Week 95 was loaded with tons of great musical talent!

Just a brief digression before I get on with the business at hand. Well, it’s starting to get real around here with regard to the Mash-UP we have in the works for celebrating two solid years of Open-Mic come week #104.

There has been a rash of activity on our discord server, which tells me that things are getting real and beginning to move into high gear. You can find out more about this project directly below.

If you haven’t done so already, please check out all of the most recent posts associated with the forthcoming Open-Mic Mega-Collaboration.

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The Original Announcement Post

Update #1.

Update #2.

Update #3.

NEW Update #4.

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Should anyone have any questions or wish to participate in the “Mega Open-Mic Collab,” feel free to hit me up on discord >> @passion-ground#5524.

Next Up, a few words about our Sponsors

Please, VOTE for These WITNESSES...

IMPORTANT: Before we move on, please don't forget to vote for @Pfunk as witnesses! @pfunk is our biggest supporter, and plays a major role in helping to fund, the Open Mic contest each week.

Every last one of us should be SO VERY PROUD that @pfunk continues to weigh in at #18 on the witness list! It wasn’t that long ago that he was struggling to hold onto the #20 slot. Let’s keep this up, okay - @pfunk all the way - to #1!

In addition to @pfunk, I am also adding @curie, @ausbitbank, and @aggroed to my short list of “must-vote-for” witnesses who support the Open-Mic venue.

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You can vote for each of these witnesses right now by going directly to this link: https://steemit.com/~witnesses

With all of that said, following some further insights as to how I judge entries, let’s get on with it, shall we?

Steemit Open Mic Week 95

My Process

As one of the esteemed Open Mic judges, it is my job to come up with (or “curate” as it were) a short-list of my top 5 entrants each week. With all of the great talent here, that is by no means an easy task. Sure, tossing in another 5 honorable mentions helps, but not when my weekly list starts out with 100 or more of my favorite entries... You guy's rock - I'm tellin ya!

Yes, I am a Libra – so I have an inherent drive deep within me to be fair and balanced – good qualities for a “judge” if you ask me. That being said, I’m still human – filled with emotion and subjective feelings – just like you. So, in order to mitigate my subjective tendencies to the best extent possible, I’ve come up with a method by which to narrow down my selections in a more objective vs. arbitrary manner.

Here’s how I go about my personal judging process: I first start out with a list of 100 or more of my most favorite entries for the week, and score them (yes, subjectively) in six distinct categories via a spreadsheet. The categories I’ve selected for scoring are in general harmony with those explained by @luzcypher in his post titled How We Pick The Top 3 Entries, referencing such.

To get a more in-depth perspective as to how I personally go about selecting my artists, please refer to What I go through as an Open-Mic Judge.

Even though it’s still a “subjective” process – diligently going through each scoring category to come up with a “total” score for each entrant helps to minimize any overzealous subjectivity that I may harbor with respect to any specific entrants.

Quite often, this exercise doesn’t give me the exact results I would personally prefer to see – but that only means that my system of judging is working as intended and designed. With all of that said, here are...

My Top-5 Picks in Order

FIRST PLACE: @darrenclaxton – Early Morning Light - (Original)

Well, Darren’s gone ahead and done it again. He’s taken a deeply emotional and intense topic and brought it to brilliant life! “Early Morning Light” is what raw feelings sound like. Darren is clearly a hyperactive creative genius when it comes to making music, and he channels this sacred energy quite brilliantly.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@darrenclaxton/k45gpp2k

SECOND PLACE: @tomashofficial – Sentimental - (Cover)

After listening to his entry this week I realized just how much I missed the musical talents of @tomashofficial. Tom really went all out in sharing this cover from his youth. I mean, this guy is stellar just sitting there all by himself – he and his guitar, however, this week, upon a long-awaited return, Tom threw down some split screen and multiple musical performances that are sure to impress. I’ve never heard this song before, but now I love it nearly as much as I love Tom’s brilliant artistry. You simply must checkout the awesomeness of Tom Ash performing his sterling rendition of “Sentimental.”
https://steemit.com/openmic/@tomashofficial/steemit-open-mic-week-95-sentimental-cover-porcupine-tree

THIRD PLACE: @tribedownsouth – Hatebreeders - (Original)

There’s something super-cool and bohemian-like about our man TribeDownSouth! Much of that persona is reflected in the uniqueness of the music he creates, and the vibes he gives off doing so. This week, his song “Hatebreeders” touches on a subject that affects all of us in one way or another. He’s singing about the balancing act we must all be cognizant of as we make our way through life. It’s quite natural that with current technology, we create for ourselves filtered bubbles, or echo chambers of our liking, which are reflected in everything we choose to absorb. Though natural, it can often be detrimental if we are not aware of what we are becoming because of what we choose to immerse ourselves in so deeply. Balance is the key. “Hatebreeders” is a chill way to delve into the angst and frustration we must all contend with in this realm. TDS makes such enlightenment rather enjoyable and quite entertaining.
https://steemit.com/openmic/@tribedownsouth/steemit-open-mic-week-95-original-hatebreeders

FOURTH PLACE: @breakoutthecrazy – What You Are - (Cover)

Here is a beautiful pair of exceptionally talented performers that I also missed over the last several weeks. They’ve been busy with a forthcoming EP called ”Pause Rewind”, which I can’t wait to hear! Fortunately for us, they found some time to cover a Chris Cornell (RIP) tune for week 95. Their rendition of “What You Are” is exceptional! I just love these two - BreakOutTheCrazy is the bomb!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@breakoutthecrazy/nl5s9evx

FIFTH PLACE: @dianakyv – Me Haz Echado al Olvido - (Cover)

I’ve really been enjoying the incredible vocal performances from Diana over the past several weeks. The guitarist, who often accompanies her, @davidcentenor, is quite talented as well! This week, I was captivated by Diana’s impassioned rendition of a song from her childhood, and could not resist in placing her within my top-5. Hermosa Diana!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@dianakyv/vnqpr1r4

My Top-5 Honorable Mentions in Order:

First: @michaeldietrich – Believe - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@michaeldietrich/steemit-open-mic-week-95-believe-savatage-cover

Second: @joseacabrerav – El Cuento de Nunca Acabar - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@joseacabrerav/b3hldppk

Third: @wilins – Armor Violento - (Original)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@wilins/846elx4c

Fourth: @duocover – Amo - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@duocover/ijdxms5w

Fifth: @orlandogonzalez – While My Guitar Gently Weeps - (Cover)
https://steemit.com/openmic/@orlandogonzalez/seteemit-openmic-week-95-orlandogonzalez-while-my-guitar-gently-weeps-version

Thank you for reviewing my selections for this week’s Open-Mic contest. If you find this content I’ve curated entertaining and of value to you, then please consider up-voting and/or re-steeming it.

Peace, Love, and Justice for All

A Very Special Shout Out To:

The following 20 artists who were very much on my radar, each within a splitting hair of making it into my overall top-10, and whose performances I loved, cherish and respect most assuredly. This special list is very much an extension of my most honorable mentions.

They are - in no particular order:

@jaredkhamanah, @juliolunar, @jotadiaz12, @olvidesantelmo, @mariajruizb, @danielsandoval, @nelsooona, @exzorltg, @daily-musings, @siomarasalmeron, @elainefaye, @shephard, @juanhobos, @cabelindsay, @drewley, @k0wsk1, @davidcentenor, @rodrigo98, @dreamrafa, and @miguelblanco!

Another Special Shout Out To:

The following artists whose performances I very much enjoyed this week.

They are - in no particular order:

@jerrytsuseer, @samjgonz, @lk666, @miguelarl, @dustinseth, @kkarenmp, @davidsuarezms, @perdomomusic, @manuelmusic, @wethepatsies, @rodolfoyanez, @steevc, @donatello, @nadabrahmasounds, @carolinaidrogo, @digitalopus, @enazirma, @ferchemusico, @carlosfbass, @danieldedosd2, @vladoramirez, @leomolina, @cpereira, @minuetoacademy, @indrameong2, @brendahcaroline, @rjcha, @nihaoema, @albertluis, @carlosvidal, @luisfuenmayor, @lerpdrummerboy, @racso, @nior, @miguelvargas, @edwardstobia, @tcpolymath, @yetxuni, @fernando.lubezki, @klynic, @lozanocarmen, @jesusmedit, and @luis2702!

Much love and thanks to each and every one of you who have touched a part of my heart and soul - not only this week but forever!