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Bryon Tosoff
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3/21/2026 6:24:22 PM
---- Updated 3/23/2026 2:58:56 PM
Impnation Music Olympics top 10 songs results are in !!!!
Top Ten Songs of the past number of weeks are to be announced by Larree
as well as an honorable mention
Impnation Music Olympics
Judges for this competition and music submissions were :
Larree
Steve April
Bryon Tosoff
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Larree
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3/22/2026 11:47:50 AM
Thank you, Bryon! This was a fun experience, and it was an honor to work alongside two of the most talented artists on IMP to judge this contest. We worked on it separately and then combined our lists. It was a trip to see how much we agreed on, and the differences in our judging styles and tastes.
We judged all the songs on a 1-10 scale, and the categories were:
Composition (Chord Structure - Melody/ Vocals or Instrumental)
Delivery
Production
Performance
Quality
Before I start announcing the winners, I just want to say that all of you who released songs within the window for the contest are very deserving, and we love all of you for your contributions to Indie Music!
I'll be back shortly.
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Larree
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3/22/2026 12:50:15 PM
Before I get to the top 10 we have an award for honorable mention.
Psychedelic Shack Up by Negative Tendencies (featuring Contemplating Waves) was highly ranked by both Bryon and Steve, but since I played on it, I felt that, as a judge, that would be wrong.
So the Honorable Mention goes to Negative Tendencies! And not just for their music, but for the great work they do promoting Indie Music, and especially Scott for keeping this site alive and all the support he gives us!
Thank you, NegTen!
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Larree
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3/22/2026 1:29:31 PM
Here are the seven finalists (4-10) listed alphabetically. They were all great. We selected from a wide variety of genres, and had great fun listening. None of these songs scored under 7 on any element. At least two of them were within an eyelash of medaling. Congrats to:
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Chasing Roosters - Lastchancelance
Forever - Igor Lisul
Please to Know You - The New Music Sculptors
Procession of the Ghosts - The Dorroughbys
Rising Chill Club Edit - Chris Hance
This might be your day - Tom O'Brien
Where Does Your Soul Go (feat. Annie O'Neill) - Steve Aliment
************************************************************************************
I will be back later with the gold, bronze, and silver medals!
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Larree
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3/22/2026 4:10:10 PM
Okay! Let's get it started! And the Bronze Medal goes to: Sweet As It Comes - Parker Elliot
This IS Sweet As It Comes. Parker and his Pals lay down the smoothest, 22nd-century cool jazz sounds to take the Bronze Medal. The futuristic groove with the sax flurries is a real aural treat. Well played by a tight trio. Congrats to our Bronze Medalist, Parker Elliot!
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Larree
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3/22/2026 5:10:03 PM
And the Silver Medal goes to: She Smiles At Me - Original Home Demo - James Stanley Howen
Man, let's hear it for the "original home demo." True indie style. An excellent group of musicians, too. You can feel the tightness of the groove. The interplay between the guitar and violin is fantastic. Congrats to our Silver Medalist, James Stanley Howen!
I will be back at about 4:00 PM PDT (7:00 PM EDT) to announce our gold medal winner!
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Larree
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3/22/2026 6:09:55 PM
Don't you hate it when the presenter is late? Probably backstage finishing a joint. Forgot the damned time...
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Larree
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3/22/2026 6:17:20 PM
My bad! I just noticed my technical error!
Here is the proper link for our Silver Medalist!
And the Silver Medal goes to: She Smiles At Me - Original Home Demo - James Stanley Howen
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Larree
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3/22/2026 6:21:15 PM
Okay. Only 20 minutes late. 4:20 PM!
And the Official Unofficial IMPNATION Indie Music People Olympic (swimming pool size) Gold Medal goes to...
(DRxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)... What Difference Does It Make - Neil w Young
This song scored straight 10's on all the elements. The lyric is so poignant, and inspires deep thought. I can imagine sitting in a park talking, laughing, and listening to stories with a wise man who has seen it all. The orchestration is simple and beautiful. Just a wonderful arrangement. Congrats to an icon here on IMP, top-shelf songwriter and performer, Neil w Young!
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Steve April
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3/22/2026 7:28:02 PM
Congratulations to Neil...
Congratulations to all the finalists...
Congratulations to all who created songs, and entered into the music pantheon..
Hearing the wonderful music, alongside Bryon and Larree was a musical experience, and I will say, the site does itself proud with such quality music advancing the site around the world.
Thanks to Scott, for all he does and continues to do.
Music reviewing is a great way to sharpen/enhance your musical evolution. I recall when Steve Ison, Squrly Murly, Anjuli, Eaglehead, Johanne...oh, so many, chronicled the grand music here...
History, we will be victorious...
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Bryon Tosoff
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3/22/2026 10:38:42 PM
Thanks for everything to the musicians who were a part of the IMPNATION MUSIC OLYMPICS CHALLENGE, special thanks to Larree for finalizing the scoring and linking the placements of the artists who made top ten and to Steve April for pitching in and helping in his nominations for the artists he chose.
We together were very close in our picks and the bottom line this was more about having some fun post Winter Olympics which inspired me to do this Music Olympic and starting a station dedicated to all the nominees and people who posted their songs during the 3 weeks it was on
all the best and continued success to IndieMusicPeople and to Scott Stambaugh who holds it all together and those who volunteer their time as station managers and those who contribute to the funding of IMPNATION so it can keep online
cheers and best wishes
Bryon
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Bryon Tosoff
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3/23/2026 2:59:51 PM
Great job by all, thanks Larree for compiling final results
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Neil w Young
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3/24/2026 10:17:28 PM
---- Updated 3/25/2026 8:41:44 PM
Since returning to IMP in December last year after having been away for over three years recovering from cancer surgery and related medical issues and number of further (5) hospitalizations, I have enjoyed not only the experience of beginning to re-add my repertoire of songs and music to my page but particularly to the reviews and commentary to many of the songs by fellow IMP members on their stations as well as to the great support by Norm on his Desperado Revue stations – all being a real emotional boost to say the least to the grief of losing our elder daughter in January and which had resulted in my having less time – even less interest to a point, to spend on IMP although I managed to continue adding my repertoire of songs to my page as well being aware of some of my songs being selected as contenders and receiving great reviews on Bryon’s IMPNATION MUSIC OLYMPICS station which I thought at the time he announced the station was a unique concept echoing the excitement and competitive flavor of the recent Winter Olympics that were held in Milano Cortina, Italy.
It has been a week or more since I have visited the Pipeline noting when I did this evening that the “top 10 songs results” were in, and thinking what a job it surely must have been for the judges, Larree, Steve April and Bryon Tosoff.
After reading down the list of ‘winners’ beginning with honorable mention to Negative Tendencies, the seven finalists – Lastchancelance, Igor Lisul, The New Music Sculptors, The Dorroughbys, Chris Hance, Tom O’Brien and Steve Aliment, followed by the Bronze Medal going to Parker Elliot and the Silver Medal going to my great friend James (Jimmy) Stanley Howen, I was literally at a loss for words (not a normal condition for me) seeing the Gold Medal going to my name and song, “What Difference Will It Make”. Not to make light of a cliché but I’m sure I could have been pushed over by a feather!!
Since beginning my life as a songwriter in 1959 while in high school followed by receiving many related awards through the years including five IMP Golden Kayak Awards, and an honorary gold medal in another endeavor, this IMPnation Music Olympics Gold Medal truly takes the cake for me. I was honored to be a contender along with the many other talented IMP songwriters and artists and offer my hearty congratulations to each of those listed above for their respective recognition and award.
Special thanks to Bryon Tosoff for creating this special Music Olympics Challenge and station and the respective awards and to Bryon, Larree and Steve April for their part and role as judges – a tip of my old cowboy hat to each of you for your dedication and support of your fellow IMP artists. Special thanks too for your heartwarming and generous comments concerning the elements of my song, “What Difference Will It Make”.
Recognition also to Scott for his years of dedication and determination behind IndieMusicPeople.
My thanks and appreciation to my producer, Ray Lyell, and my recording engineer, Trevor Titian both of whom consistently go the extra mile for me, and to the music talent involved in the beautiful production of “What Difference Will It Make”. I’m happy to announce here that after a nearly four-year medical sabbatical I will be back in the studio with Ray and Trevor in April.
Of special note to me was seeing my great friend Jimmy Howen receiving the Silver Medal in the Impnation Music Olympics Challenge, reminding me of he and I in close competition for the IAC 2007 Country Golden Kayak Award which I received with just a few more votes than Jimmy, with he and I once again neck and neck for the Music Olympics Gold Medal. In the spirit of song and our long-standing friendship I am symbolically sharing the Gold Medal with you, Jimmy, knowing that it could just as easily been awarded to you.
Thank you one and all for this great honor.
I will follow up in a day or two with a post on the Pipeline regarding the inspiration for “What Difference Will It Make” and the writing of the song.
Bear with me for one more moment while in true Olympic spirit I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge and extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to my wife of nearly 62 years – through good and not so good times, for allowing me all the space through the years to follow my passion and for her tireless support and often times “roadie” duties, as well as to the support of our two amazing daughters the elder of which as I noted further above we painfully lost in January.
Sincerely,
Neil
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Bryon Tosoff
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3/24/2026 10:45:07 PM
Awesome to hear from you Neil, and a beautiful note of thanks from you as well, we thank you for providing such a fine number of songs of late and very worthy to have received our vote of confidence in your nomination as overall winner.
All of us found that your song was top drawer, and Steve, Larree and I were in agreement that yours stood out as the very best song, “What Difference Will It Make” did make a difference to us
Kudos to you and all involved, certainly it was a fun project and I just wanted to support those who uploaded their songs during the window of opportunity for the 3 weeks involved. I was inspired by the Winter Olympics and thought this would be a fun gig to do music wise.
Continue your fine works Neil and your passion and love for music
cheers and best wishes
bryon
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Larree
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3/25/2026 2:03:08 AM
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Neil. You have been through so much, and your wisdom is deep. It is such an honor to share this music space with you.
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Bryon Tosoff
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3/25/2026 12:39:23 PM
Larree really did a great job compiling the final results , very diligent and comprehensive in his analysis
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Larree
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3/25/2026 3:14:47 PM
Thanks again for that, Bryon. It was fun. We should do this every Olympic year.
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Meristolis
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3/25/2026 3:24:03 PM
Wow
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Neil w Young
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3/25/2026 8:57:15 PM
Thank you, Steve, for your congratulations, and thank you Bryon and Larree for your very kind, thoughtful and meaningful words that I will long treasure.
Neil
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