(L-R) - Thelma Plum, Baker Boy, Ruel and Carla Geneve have all taken out prizes in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition
The winner is in! The top prize for the 2020 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition goes to Thelma Plum for ‘Better in Blak’, (writers: Thelma Plum* / Alex Burnett / Oliver Horton; publisher: Sony Music Publishing*) a song that brings together frank and honest lyrics with soaring melodies.
Courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and BMG, Plum wins a $50,000 cash prize, the largest first place prize for any songwriting competition in the world. The Gamilaraay singer-songwriter was a runner-up in the 2013 competition for her song ‘Breathe In Breathe Out.’
“I am so honoured that ‘Better in Blak’ has won the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, I can’t even really describe it. My heartfelt thanks to Alex Burnett and Oli Horton for their creativity and to everyone who connected to a song that is deeply personal, written when I was feeling very alone.
“I don’t feel alone today.
“Vanda & Young was kind to me early in my career when I received a runner-up prize for ‘Breathe In Breathe Out,’ I could never have imagined then that one day I would win!"
Plum collaborated with Australian songwriter-producer Alexander Burnett and London-based Oli Horton on the song, which is the title track to Plum’s acclaimed debut album. Released in 2019, ‘Better In Blak’ was a top five finalist in the 2020 Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year and came in at #9 in the triple j Hottest 100.
The competition’s $10,000 2nd place prize, courtesy of Banki Haddock Fiora, goes to hip-hop artist Baker Boy aka Danzal Baker for his powerful track ‘Meditjin,’ (writers: Danzal Baker / Jess Bourke* / Dion Brownfield^ / Jerome Farah+ / Dallas Woods^; publishers: Native Tongue Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^ / Mushroom Music+) with lyrics both in English and the Yolngu Matha language.
“I was blown away that I even made the shortlist so to come 2nd for the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is just crazy. It feels really special that my Yolngu Matha lyrics are getting this kind of recognition!
“Couldn't have done it without my co-writers: JessB, Jerome Farah, Dallas Woods and Dion Brownfield,' said Baker Boy.
In 3rd place and the winner of $5,000 courtesy of Aon is Sydney performer and songwriter Ruel for ‘Painkiller’ (writers: Ruel Van Dijk / Sarah Aarons* / Mark Landon; publishers: Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*). Since emerging on the scene in 2017, the teenager has built a global fanbase through his soulful pop songs.
"I feel so honoured to make it to the top 3 in this year's Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition! I’ve been working hard to improve my songwriting every day, so it feels amazing to be recognised at this level and be mentioned alongside incredible artists like Thelma Plum and Baker Boy," said Ruel. He wrote the song with producer M-Phazes and acclaimed songwriter Sarah Aarons, and it comes from the Free Time EP.
AMPAL is proud to sponsor the inaugural $5,000 AMPAL Emerging Songwriter Prize, which goes to Fremantle, WA’s Carla Geneve, who takes out the honour for the sublime ‘The Right Reasons.’ She follows in the esteemed footsteps of previous winners Mallrat and Kaiit, winning the award for an outstanding unpublished songwriter.
“I can't say how excited I am to be even considered for the competition, let alone taking home a prize. I see myself as primarily a songwriter over anything else, so this means a lot to me. I'm excited to keep writing!” said Geneve. Her song is from the recently released Dog Eared EP.
For the first time in the competition’s history, 10 runners-up from the top 40 shortlist each take home $1,000 cash. The prize money comes from a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The list includes Gordi for ‘Volcanic’ and ‘Extraordinary’, The Teskey Brothers, Lime Cordiale, up-and-coming artists Shannen James and Annie Hamilton and more.
