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Are you a songwriter Year 9, 10 or 11 in New Zealand?
Then it’s time to
‘Get your song on!’
You are our youth and our future, send us a song about you and your world – in the Youthtown Songwriting Competition Aotearoa 2022
Have you always wanted to record YOUR song in a professional recording studio? If you are one of the many finalists chosen, then you can! Your song will go on all digital platforms for everyone to hear
Write it, record it - on a phone or computer and enter it now.. your words, your voice, a NZ song
We just need an MP3 of your recording (no videos sorry) and a Lyric Sheet attached with some details.
20+ SONGS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM EACH OF THE 3 REGIONS TO BE PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED
Region 1: Northland & Auckland
Region 2: Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wanganui and Wellington
Region 3: South Island
Follow us on Instagram @playitstrangenz for updates
RESULTS Here midday Monday 30th May
In each of the 3 national regions over 20 finalists will be chosen to record their song in a professional studio to go on the 2022 Youthtown Songwriting Competition album
First Place chosen in each of the 3 regions will also receive a $100 Rockshop voucher
The overall First Place winner(s) will have the opportunity to perform at the annual Play It Strange awards concert.
Entry is completed online and your song must be authorised by your school’s principal or other teacher (see entry form).
Our judging panel does not take the entry’s recording or performance quality into account.
Each song is judged equally - 50% lyrics and 50% composition.
You are not required to perform your own song for the entry recording.
The song can be recorded by a group or by an individual
(see 4b. on the conditions of entry section).
ONLY ONE SONG ENTRY PER PERSON MAY BE ENTERED
Note: You don't need to be taking music as a subject to enter. Your Music Teacher, Teacher, Principal or Parent can authorise your online entry form. Go on - write a song!
Songwriting is a craft of the imagination and we believe that the creative environment surrounding songwriters should foster, expose and celebrate these songs.
We run songwriting competitions with lyric, Maori language, Peace Song awards and others alongside. And we record at least 40 finalists each year in professional recording studios.
Songwriting, performance, and recording are the three pivots of our music evolution.
NZ Songwriters have their own take on what makes songwriting a vibrant, creative practice - read their fresh perspectives in our Songwriters Speak page
Songwriters SpeakWe've designed a poster with all key deadlines and dates for our competitions. Make sure to stick them in your calendar!
Further information about each competitions entry requirements can be found below in our "Competitions" section.
Online entry forms are now available for each competition.
Download the PDF and print it out, stick it up at school and hand it out to friends, get the word out there!
Director/Producer: Mareea Vegas / DOP: Kent Belcher / Art dept: Alex Matthews / Editor: Zac Blair /
Post production: Henry Williamson @ Thievery Studio / Hair: Luci Hare / Makeup: Tiveshni Naidoo / Clothing: Thanks to Lela Jacobs
Special thanks to NZ On Air for their Special Tracks grant which covered the recording and film making.
2018 ENTRY FORM NOW AVAILABLE
The National Secondary School Songwriting Competition is the flagship programme of the Play It Strange Trust.
2018 ENTRY FORM NOW AVAILABLE
This competition seeks songs with the lyrics embodying a focus on Peace. N.B. We are unable to offer the Hiroshima Exchange prizes this year.
2018 ENTRY FORM NOW AVAILABLE
The Winner and all Finalists have been announced.
For all secondary school students in NZ.
The competition is judged based on the originality of the cover you choose to rearrange and sing, written and performed by a kiwi artist.
Supported by a Music Grant from Recorded Music NZ.
2018 ENTRY FORM NOW AVAILABLE
Play It Strange presents a Cover Art competition to celebrate all creatives at New Zealand Secondary Schools.
This competition seeks an Album Artwork for the front cover of the 2018 Play It Strange Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition.
Play It Strange has worked for over 10 years, striving to provide secondary students with a platform they can use to pursue their musical adventures. We've held concerts, workshops and competitions, all with the intentions to provide the right environment from which students can gain confidence, self-belief and an impetus for a career path they would like to follow.
Read MorePatrons, Strange Friend Stars and our Strange Friends are a crucial and valuable community that support us.
We would love you to come on board.
All donations are tax deductible.
If you are interested in becoming a Platinum Patron or Strange Friends Star or indeed support Play It Strange in any way please give us a call, we would love to catch up and talk.
University of Waikato summer paper ‘Introduction To SONGWRITING’ has just finished.
Students have finalised the tracking of their two songs and the results are very cool.
I Know This To Be True was conceived and assembled by Geoff Blackwell of PQ Blackwell, and Ric Salizzo. It is a book about truth, beauty and wisdom. "Sixty New Zealanders in the middle of interesting lives talk about what really matters, truth and beauty, and the things they hold dear to their hearts."
Royalties from the book sales will be forwarded to PLAY IT STRANGE to further their website and school programmes.
I Know This To Be True is an incredible collection of New Zealanders discussing what it is that is important to them. PQ Blackwell have generously donated all profits from book sales to Play It Strange. We cannot thank them enough for their support of Play It Strange, and we are so grateful to be part of such a rich, inspiring project.
The book is available for purchase from any good book store in New Zealand and online. Go and get one and enjoy!
Play It Strange songwriters that have had their songs recorded for the annual CD are making cool inroads out into the world. Their career paths were fuelled from their time at school during which they sent their songs into our competitions and triumphed.
Here we have a selection of those who hit the ground running when they left school. With songwriting, performance and recording experience they were capable and poised for action.
CUSTOMERS: Those philanthropic institutions, individuals, grants bodies and funding agencies. We applaud their generosity in supporting us and their focus on the benefits we bring to the society around us.
CLIENTS: The songwriters and performers that bring their imaginative craft and performing skills to bear and we are all rewarded. From the secondary school songwriting competitions to the recording sessions for the top 40 songs.
Watch Seven Sharp's story on our WE ARE ONE - Concert for Autism here
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