1 The Australian Songwriter Issue 99, December 2013 First published 1979 The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc. In this edition: Chairman’s Message Editor’s Message 2013 National Songwriting Awards Night Jacques Mario Gentil: 2013 Australian Songwriter of the Year Dani Karis: 2013 Winner of The Rudy Brandsma Award For Songwriting Excellence 2013 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees 2013 Top 30 Category Places in The Australian Songwriting Contest James Linderman: Song Tessellation 2013 In Memoriam Songwriter Profile: Ruth O’Brien Members News and Information The Load Out Official Sponsors of the Australian Songwriting Contest About Us: o Aims of the ASA o History of the Association o Contact Us o Patron o Life Members o Directors o Regional Co-Ordinators
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The Australian Songwriter · 2 Chairman’s Message Hi All Members, WOW! That’s the only way I can describe the ASA National Songwriting Awards 2013 held at Wests Ashfield
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1
The Australian Songwriter
Issue 99, December 2013
First published 1979
The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.
In this edition:
Chairman’s Message
Editor’s Message
2013 National Songwriting Awards Night
Jacques Mario Gentil: 2013 Australian Songwriter of the Year
Dani Karis: 2013 Winner of The Rudy Brandsma Award For Songwriting
Excellence
2013 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees
2013 Top 30 Category Places in The Australian Songwriting Contest
James Linderman: Song Tessellation
2013 In Memoriam
Songwriter Profile: Ruth O’Brien
Members News and Information
The Load Out
Official Sponsors of the Australian Songwriting Contest
About Us:
o Aims of the ASA
o History of the Association
o Contact Us
o Patron
o Life Members
o Directors
o Regional Co-Ordinators
2
Chairman’s Message Hi All Members,
WOW!
That’s the only way I can describe the ASA National
Songwriting Awards 2013 held at Wests Ashfield
Leagues Club on Wednesday 4 December.
It was an awesome night, with huge presentations
from all Category Winners, plus the most amazing
performance from Hall Of Fame Inductee Garth
Porter, along with Daryl Braithwaite, Tony Mitchell
and Alan Sandow, all of Sherbet fame. They got
together after all these years to belt out ‘Howzat’. It
was truly a show stopping moment. ‘Boys From The
Bush’, Lee Kernaghan’s tribute to Garth’s writing
prowess, just about brought the house down as well.
It seems that every year the Awards get bigger and better. Jacques Mario Gentil was
crowned APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year by Jo Musso from APRA, and Dani Karis
took out the Rudy Brandsma Award. Little Pattie brought a tear to my eye when she
spoke about her cousin Chrissy Amphlett, who died earlier this year. Mike Cardy from
Perth was also awarded the ASA Regional Coordinator Of The Year, and dynamic up
and coming Singer/Songwriter Lucy B was interviewed by renowned author Bernie
Howitt.
All in all, it was a night to send shivers down the spine. A Special Event indeed. If
you weren’t able to get there, please have a look at the DVD of all the highlights
when it comes out. I’m sure you will love it.
The next day the ASA Regional Coordinators Conference was held. It was a huge
success, with reps from WA, QLD, NSW, SA, TAS and Regional Australia discussing
how the ASA is progressing in each of their areas, and how our Wax Lyricals are
advancing the ASA name all over the country. From that Conference, it can be
garnered that the Australian Songwriters Association is in good hands and is going
from strength to strength.
Our latest missive from Vice-Chairman Alan Gilmour is once again packed with
information. He works extremely hard to keep Members up-to-date with everything
that is happening at the ASA, and his output is incredible. Along with Russell Smith
from Wests Ashfield Leagues, Alan also interviewed all the Category Winners on
Awards Night. That was a huge undertaking, and we salute both of them for their
efforts.
Have a wonderful Christmas Season, and when everybody returns after the break,
we can look towards the biggest year yet for the ASA. Meanwhile, see you at the
Wax Lyricals.
Denny Burgess
Chairman
3
Editor’s Message
Welcome to the final edition of The Australian Songwriter for 2013. In this edition
we feature the full list of winners in the 2013 Australian Songwriting Contest plus a
list of the Rudy Brandsma Award nominees.
Congratulations to Jacques Mario Gentil, 2013 Australian Songwriter of the Year, and
to Dani Karis, winner of 2013 Rudy Brandsma Award for Songwriting Excellence.
Congratulations also to this year’s category winners and to everyone who entered.
There was some truly amazing music once again this year.
Congratulations to Garth Porter for his induction into The Australia Songwriters Hall
of Fame. Thanks to Glenn A Baker for inducting Garth, to Lee Kernaghan and
Sherbet members, Daryl Braithwaite, Tony Mitchell, Alan Sandow, and of course
Garth himself for their great performances of some of Garth’s best known original
songs on the night.
A big thank you to James Linderman for his many informative articles during the
year, which I know so many ASA members have enjoyed.
Many thanks also to ASA Regional Co-Ordinators, Mike Cardy and Matt Sertori, for
their contributions to the magazine during the year, and to Carole Beck for her
assistance with the promotion of this year’s songwriting contest, for her magazine
ideas and contributions, for arranging some great interviews which will be featured in
the magazine next year, and for just being a very helpful person.
Thanks also to Chris Walters for her many suggestions and for introducing me to the
delightful Ruth O’Brien, a disabled songwriter from Canberra, who is featured in this
edition of the magazine.
The ASA team is now off on a well deserved break and we look forward to catching
up with you all in the New Year.
The Australian Songwriter welcomes written contributions from ASA members and
readers of the magazine. If you have anything that you would like to say about
yourself, other songwriters/musicians/artists/new releases or upcoming events,
simply send your contribution via email to the Editor at [email protected].
Cheers,
Alan Gilmour
4
2013 National Songwriting Awards
Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Photos from the induction of Garth Porter into The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Top Left: Lee Kernaghan and Top Right: members of Sherbet performing some of Garth’s best known songs. Bottom Left: Sherbet members Garth Porter, Tony Mitchell, Alan Sandow, and Daryl Braithwaite together again, and Bottom Right the same line up with Glenn A Baker.
We will have a full report on the 2013 National Songwriting Awards Night, plus
interviews with some of the winners, in the next edition of The Australian Songwriter.
In the meantime, we have posted some photos taken on the night, of the
performances by Lee Kernaghan and Sherbet, following the induction of Garth Porter
into The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to Garth on his induction and congratulations to all of you who
entered the 2013 Australian Songwriting Contest. Whether you were a winner or
not, we thank you for your participation and support for Australia’s largest and most
prestigious songwriting contest for independent songwriters.
We’ll feature the official photos of the night in the next edition of The Australian
Songwriter.
The Awards Night was recorded, and a one hour edit will be broadcast on TVS44 in
the New Year, and we will let members know once the broadcast date is set.
5
Jacques Mario Gentil: 2013 Australian Songwriter Of The Year
Photo: Jacques Mario Gentil,
Melbourne VIC.
Dani Karis: 2013 Winner of The Rudy Brandsma Award For Songwriting Excellence
Photo: Dani Karis, Bundeena NSW.
6
2013 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees
Stacy Tierney Cardiff NSW
Greg J Bryant Sunshine Coast QLD
Kelly Griffith Central Coast NSW Samantha Mooney Gold Coast QLD
7
Lynn Hazelton Boulder WA
Dani Karis Bundeena NSW
Steve Montgomery Sydney NSW
The Keytar Kids Melbourne VIC
The Rudy Brandsma Award is presented annually by the Directors of the ASA in
recognition of songwriting excellence by an ASA member during the course of that
year’s Australian Songwriting Contest. The award honours the memory of the late
Rudy Brandsma, one of the co-founders of the ASA in 1979. 2013 marked the 28th
presentation of the award.
8
Top 30 Category Winners in the 2013 Australian Songwriting Contest
Australia Category
1. The Mighty Dollar Luke Vassella
2. Ankle Deep Dani Karis
3. The Gold Luke Vassella
4. Wattarka Aubrey Beggs
5. Eleven Long Years Eden Parris
6. Rose Matilda Matt Zarb
7. River Luke Vassella
8. Speargrass Loren Steenkamp
9. Casino Luke Vassella
10. If I Were A Swagman Matt Zarb
11-30 in alphabetical order:
100 Aprils Ago Vince Brophy
A Five O'Clock Shadow Glen Naylor
A Very Fine Day Stephen Sarre
Aussie Kid Kathy Possum
Aussie Neighbourhood Heidi Loveland, Toby Loveland, Peter
Schravemade and Natasha Koch
Dazza Susie and Phil
Dreamtime Cathedrals Manfred Vijars and Shaza Leigh
Glory Days Ken Wong
Home for the Weekend David Hyams
How Beautiful is our Country Terry Bennetts and Jenny Bennetts
Lest We Forget Rhonda Macken
Maffra U10s Michael Waugh
Mr Bennelong: Bob Brown
Ochre Man: Justin Standley
One Thing Left: Sami Cooke
Stain of Red: Lynn Hazelton
Straight From The Heart: Chris Orchard
Sydney Morning: Chris Orchard
The Southern Cross: John Greenwood
Tubby Little Trooper: Jake Roff and Rupert McCall
9
Ballad Category
1. Boys Cry Too Karen Guymer and Jacques Mario Gentil
2. Little Irish Mother Terry Bennetts and Keith Lethbridge
3. A Family Emergency Magdalena MacDonald
4. My Dream Chris Orchard
5. Don’t Doubt My Words Bill Gray
6. Free Daniel Leelarthaepin
7. Will It Ever Come Back To Me Madeline
8. For You Jade Leonard
9. Different On The Outside Marie Georgiou
10. From Now On Paul Gioia
11-30 in alphabetical order
A Better Day Dave Power
And I Know Greg J Bryant and Nel Tronnelone
Daddy's Girl Katie Hardyman
Desire Francesca de Valence
Drifting Away from the Sun Samantha Mooney
How Am I? Sophie May
If The World Would Only Dani Karis
Little Piece of Love Karen Guymer
Love of My Life Samantha Mooney
Lucid Dreams Jade Diary
Memories Marie Georgiou
One Little Drop Kathy Possum
Redemption John Walsh, Kate Ceberano and Paul Cecchinelli
Sand George Begbie
So Beautiful Katie Hardyman
Stay Out Of The Way Darren Sugars
Still In Love With You Steve Montgomery
The Real Me Jade Leonard
Until There Was You Anita Paul
Vixen Stubble
10
Contemporary Pop/Dance Category
1. Romeo Skii Harvey
2. What You Were Waiting For Kate Vigo
3. Radiate Sami Tauber
4. Smile Jesse Marantz
5. She Don’t Need To Know China Doll
6. Real Love Alexandra Valmorbida
6. Where Are You Now? Gino Campagnaro and Simon McRitchie
8. Lights Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Payntor and
Michael De Lorenzis
9. Like A Razor Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Payntor and
Michael De Lorenzis
10. Fashion James Hampton and The Keytar Kids
11-30 in alphabetical order:
1 teaser d&m
A Love Song Katie Hardyman
Can We Do It Now? Anirban Banerjee
Cold Hearted (Radio Edit) Jade Diary
déjà vu John Greenwood and Jason Greenwood
Dream Brigade Frank Dixon
Feeling Good Michelle Hullet
I Learned A Lot From You Kerrie Garside
Lets Get This Party Started Lindsay Hamminga
Light Breaks Lindsay Hamminga
Light It Up Lindsay Hamminga
Like A Theme Park Stacy Tierney
Playtime Michelle Hullet
Running Back To You Lori Greco
So Beautiful Katie Hardyman
So Confused Karen Guymer
Take Me Michelle Hullet
Tear Me Away George Begbie
Think That You Love Me Jourdain
Welcome to Vegas Jade Diary
11
Country Category
1. Synchronised Jason Greenwood
2. Brand New Life Samantha Mooney
3. If This Guitar Could Talk Bill Wade and
Wade Finnagin
4. The Rodeo Justine Camilleri and
Chris Gale
5. Words In Your Goodbye Vanessa
Faynes, R. Faynes and D. Rogerson
6. My Place In The World Sally-Anne
Whitten and Allison Forbes
7. Field Of Flowers Dani Karis
8. Pretty Big Mess Rebecca Moore
9. Casino Luke Vassella
10. Hot Off The Line Kate Parry
11-30 in alphabetical order:
A Father's Love Justin Standley
Alone In A Highway Bar Lola Brinton
Banjo Picking Cowgirl Taylor Pfeiffer
Black Dog Cooper West
Carry Me Warren Freeman
Country Song Danny Hooper
God Bless the Beer Sabrina Alison and Roger Corbett
Heart Like A Truck Rick Hart
I'm Gonna Love You Kathleen Coleman
Is It Me Your Lookin For Brock Mathers
Let the Music Ring Out Brothers3
Lonely Nothing Tahlia McGahey
Lucky Country Craig Pinkney
On A Saturday Night In The Hall Matt Zarb
Rosalie Amber Joy Poulton
Still In Love With You Steve Montgomery
Suck It Up Tootie Hiles
What's Happened To Us? Lindsay Hamminga
Wishful Drinking Paul Owen
You Ain’t Worth The Rain Natalie Howard and Matt Scullion
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Folk/Acoustic Category
1. Empty Spaces Andy Mac
1. Master Plan Troy White
3. Echo Laura Zarb
4. The Drowning Man Chris Griffiths
and Warwick Fear
5. Always Joseph Proia and
Gary Roberts
6. The Longest Road Chris Griffiths and Warwick Fear
7. Boys Cry Too Karen Guymer and Jacques Mario Gentil
8. Sleepyhead Dave McEldowney
9. All That Jazz Marky D
10. The Path Of Least Resistance Nick Charles
11-30 in alphabetical order:
Black Words Matthew Ellis and the Ellis Collective
Different The Same AKOVA
Good Lovin Alison Jeeves
Harp of the Land Brothers3
Heartland Lynn Hazelton
How Love Can Feel Karen Guymer
In and Out of Time Andy Lacy
Inside/Outside Peta Evans-Taylor
Me and My Big Mouth Paul Owen and Roger Corbett
Paul Michael Waugh
Pennyweight Anthony English
Sand George Begbie
Sausalito Slowdown Neil Wise
Still In Love With You Steve Montgomery
The Roses Were Few Rebecca Moore
The Waiting Game Nicola Milan
Think That You Love Me Jourdain
Until There Was You Anita Paul
Vixen Stubble
Well Of Love Andrea Barnett
13
Instrumental Category
1. Sunset Blues Nick Charles
2. I’m On Your Side Paul Gioia
3. Lullaby For Monty Vanessa Craven
4. Jo’s Tune Sandy Pollard
5. Raven’s Flight Amelia Coffey
6. Sombrero Stan Lenz
7. Brumby Terry Bennetts
8. The Battle Of Hank B Gilmour: Calvin
Sycamore
9. Maryanne’s Paris Galliano Sommavilla
10. Water And Life (Suite 2) Manjia Luo
11-30 in alphabetical order:
Allegory 9 Peter Smith
Desire Barbara Whitnell
East Meets West Chris Rowell
Eliane Mark Kassel
Flight of the Eagle Paul Ingerman
Freewheelin Feelin Mick Kidd and David Blight
Funkarama Heidi Loveland and Toby Loveland
Im Just A Child-Instrumental Katie Hardyman
Impulse No1 for Clarinet & Electronica Brian Fitzgerald
Loving Mother Jim Ottaway
Mountain Mists... Paul Ingerman
My Darling Joel Mark Kassel
Paradise Tyrolin
Renewal Gregory Lawson
Rimfire Toni Pollard
Russian Sad Ballad From The East
Meets Hot Jazz Blues Fusion From
The West And They Fall In Love
And Take Acid Peter Hawkes
StreptoManiac Calvin Sycamore
The Talented Ones Rebecca Achkar
White Water Marcela
Will You Be There RL Clarke
14
International Category
1. Last Call Alex Tobin (AUS) and Neil Devereaux (CAN)
2. Those Were The Days/Sooner
Or Later Goodnight Argent (USA)
3. Love Storm Dr Teddy De Love (IRE)
4. Ride the Dragon Neutron Lightning (CAN)
5. Once Mayu Wakisaka (JAP)
6. Higher Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Payntor and
Michael De Lorenzis (AUS)
7. Light Up Ravi Persaud (CAN)
8. That's So Me David VonderBurg (USA)
9. Think That You Love Me Jourdain (AUS)
10. I Don't Even Play Guitar: Glenn Valles (INDIA)
10. It Feels Alright: Johan Lotand (SWE)
11-30 in alphabetical order:
Can't Put You Down Michael McGee
Closer To The Truth Dave Newington
Cold Blood Mark Stepakoff
Echo Devlin Miles
Ghost Of The Mockingbird Nitanee Paris
Hits The Ground Wake Up Paradise
Inside Melissa Bandura
Left My Heart Debra Gussin and Kyle Vincent
Like They Do It In The Movies Nitanee Paris
Pass It Along Scott Cook
Peace Kate Lush and The Wild Captain Radio Tour
Riding A Bicycle Lou DeAdder
Speak Elaine Loebenstein and Jude Kohn
Take My Breath Away Mario Puntillo
The Flame Lola Brinton and Roldan/Watts/Barringer/Drew
The Rest Of My Love Michael McGee
Time The Bullbuckers
What I See In Love Mayu Wakisaka
Wrapping Up My Love Vanessa Faynes, D. Rogerson and R.Faynes
15
Lyrics Category
1. The Black Comes Like A Thief Jim Fahey
2. Troubled Troubador Paul Dillon
3. Shoulder To Shoulder Simon Berger
4. The Truth Hurts John Walsh
5. Dreamer Renay Broad
6. Afghanistan David Glazier
7. One For The Road Simon Berger
8. See You Later Ron Robert McIntosh
9. Spirit Of Australia Bunty Bisharah
10. Why Should We Be Faithful Clem Gorman
11-30 in alphabetical order:
(A Day In The Life Of) Cool Bennie Steve Montgomery
Alone With You Joseph Proia
Arrest Me Tonight Glen Naylor
At Times Phil Cose
Banker In New England Robert McIntosh and Paul Mcintosh
Burning Desire: Joe Ciangura
Chasing Rainbows Wendy Barnes
Fashionista Elizabeth Cornwall
Get Out Of My Way Simon Berger
Girl Of The Garden Richard Williams
Imperfect Me Katherine Cochrane
It's Un-Astrayan Steve Montgomery
Never Forgotten Rebecca Achkar
Nobody Knows Me Like You: Steve Montgomery
Secret Of Life Merri Joy Mountstephen
The Good News And The Bad Terry Bennetts
The Jury Di McAlister
The List Robert McIntosh
The Time For Me To Go Paul Dillon
The Truth Hurts John Walsh
Untrue Emma Lucas
Want Me Now I'm Gone Merri Joy Mountstephen
16
Open Category
1. Beautiful Night Francesca de Valence
2. Lonely Life Keri McInerney
3. Here With You Dave Power
4. Livin’ On Borrowed Time John Greenwood and Jason Greenwood
5. Joan of Arc Jade Leonard
6. Smile Jesse Marantz
7. Sheba Lane Lynn Hazelton
8. Tear Me Away George Begbie
9. Side By Side Lindsay Hamminga
10. I Am Not I Cathy Dobson
11-30 in alphabetical order
All About You Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Paynter and
Michael De Lorenzis
Been Down Danny Hooper
Don't Bother Me Paul White
Don't Die Wond'rin' Jacki Cooper
Dreaming of Better Days John Delaney
Forget Madeline
I Didn't Mean Viv Edwards
I Wonder What Heavens Like Greg J Bryant
If I Had Wings Kylie Stephens
I'm Only Sleeping Katie Hardyman
Joined At the Hip Paul Gioia
Love Me More Nicola Milan
Sad Eyes Parissa Bouas and Carl Cleves
So Confused Karen Guymer
The Karaoke Book Song Jacques Mario Gentil
The Real Treasure Kathy Possum
The Scent Of Her Perfume Nicola Milan
Trust Me Kylie Stephens
Well Of Love Andrea Barnett
Wrapping Up My Love Vanessa Faynes and R.Faynes and D.Rogerson
17
Rock/Indie Category
1. Great Divide Darryl Barba, John Coulehan, Brian McLeod
and Fletcher Bowman (Roy Mackonkey).
2. Last Call Alex Tobin and Neil Devereaux
3. Everywhere Monique Lisbon and Adrian Hannan
4. Spider Jason Maynard
5. Black Dog Cooper West
6. You Only Lose The Things You Cling To: Adam Finlay and David O'Brien
7. Get Back To Funk David Watson
8. Singing Your Favourite Songs Dave Power
9. Eternally Danny Hooper
9. Midnight Slave Bill Woodford
9. Why Don't We Just Start Adam Finlay and David O'Brien
11-30 in alphabetical order
All Butterflies: Scott Toner
All I Want: Jade Leonard
Anyone But You John De Laurence
Balancing Act Jacques Mario Gentil
Beautiful Guitar Thing Peta Evans-Taylor
Better Than You Lindsay Hamminga
Big Blue Sky Paul Gioia
Black Market Man Rick Hart
Coming Home Michelle Hullet
Crash Like A Butterfly John Trager
Edge Of The World Cooper West
Fire in the House Kelly Griffith
Hot Off The Line Kate Parry
Let it Go Justin Linkins
Noise Machine Stephen Kermode
Put in the Work Jay Lisle
Shadow Paul Gioia
This Is War (Ban Fracking) Stephen Kermode
When You're Free Adrian Elton
18
Songs For Children Category
1. Aussie Kid Kathy Possum
2. Skunk on the Bunk David Jennings
3. That's Me! Ray Saunders and JR
Marshall
4. Teddy Bear Joseph Proia
5. Fashionista Elizabeth Cornwall
and Nathan Eshman
6. Brave Forever Cassi Hilbers and
Joel Walkenhorst
7. Give Me Some Crayons: Ren's Song Mark
Ferris
8. Mr Ducky is A-Driftin' By Carol Pearce
9. Veggie Patch Rock Stacy Tierney
10. Follow Your Nose Leo Kahans
10. The Story of You Know Who Michael Mills
11-30 in alphabetical order:
12345 Plant a Tree Stacy Tierney
5 Little Sailors Kathy Possum
Aussie Neighbourhood Heidi Loveland, Toby Loveland, Peter
Schravemade and Natasha Koch
Beat Street! Susie and Phil
Cheep Cheep Cheep Rachel Parkinson
Crocodile Joseph Proia and Kevin Adams
Dad's Tool Box Magdalena Macdonald and Paul Gibbs
Dingle Dangle Little Elves Stacy Tierney
Dinosaur Stampede Michael Mills
Edna the Elephant Susie and Phil
Enter The Seal Kathy Possum
Fun Fun Fun Cassi Hilbers and Joel Walkenhorst
Gibson the Gorilla Jake Roff and Pam Briggs
Going to the Pool John Littrich, Neil McCann and Paul McGee
I've Got a Butterfly on My Toe Rachel Parkinson
Johnny the Pirate-Oh! Ray Saunders and JR Marshall
Maraca Mambo Carol Pearce
One Little Drop Kathy Possum
The Marching Band John Littrich, Neil McCann and Paul McGee
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Spiritual Category
1. When He Comes Jacques Mario Gentil
2. No Other Name Rob Nightingale
3. Free At Last Jacques Mario Gentil
4. Time To Be Moving On Lola Brinton and Trisha Roldan
5. I Wonder What Heavens Like? Greg J Bryant
6. Everything But Love Jacques Mario Gentil
7. Old Friend Loren Steenkamp
8. Lion and the Lamb Craig Bowen
9. I'm Only Sleeping Katie Hardyman
10. Messiah Greg J Bryant
11-30 in alphabetical order:
Falling Kam
Gamblin Cill Van Der Velden and Bob Sutor
Guess It Wasn't My Time Leon Bobako
Heaven (To Be With You) Daniel Leelarthaepin
Highway To Heaven Ted Roberts
Human Stain Andrea Barnett
I Want To Tell You Now Mike Williams
Jess's Song Greg J Bryant
Let Justice Roll Paul Somerville
Looking for Grace Eden Parris
Mia's Song Ann Leung
Rivers Jade Diary
Run To You Stephanie Unger
Send Down The Angels Alan Lucas
The Other Side Vanessa Faynes, R.Faynes and J.Bromell
Well Of Love Andrea Barnett
When I Pray Stephanie Unger Unger
When the City Chose to Sing Michael Wagner and Keith Smith
You Hold the Key Mark Ferris
You're Inspirational Sami Cooke
20
Youth Category
1. Believe In You Kaitlyn Thomas
2. I Won’t Throw Fire Kim Gamaroff
3. Fashionista Josephine Cornwall and Tess Cornwall
4. Dandelion Frank Dixon
5. Lost And Found Kelly Griffith
6. Give Up On You Frank Dixon
7. Rush Jake Davey
8. You're So Good Looking Josephine Cornwall and Tess Cornwall
9. Autumn Song Fionn Richards
10. Still Searchin’ Sami Cooke
11-30 in alphabetical order
All I Need Tania D'Agostino
Backed Up Against A Wall Ray-Lee Russell
Dream Brigade Frank Dixon
Far Away Casey Wilkinson
Feel That Way Abbey Gardner
Fire in the House Kelly Griffith
Kick Drum Jade Ingvarson-Favretto
Let It Out Kim Gamaroff
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Taylor Pfeiffer
Little Red Hannah Leah Hotker
Love Sick Vertigo Frank Dixon
Missing Puzzle Piece Meg Sampson
My Boy Taylor Amy
Put Your Hands Up Kelly Griffith
Skywriter Josephine Cornwall and Tess Cornwall
Sonny Frank Dixon
Turn Around Abbey Gardner
Unstoppable Two Robin Johnson
Wish Upon A Star Cassi Hilbers
You See Me Elizabeth Cornwall
21
James Linderman: Song Tessellation (or How Midwestern American
Farm Girls Reinvented Imitative Composition)
At the start of the industrial revolution in North America there were a few
developments that converged to popularize a particular form of academic
composition.
One of the factors was the mass production of the parlour piano that would be called
an apartment size or studio size today.
This pianos short stature allowed the player to look over the top of it to lead
singalongs, a popular past time with the urban aristocracy in Europe and with the
new urban wealthy in America.
The other development was the invention of the catalogue store, usually the general
store in rural America. Companies like Sears would sell items from a catalogue in the
rural general store that could be shipped to remote areas that would not otherwise
have access to those items.
The last piece of the puzzle was the availability of farm equipment that could allow
farmers to harvest much larger yields with much less manpower and in a fraction of
the time. This created a new class of rural wealthy that aspired to use, at least some
of that wealth to appear cultured and urban.
These converging developments combined to place a parlour piano in the front
rooms of farm houses all across North America, but there remained one last decisive
factor.
Piano music, and “cultured” music in general had been, to this point, a European art
form, powered by male composers and dominated by male virtuoso performers. Men,
in North America’s rural mid-west, however were still primarily labourers despite the
modernization of farming and did not have the time or inclination to learn the piano.
Grown women as well were not usual candidates to take up this newly purchased
instrument as much of a woman’s work in that setting, in that era, was also still
primarily manual and not yet automated. The preparation of a chicken dinner started
with a live chicken.
Young boys did not fare well with this instrument either, as they often helped with
farm chores after school and looked at the piano as more of an extension of a school
22
day. The work and play that pulled them outdoors also made the piano a less than
ideal addition to their day.
That, of course, left young farm girls as the natural choice for this instrument. Their
chores were mostly indoors where the piano was located, and they were encouraged
to become cultured ladies and the pianos reputation made it the ideal instrument
from a sociological standpoint.
This also saw the inception of the itinerant piano teacher who would travel from farm
to farm and village to village teaching these young farm girls how to play the music
in their piano bench. One obstacle, however, was the shortage of mass print sheet
music and so many of these fledgling musicians had only one or two sheets of music
to play, as the printing industry lagged behind the demand for more accessible
music.
The solution for this for many of these developing musicians was compositional
tessellation.
Tessellation is the art of taking smaller patterned items and making a larger pattern
out of them. A quilt is a tessellation and so is the picture I have seen of a runner
made up of thousands of small photos of runners.
Farm girls would take a random bar of melody from say, “New World Symphony” and
combine it with an equally random bar of melody from “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
and compositional tessellation would be born…. Not so much born because they did
not invent this practice but more adopted and certainly mastered. Bar after bar
would be brought into the composition and adapted through editorial shifts of pitches
and rhythmic placements.
Lots of this early North American music is not archived since blank staff paper was
also not readily available and many of these composers would have not considered
this so much composing but more just recreating on their instrument.
As mentioned, once the melodic motifs are stuck together there is often an editorial
adjustment that is required to seamlessly join them into a single musical statement
and then there is the work of re harmonizing them into a more full musical
expression.
To my estimation, that is every bit as much an act of composing as we songwriter
would do today, either knowingly or merely intuitively as we attempt to create new
original music from our collection of past musical experiences and present abilities.
In other words, the resources available.
Tessellation is a great way to take some “target practice” at writing melodies and
since the source materials are from already existing and at least somewhat popular
songs, there is a good chance that your tessellated melody will be very likely to be
very likeable. It is a great way to get practice at setting chords to a melodic pattern
as well and a terrific way to test drive your ability to solve the various kinds of
problems that melodic motifs can cause when trying to create our new work.
If we find we like what we are creating with a tessellation and want to turn it into a
commercially available original work, there is often more work to edit it to not sound
like you just stuck a bar of Katrina and the Waves “Walking on sunshine” on the
23
front end of a bar of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”. But if you edit and then play it for a
few close friends and associates and they cannot trace your song back to it’s original
source materials then the original composers (and their legal team) will not be able
to either and your song will be no more plagiarism than anything else we write from
the collection of other peoples musical ideas we have floating around our sub
conscience.
James Linderman is a guitar, piano and songwriting teacher in Ontario Canada and
teaches in studio and over Skype to students all over the world. James is an
Berkleemusic Ambassador and a music journalist and presenter at music conferences
2. The 10th Anniversary of ASA Wax Lyricals in Tasmania
On 11 December 2013, the ASA will celebrate 10 years
of Wax Lyrical (open mic) gigs in Tasmania.
Matt Sertori, ASA Regional Co-Ordinator in Hobart has
filed the following report:
“We are inviting all the original people that played at
our first gig in 2003 to play. However to keep things
fresh we have invited 8 young songwriters, each of
whom will be playing their first gig, the idea being that
experienced performers will naturally gravitate to
mentoring the younger artists.
While the nostalgia thing is wonderful, we believe the
ASA plays an important role providing developmental
opportunities for younger writers. Not many Wax
Lyrical events could boast performers ranging in age from 18 to 82, which is what we
have at this event. Sadly since we started, three of those original performers have
passed away: Josephine Fry, Clive Brooks and Kristy Marks, the latter a young
mother in her early twenties. So it will be quiet a poignant night as we take a
moment to remember those performers who had given so much to our team.
Recently, as I was going through my old archives I found 6 hours of high quality
video footage I had completely forgotten existed. So on the night, as people
perform, we have a projector playing footage from some of those early Tasmania
gigs.
In all, we have 37 performances to show and the footage which have never been
broadcast before. I can say with certainly that myself and the filmmaker are the only
ones who have seen it. We will also be filming our anniversary gig and I will forward
a copy of the DVD highlights to the board, I won't forget to get everyone to sign
those waiver forms!
The venue we have chosen for the ten year anniversary is also having its formal
opening on the same night and I think it's fantastic the venue is called The Night
Owl, as that is also the name of a song by ASA Hall of Famers, Little River Band. Also
on the night, we will be displaying every poster from every single Wax Lyrical, we
have run in Tasmania in the past ten years. I counted up the number of performers
we have had in that time, and the number was nearly 250.
Photos (below): A collection of Wax Lyrical posters from the last 10 years and photos (from left to right, top to bottom): Mathias Thompson, Josh Durno, Charlene Rollins, Emily Wolfe and the late Clive Brooks, Crystal Campbell, Group photo ( when one of the members, Kirsty Marks, passed away from breast cancer aged 23, there was an impromptu performance of her favourite song, Fall At Your Feet by Crowded House, by Michaela Young, Crystal Campbell, Matt Sertori, Ian Murtagh, Jo and Paul Volta and Josh Durno), Johnny Cigar, Adrian Beith, Tony Brennan, Ian Murtagh and Rod Fritz.
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3. Songwriters Meeting Point
We receive a lot of requests from songwriters seeking co-writers, collaborators,
vocalists, musicians etc. to help them with their craft.
If you are one of these, simply send your details to the Editor at [email protected]
and we’ll publish them in this section.
This is a free service to ASA members but the ASA accepts no responsibility for
outcomes (except of course if you produce a great song, then we’ll gladly take some
of the credit!).
Fran Walker writes “I was wondering if you can recommend someone in the ASA
who can put music and vocals to one of my Lyrics? It is a song about a heroin addict
getting punished in a high security prison. I have a large collection and I am more a
Poet. I recorded my poetry with classical music at the Conservatorium of Brisbane,
just reciting, so if you would help me I will be grateful. Love from Brisbane. Fran.”
If you would like to help Fran, please contact her on [email protected].
Photo (Left to Right, Top to Bottom): Alan Gilmour, Matt Sertori, Mark Ellis, Angelo Pash, Mike Cardy, Melinda J Wells, Denny Burgess, Clare Burgess, Lola Brinton, Kerrie Garside, Hugh Brown and Ben Patis.
With many of the ASA’s Regional Co-Ordinators in Sydney for the National
Songwriting Awards Night, a Regional Co-Ordinators Meeting was held the next day
to discuss members’ issues around Australia. A photo of the attendees is above.
5. House Concerts Australia
Former ASA Director, Gary Luck, has drawn our attention to House Concerts
Australia as a means of helping up-and-coming artists gain performance exposure.
If you are an artist looking for exposure, or if you want to host a concert, contact
House Concerts Australia at http://houseconcertsaustralia.ning.com/.
Hosts can invite family and friends, and for a small donation of say $20 per head (to
the artist), you and your guests can experience the music of new artists that you
may never otherwise get to hear, in the comfort of your own home.
Gary will be hosting a concert himself in the New Year for a visiting overseas artist.
6. Debra Gussin and Stacy Hogan win another Award!
Photos: Debra Gussin (left) and Stacy Hogan (right with his wife, Melissa) won the Best Adult Contemporary/AAA Song at the Hollywood Music In Media Awards last month with their song “Do U Miss The Heat”. The song was previously the winner of the 2012 Australian Songwriting Contest International Category.
We knew it was a great song, but here’s further proof. Debra Gussin and Stacy
Hogan, last year’s winners of the International Category in The Australian
Songwriting Contest, won the Best Adult Contemporary/AAA Song at the Hollywood
Music In Media Awards last month with their song, “Do U Miss The Heat”.
Debra says: “I'm so proud and excited. I walked the red carpet with all the lightbulbs
flashing at me, it was like the Oscars! The best part of the evening was meeting and
hanging with my insanely talented collaborator, Stacy Hogan, and his wonderful wife
Melissa. I've been working with Stacy for over 4 years, yet we've never met until just
before we won our award!”
“I was busy trying to take a picture of the big screen with the nominees’ names...21
nominees! And suddenly they called our names and our song was playing before a
sold out/standing room only crowd at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. I just
remember screaming, and Stacy was sitting there, all kinds of Nashville chill. We
were both so shocked, they had to tell us to come up and make a speech!”
“I nearly fell off the podium, I was shaking. Neither of us had planned anything to
say, we were just excited to be there having fun. I managed to thank my parents
and my incredible mentor Marty Panzer for their support.”