh … It’s chilling, it really is.”These shooting have either occurred at or close to the shools.For instance, 16-year-old Andrew Burson was killed right next to the football field at West Mesa High School. Another incident involved a shooting right outside Sandia High School and Christ Lutheran School, which led to both institutions being locked down in the middle of the day.
On average, more than once a week, there is a shooting near a school in New Mexico, and nearly half the time, someone is killed.
According to data obtained by the Get the Facts Data Team, there have been 833 shootings adjacent to New Mexico’s schools in the past ten years, resulting in 526 people killed.
“When you first told me the numbers, I thought I heard you wrong,” said Darren White, former Bernalillo County sheriff and public safety director. “I was shocked that there are so many shootings close proximity to our schools,”
White said that numerous state laws make penalties harsher for crimes occurring near schools, including firearm possession and drug dealing.
“We put laws in place years ago because we recognize that schools should be sanctuaries, right?” White said.
La Mesa Elementary in Albuquerque’s International District leads the list. In the past ten years, there have been 24 shootings within 500 yards of this school, resulting in 20 deaths. However, this school is not alone in being close to gunfire.
A map from the data team shows that statewide, Missouri Avenue and Valley View Elementary Schools in Roswell had 11 and 8 shootings, respectively, while Las Montanas Charter and Lynn Middle Schools in Las Cruces both had 8 and 8 respectively.
“If it’s being reported that it’s over 800 in this period of time, how many more are taking place that haven’t been reported that we didn’t know about?” White asked. “And so I would argue, like in many of our crime stats, that number is even higher. And, uh … It’s chilling, it really is.”
These shooting have either occurred at or close to the shools.
For instance, 16-year-old Andrew Burson was killed right next to the football field at West Mesa High School.
Another incident involved a shooting right outside Sandia High School and Christ Lutheran School, which led to both institutions being locked down in the middle of the day.
It’s not just the NCAA Tournament that’s down to the final four teams, but the NIT also has just four teams remaining in its bracket. The semifinals are set to begin on Thursday night, with the first of two games being a showdown between New Mexico from the Mountain West and Tulsa from the American.
Let’s dive into the odds and my best bet for Thursday night’s matchup, with a berth in the NIT final on the line.
New Mexico vs. Tulsa Odds, Spread, and Total
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
- New Mexico -3.5 (-118)
- Tulsa +3.5 (-104)
Moneyline
- New Mexico -178
- Tulsa +146
Total
- OVER 161.5 (-110)
- UNDER 161.5 (-110)
New Mexico vs. Tulsa How to Watch
- Date: Thursday, April 2
- Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse
- How to Watch (TV): ESPN
- New Mexico Record: 26-10
- Tulsa Record: 29-7
New Mexico vs. Tulsa Betting Trends
- Tulsa is 1-5 ATS in its last six games
- The OVER is 8-3 in Tulsa’s last 11 games
- Tulsa is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games as an underdog
- New Mexico is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six games
- The OVER is 13-7 in New Mexico’s last 20 games
New Mexico vs. Tulsa Key Player to Watch
- David Green, F – Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
If Tulsa wants to pull off the upset and win this game, they need David Green to step up in a big way. He’s the team’s leading scorer, averaging 15.7 points per game, but he scored just five points in the NIT quarterfinal. Let’s see if he can bounce back with a strong performance tonight.
New Mexico vs. Tulsa Prediction and Pick
Tulsa has already beaten one Mountain West team in the NIT, taking down UNLV by a score of 77-66, and I think they can at least cover as underdogs against New Mexico.
The Golden Hurricanes are one of the best shooting teams in college basketball, ranking 25th in effective field goal percentage. Well above New Mexico, which comes in at 70th in that metric. Tulsa is also a solid team defensively, ranking 106th in defensive efficiency.
The Mountain West continues to be an overrated conference. Their regular season and tournament champion lost in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, Colorado State and Wyoming both lost in the first round of the NIT, and UNLV fell in the second round to Tulsa.
I’m going to continue to follow my strategy of fading the Mountain West in postseason tournaments.
Pick: Tulsa +3.5 (-104) via FanDuel
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