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“Hawks & Doves" by Reb Fountain
Mahurangi College
(Warkworth)
Kate Popham, Mahurangi College, Warkworth has evolved over recent years into a true talented songwriter, singer and musician along with a creative skill in recording technology. The Who Loves Who competition calls for a unique arrangement of a NZ commercially released song with performance and recording skills to the fore. Kate is this year's winner and her beautiful version of Reb Fountain's 'Hawks And Doves" says it all. Congratulations Kate.
"Hawks & Doves"
by Reb Fountain
Mahurangi College
"Glitter"
by Benee
Kuranui College
"Gather Yourselves"
by Villainy
Hillcrest High School
"How Bizarre"
by OMC
Taieri College
"Ribs"
by Lorde
Epsom Girls' Grammar School
"If Only"
by tEEKS
St Mary's College (Ponsonby)
"Tangaroa Whakamautai"
by Maisey Rika
Scots College
"Supalonley"
by Benee
Scots College
"Rain"
by Dragon
James Hargest College
"Glitter"
by Benee
Hauraki Plains College
"Burning"
by Kora
Kaipara College
"In The Air"
by L.A.B.
ACG Strathallan
"Find You"
by Stan Walker
Taieri College
"Ready or Not"
by Church & AP
Scots College
"Misread"
by Fazerdaze
Taieri College
"Celeste"
by Ezra Vine
Taieri College
"Weather With You"
by Crowded House
Rototuna Senior High School
"Liability"
by Lorde
Kings College
"Liability"
by Lorde
Diocesan School For Girls
"21"
by Mitch James
Rototuna Junior High School
"Coachella"
by Brooke Fraser
Tauhara College
"Tennis Court"
by Lorde
Diocesan School For Girls
"Raining"
by SIX60
Diocesan School For Girls
"Blue Smoke"
by Ruru Karaitiana
Napier Girls' High School
"Escaping"
by Margaret Urlich
St Bernard's College
"Drive"
by Bic Runga
Napier Girls' High School
"White Teeth Teens"
by Lorde
Diocesan School For Girls
"For today"
by Netherworld Dancing Toys
Baradene College
"Buzzcut Season"
by Lorde
Western Springs College
The Who Loves Who Competition is a chance for year 9 to 13 students to celebrate New Zealand music by recording their own unique and evocative interpretation of a New Zealand song.
This competition is Supported by a Music Grant from Recorded Music NZ.
The first place getter receives a day’s recording session at a professional studio of their choice. All finalists will get their tracks mastered by Kog Studio mastering wizard, Chris Chetland, to be released on a Who Loves Who Competition album.
All the entries are listened to and judged by an experienced panel. Each song is judged 50% on lyrics and 50% on the music.
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
Photo GalleryNZ Musician Magazine Review
