Friday July 15, 2011

Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition

Kimbra Announced as 2011 Winner

$200,000 Raised for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia

After receiving over 4000 entries from talented songwriters across the globe, APRA|AMCOS and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia are proud to announce Kimbra (Kimbra Johnson) as the Winner of the 2011 Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition for her song ‘Cameo Lover’.

Voted by the 18 member music industry judging panel, Kimbra is joined by Catherine Britt in Second Place for her song ‘Sweet Emmylou’ and Gotye (pronounced Gore-ti-yeah, Wally de Backer) in Third Place for his song ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’.

Congratulations go to all three winners!

Spending her early years gigging around her native New Zealand, Kimbra’s debut album ‘Vows’ will be released in September. ‘Cameo Lover’ is the second single from the album and is “a call back to embrace love again” to someone who’s become disconnected and retreated into isolation. Kimbra is set to brighten up stages across the country with appearances at Splendour In The Grass and Parklife, as well as a headlining national tour in support of the album.

Kimbra said of her win, “Thanks to APRA|AMCOS, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia, sponsors and the judges for the honour of receiving first prize, it’s a great gift being able to write and share songs and even more amazing to be recognised this early on in my career. You never imagine where a song can lead when you write it, it's awesome to have the hard work that went into Cameo Lover acknowledged at this level.”

‘Sweet Emmylou’ is one of three #1 singles for Catherine Britt from her fourth and self-titled studio album. Catherine has spent six years living in Nashville and has toured, performed and recorded with some of music’s most respected names including Kasey Chambers, Paul Kelly, Sir Elton John, Shane Nicholson and Tim Rodgers.

Catherine Britt said, "As a song writer you are always striving to create something that you hope people can relate to and that might make a difference in their lives, and to be recognised by your peers for these efforts is an honour".

Gotye is the music-making mantle of Wally De Backer, songwriter, producer and all-round one-man band. Since the creation a few years ago of his album ‘Like Drawing Blood’ that became something of an underground classic, Gotye recently released the single ‘Somebody That I Used to Know [featuring Kimbra]’. It’s the second single from Gotye's forthcoming album ‘Making Mirrors’ and as it recounts with heartbreaking clarity the fall-out of a fading relationship, it is equally an exercise in emotional punch and classy restraint.

Gotye said, “It's exciting and flattering to be amongst such great company. Thank you for listening.”

Further details on the Winners (including a bio, photo and YouTube link to the winning song), the Top 12 Finalists and the Top 40 Highly Commended songwriters can be found here - www.vandayoungsongcomp.com/winners.html

With 100% of the $50 AUD entry fee going directly to support Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia, over $200,000 has been raised for the charity – an increase of $70,000 on the amount of money raised in the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition’s inaugural year.

Since 1984, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia has promoted and developed the understanding, training and practice of creative music therapy. The therapists work with children and adults, utilising music’s interactive and participatory nature as an agent for change and healing. To find out more, go to: www.nordoff-robbins.com.au.

The Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition is open to all songwriters whether published or unpublished, be they professional, amateur, local or international and regardless of genre. The Top 12 Finalists (all from Australia and New Zealand) were announced on Monday and are listed below in alphabetical order:

Alex Burnett – Sparkadia - ‘China’

Catherine Britt – Catherine Britt - ‘Sweet Emmylou’

Husky Gawenda – Husky - ‘Tidal Wave’

Jessica Chapnik Kahn – Appleonia -‘Lost At Sea’

Katy Steele – Katy Steele - ‘New Born’

Katy Steele – Katy Steele - ‘Brother’

Kevin Mitchell – Jebediah – ‘She’s Like A Comet’

Kimbra Johnson – Kimbra – ‘Cameo Lover’

Mark Sholtez – Mark Sholtez - ‘The Mystery Of You’

Ohad Rein – Old Man River – You’re On My Mind’

Tobias Priddle – Boy In A Box – ‘Moon Comes Up’

Wally de Backer – Gotye – ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’

The Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition is only in its second year but has quickly become Australia’s most prestigious and lucrative songwriting competition. Megan Washington was the inaugural winner with her song ‘How to Tame Lions’. The 2011 music industry judging panel is made up of the following members:

• Mark Atkins

• Amanda Brown

• Eric Chapus

• Charles Fisher

• Brendan Gallagher

• Les Gock

• Julian Hamilton

• Cath Haridy

• Kate Miller-Heidke

• Simon Moor

• Jenny Morris

• Pat Pattison (Intl Judge, Berklee Music)

• Josh Pyke

• Iain Shedden

• Rai Thistlewayte

• Roma Waterman

• John Watson

• Jonathan Zwartz

With the generous support of sponsors, the talented winning songwriters will each take home the following incredible prize packages:

The winner will take home a prize package valued at over $50,000 AUD:

• $20,000 AUD cash prize

• Business class travel to London and accommodation courtesy of Showtravel valued at $10,000 AUD

• Co-writing sessions at Kensaltown Studios, London UK with the following world-class successful songwriters (depending upon availability at time of travel to the UK):

o Ron Sexsmith (Michael Buble, Feist) www.RonSexsmith.com

o Martin Terefe (Train, Jason Mraz) www.MartinTerefe.com

o Sacha Skarbek (Adele, James Blunt) www.SachaSkarbek.com

o James Bryan (Nelly Furtado) www.JamesBryanMusic.com

o Paul Herman (Dido) www.PaulHerman.co.uk

• 30-sec. TV Commercial – Courtesy of XYZ Networks valued at $5,000 AUD

• Two days studio time and engineering at Studios 301 in either Sydney, Byron Bay, Stockholm or Cologne. Approximate value $4,499 AUD.

• Les Paul ‘Studio’ electric guitar valued at $2,500 AUD, courtesy of Gibson Guitar Corp and The Gibson Foundation.

• $1500 AUD cash for travel expenses courtesy of PPCA

• Online music course from Berkleemusic.com, the online extension school of Berklee College of Music. The winner will have the ability to choose any 12-week course from Berkleemusic’s extensive course catalog. Total value of this prize is $1,200 USD.

• Live gig to perform the winning song at Song Summit 2012, Darling Harbour, 26 – 28 May 2012.

• 3 day pass to attend Song Summit 2012

• 2 tickets to attend 2012 APRA Music Awards, Monday 28 May 2012 (following Song Summit)

• R-09HR: High-Resolution WAVE/MP3 Recorder courtesy of Roland. Valued at $699.

Prizes will also be awarded for second and third place as follows:

Second Prize

• $5000 AUD cash prize

• Berklee Press songwriting books, including Melody in Songwriting;

Songwriter's Workshop: Harmony; Lyric Form and Structure; Rhyming; Popular Lyric Writing; Essential Songwriter; Writer, Producer, Engineer. Total value of this prize is $200 USD

• Live gig to perform the winning song at Song Summit 2012, Darling Harbour, 26 – 28 May 2012 - www.songsummit.com.au

• 3 day pass to attend Song Summit 2012

• 2 tickets to attend 2012 APRA Music Awards, Monday 28 May 2012 (following Song Summit)

• Boss Micro BR + Earphones/Guitar Cable Set + Case. The ultimate palmtop guitar companion and recording studio, with four simultaneous playback tracks (plus 32 V-Tracks), MP3 compatibility, onboard multi-effects, built-in rhythm patterns, onboard tuner, USB, SD Card slot, and more. Courtesy of Roland Corporation, valued at $467.

Third Prize

• $2,500 AUD cash prize

• Pat Pattison Berklee Press collection, which includes: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure and Songwriting: Essential Guide to Rhyming. Total value of this prize is $50 USD

• Live gig to perform the winning song at Song Summit 2012, Darling Harbour, 26 – 28 May 2012 - www.songsummit.com.au

• 3 day pass to attend Song Summit 2012

• 2 tickets to attend 2012 APRA Music Awards, Monday 28 May 2012 (following Song Summit)

• Boss Micro BR. The ultimate palmtop guitar companion and recording studio, with four simultaneous playback tracks (plus 32 V-Tracks), MP3 compatibility, onboard multi-effects, built-in rhythm patterns, onboard tuner, USB, SD Card slot, and more. Courtesy of Roland Corporation, valued at $349.