Central Coast Teen Lucy Parle Wins International Songwriting Award

Central Coast singer-songwriter Lucy Parle is just 17, but she’s already showing she’s destined for big things. Her new single “Back Up” recently took out first place in the teen category of the International Songwriters Competition. This is the world’s largest songwriting competition, with more than 23,000 artists all vying to win favour with a superstar judging panel featuring Tom Waits, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay.

Listening to the song, it’s easy to hear what they did. It’s so raw and honest, heartbreaking and vulnerable. Its easy marriage of folk, pop, and alt-country is immediately accessible and unforgettable.

“Back Up is a special song to me and came pretty quickly. I wrote it about a relationship breakdown and all the emotions I felt when I was trying to get over it. It was one of those songs that just fell onto the paper,” she said.

“Winning the Teen Category in the ISC really cemented that songwriting is what I’m meant to do. To have ‘Back Up’ recognised in an international songwriting competition is beyond exciting. It’s a really raw and emotional song that I think people can relate to and I can’t wait for it to be out into the world!”

After hearing this song, I can’t wait to see what Lucy’s future holds.

Image used with permission from Double Drummer Music

Kasey Chambers Wins International Songwriting Competition

Way to go Kasey Chambers! Her song “Beautiful Mess” has taken out the top prize in the International Songwriting Competition.

The song speaks of the “beautiful mess” of parenting, and was inspired by her two boys Talon and Arlo. Kasey beat out around 15, 000 songwriters from 115 countries, and impressed an all-star judging panel which featured Peter Gabriel, Ben Harper, and Tom Waits to take out the grand prize.

“I honestly can’t believe it,” Kasey told The Daily Telegraph. “When I entered the competition, I didn’t think I even had a chance being up against songwriters from all over the world but I thought it’d be a fun to enter anyway. Winning with the song ‘Beautiful Mess’ makes it even more special as it’s a song I wrote for my two boys, Talon and Arlo. Guess I’d better buy them an ice-cream!”

Here’s the video for the song so you can see just what wowed the judges!

Kate Miller-Heidke Wins International Songwriting Competition

Kate Miller-Heidke has taken home the grand prize at the International Songwriting Competition for her latest single “Caught in the Crowd.” Kate penned the anti-bullying track with her composing partner Keir Nuttall.

The song was unanimously selected from over 17,000 by an esteemed judging panel, featuring the likes of Tom Waits, Neil Finn, ray Davies, Jerry Lee Lewis, KT Tunstall, and Loretta Lynn.

Kate was awarded $25, 000 US, which she’ll use to tour the United States and Europe. Congratulations to her!

Image source: The Harbour Agency