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
The Chaparral High School football program in Southern New Mexico is making a name for itself these days.
And for the first time, the state of New Mexico is taking notice of the Lobos program. Chaparral High School is located less than 30 miles from Northeast El Paso.
The Lobos are 8-3 overall and seeded No. 3 in the Class 4A playoffs. The eight wins are the most in school history and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs is the highest seed the Lobos have ever had in the playoffs.
The Lobos defeated No. 6 seed Moriarty, 42-41, in the state quarterfinals on Nov. 14 when Lobos quarterback Israel Nieto scored with a rushing touchdown and it was followed by a successful extra point to advance the Lobos. Twelve teams made the state playoffs.
There are multiple classifications in New Mexico, ranging from Class 2A to Class 6A, as well as six-man and eight-man football divisions.
Chaparral football history
The Lobos played their first varsity game in 2007 and went 1-9 that season. The Lobos have had seven seasons with no wins,
The Lobos had winning seasons in 2015 and 2017, both times going 6-4.
Chaparral breaks through in 2024
Chaparral made the postseason in 2024 and defeated Portales in the first round on the road, securing the program’s first-ever playoff win.
Fast forward to 2025
The Lobos have won 8 of their last 10 games after losing their season opener to Gadsden. They went 4-2 in District 2-4A, which placed them second behind Albuquerque St. Pius.
The Lobos defeated strong teams from Albuquerque (Academy and Manzano), the state’s largest city, and another team from Los Lunas (Valencia HS), which is near Albuquerque.
Chaparral players to watch
- Israel Nieto, QB. He has 1,786 yards passing, 634 yards rushing, 19 touchdown passes and 15 rushing touchdown runs.
- Raul Lopez, RB. Lopez has rushed for 1,092 yards and has 470 yards rushing.
- Aaron Eliserio, WR. He has caught eight touchdown passes.
Chaparral’s coaching staff
Joseph Frias, who played quarterback at El Paso’s Franklin High School and graduated in 2003, is the second-year head coach.
His staff includes defensive coordinator Stephen White, offensive coordinator Esai Ontiveros and defensive backs and wide receiver coach David Butler.
What’s next for Chaparral
The Lobos will play No. 2 St. Pius at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Nusenda Community Stadium in Albuquerque in the state semifinals. The winner will play either No. 1 Bloomfield or No. 4 Taos in the state finals.
What Chaparral head coach Joseph Frias said
“The kids have worked hard and bought into what we want to do,” Frias said. “Making the playoffs last year and winning a playoff game meant so much to the program. It gave us momentum.”
What Chaparral player Israel Nieto said
“We’ve had great support from the community, we’ve played with confidence and determination,” Nieto said.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
Joshua Wheeler was raised in Alamogordo, New Mexico and his work has been described as “lyrical and funny” as well as “poetic and highly entertaining.” One of the two books he will read excerpts from next month is about southern New Mexico.
As part of the Nelson-Boswell Reading Series, La Sociedad para Las Artes will host a public reading by Wheeler, a Louisiana State University professor, from his publications “Acid West: Essays” and “High Heaven: A Novel.”
The reading begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 in New Mexico State University’s CMI Theater in Milton Hall, Room 171. A free reception will follow, where copies of Wheeler’s books will be available for purchase.
Wheeler is now based in New Orleans where he teaches creative writing at LSU. His debut novel “High Heaven” explores the evolution of faith and technology through the U.S.’s space age. His collection of essays “Acid West” follows the history of innovation and identity as seen from southern New Mexico – from cowboys and UFOs to nuclear testing and spaceports.
The Nelson-Boswell Reading Series invites visiting writers to NMSU to share their work with the community. La Sociedad para Las Artes is seeking to establish a permanent endowed fund through the NMSU Foundation whose earnings will support creative writing programs, including visiting writers and reading series as well as creative writing workshops for children in Las Cruces Public Schools.
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CUTLINE: Louisiana State University assistant professor of creative writing Joshua Wheeler will read from “Acid West: Essays” and “High Heaven: A Novel” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 in New Mexico State University’s CMI Theater in Milton Hall, Room 171 as part of NMSU’s Nelson-Boswell Reading Series hosted by La Sociedad para Las Artes. (Courtesy photo)
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