The Australian Songwriter - The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.
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The Australian Songwriter
Issue 153, July 2021
First published 1979
The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.
In This Edition:
On the Cover of The Australian Songwriter: Tony King: 2020 APRA/ASA
Songwriter Of The Year
Chairman’s Message
Editor’s Message
Important Announcements
Tony King: 2020 APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year
Wax Lyrical Roundup
Sponsors Profiles
Members News and Information
Niamh Watson & Mario Spate: 2020 Winners of the Contemporary
Pop/Dance Category
Latest Music Releases From ASA Members And Friends
Mark Cawley’s Monthly Songwriting Blog
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
o Webmaster
o 2020 APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year
o 2020 Rudy Brandsma Award Winner
o 2019 PPCA Live Performance Award Winner
o Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2004 to 2020)
o Lifetime Achievement Award (2017)
o 2020 Australian Songwriting Contest Category Winners
o Songwriters of the Year and Rudy Brandsma Award (1983 to 2020)
Chairman’s Message
Hi one and all,
Well, the 2021 National Signwriting Competition is now in
full swing. As usual the National Office is receiving a great
many wonderful entries in all Categories. It looks like being
another record year.
At the time of writing, we have just been informed of
another ‘Hard Lockdown’ for the Greater Sydney Region. It
seems that this will be a part of our lives until most of us
are vaccinated. Various restrictions means that it is harder
for Songwriters and Musicians to perform their original
songs to the public, and that means more time at home.
Your Board is monitoring the situation closely, and hoping that we can present our
Awards Night live, albeit a bit later than usual. However, of course it all depends on
circumstances that sometimes change from day to day. Anyway, be assured that our
Association has the best interests of all Members across the country at heart, and we
will keep everybody updated accordingly. Please keep an eye on the ASA website for
further updates as they come to hand.
The pandemic seems to have motivated a lot of Songwriters to excel themselves,
presenting entries that are better than ever. Please keep it up, and remember to get
those recordings in by the end of July. Stay safe everyone.
And don’t forget, all Australian songwriters should not only belong to the ASA, but
also to the mighty APRA!
Denny Burgess
Chairman
Editor’s Message
Hi Everyone,
With the 2021 Australian Songwriting Contest currently
underway, things are hotting-up for another big year here
at the ASA.
We’ve taken time out to bring you up-to-date with the
2020 contest, with interview with 2020 APRA/ASA
Songwriter of the Year, Tony King and 2020 Contemporary
Pop/Dance Category winner, Niamh Watson.
Don’t forget to get your contest entries in before the closing date of 31 July 2021.
Take care and stay safe,
Alan Gilmour,
Editor and Vice Chairman
Important Announcements Welcome To Country The ASA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders both past and present. 2021 Australian Songwriting Contest The 2021 Australian Songwriting Contest is closing on 31 July 2021, so hurry up and get your entries in. The Contest is accepting entries in 13 Categories: • Australia • Ballad • Comedy/Novelty • Contemporary Pop/Dance • Country • Folk/Acoustic • Instrumental/World Music • Lyrics • Open • Rock/Indie • Songs For Children • Spiritual • Youth To enter, simply go to the either of the contest platforms: http://www.indiecentral.com/asacontest/ www.asa.songcentral.net.au ASA Wax Lyricals With ongoing lock down restrictions, many ASA Wax Lyricals may be cancelled at short notice. Check with your local ASA Regional Co-Ordinator and watch for notices on social media. In this magazine, you’ll find a selection of recent Wax Lyrical photographs from Sunbury VIC, Hobart TAS, Central Coast NSW; Canberra ACT, Northern Rivers NSW, Newcastle NSW; Yarra Valley VIC. If you are interested in performing original songs at any of the ASA Wax Lyricals, please contact your local Regional Co-Ordinator.
Tony King, 2020 APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year
Sydney singer/songwriter, Tony
King, is the 2020 APRA/ASA
Songwriter of the Year for two
Category wins in the 2020
Australian Songwriting Contest and
the overall quality of his songs.
Tony won the 2020 Lyrics
Category with his lyrics, A Library
Burns, and the Comedy/Novelty
Category for his song, The Day The
Queen Smoked A Joint.
ASA: Welcome, Tony. Let’s firstly
talk about your Lyrics winning
entry, A Library Burns. They are
very thoughtful lyrics. Could you
talk us through the thought process
of writing something like that?
Tony: I think that as I get older, unfortunately more and more people that I love are
dying. I lost my Mum last year, which was really close to me, and it inspired the
song, A Library Burns, because it’s about the incredible library that everyone has
inside them, and especially people like my Mum. When you get to a certain age, you
have this incredible, beautiful library, and I wanted to honour that in the song,
because when somebody dies, you lose that.
It also made me realise that you have to spend a lot more time with people that you
love, treasuring who they are and getting to know them better as well, because you
never know how long we’re here for. That was the inspiration behind that particular
lyric.
ASA: Very thoughtful, it made me think that perhaps people should write their life
story, so that others could build upon that?
Tony: Exactly, and nobody’s boring. If people think they’re boring, just scratch the
surface, and it all comes out. I was lucky, because my Mum and my father were
really big book readers, so we grew up as kids being subscribed to this book club,
called the Mary Martin Book Club. We would get a book a week for each member of
the family and then we would pass them around between each other. So, we grew
up reading and my Mum and my father would always encourage us to read.
I think if you read, it makes you treasure words, and it also teaches you empathy. I
never realized that as a kid, but reading is like empathy classes. You’re forced to
look at the world through someone else’s eyes. So, I think that helped me as a
songwriter, because it’s like trying to feel what it’s like being someone else, as well
as myself. I often write songs about other people or inspired by other people’s
experiences. It taught me to imagine what it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes.
Tony King’s winning lyrics, When A Library Burns, were recited by Kirk Pengilly of INXS at the virtual 2020 National Songwriting Awards (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKZy9NlBG38&t=2729s) ASA: And you certainly have a way with words. This is not the first time that you have won the Lyrics Category, is it? Tony: That’s right, I was very fortunate to win it (in 2009) for still one of my favourite songs, Billy’s Dream. That was imagining a soldier, and what they go through, and particularly the experience of Kurt Vonnegut Jnr., who was a soldier in the Second World War and had the incredibly unlucky experience of being in Dresden the night that it was bombed. He only survived because they hid in a slaughterhouse in Dresden. One hundred thousand people died, and he was one of the ones who came out and saw all of the town, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, reduced to ash. He imagined a movie playing backwards and so I thought wow, what a great idea for a song, so I wrote a song about that: soldiers imaging that their life is a movie played backwards, so you end up being an innocent child again, and all that pain and senseless death is removed from your life. That was the last time that I won that award. I never thought that I’d win it again so I’m very, very honoured. ASA: I was looking it up and it was actually 2009, would you believe? Tony: My God! (laughs). ASA: I do actually remember you receiving that award at the National Songwriting Awards. That’s how long I’ve been around, too. Let’s now talk about the Comedy/Novelty award. You had a rather cheeky song called The Day The Queen Smoked A Joint. What inspired you to write that one, Tony?
Tony: Well, I figured that Queen
Elizabeth must have done
everything under the sun and the
only thing I guess she hasn’t done,
or I guess she hasn’t done, is to
smoke a joint. And I thought, what
a great image, so I started to
imagine what would happen if she
smoked a joint, so that’s what the
song is about.
Photo: Tony King and Nina Vox
with Michael Palin at the “Day
The Queen Smoked A Joint”
concert.
A funny thing happened. When I wrote the lyrics, we actually turned it into a song
and we performed it at a gig with Michael Palin, the guy from Monty Python. He sat
at the side of the stage when I played it. I’ve never been so nervous in my life.
I was a Monty Python nut, and my knees were shaking and I hardly ever get nervous
on stage. I couldn’t stop my knees shaking but I managed to get through it and at
the end he said “I really liked that song about the Queen smoking a joint. How do
you know she hasn’t?” And I said, “I don’t know” and he leaned in and said “She
certainly like a drink”. (laughs). I’d love to make a film clip for it because it’s such a
visual image in my head.
So, that’s what inspired it and my grandfather was in the Army with her. We’re from
England originally and he was in the Royal Engineers, and they all do military
service, the Royal Family, including the women. So, the Queen was training to be a
mechanic, and we’ve got photographs of her leaning into this Jeep, and he reckons
that she was better at putting an engine back together than anyone. He said in his
Cockney accent when she had this other gig to go to, “it was a waste of a bleedin’
good mechanic”. So, there’s a bit of a family connection.
ASA: What’s been the reaction to that song? The version that I heard was recorded
live at a venue somewhere. It had quite a bit of laughter and applause in there.
What’s been the general reaction? You obviously perform to Monarchists and
Republicans. Do you get an even reaction, or do you get some horror?
Tony: Well, I’d say that 95% of people see the humour in it. We’ve had people walk
out, who are Monarchists I take it, and think you can’t disparage the Queen.
Apparently, she has a great sense of humour. Mostly, people get it and laugh along,
but some people don’t.
ASA: You need to see the joke in it, don’t you?
Tony: Well, that’s right and not take things too seriously.
ASA: Now, ASA Songwriter Of The Year for 2020. You were also Songwriter Of The
Year back in 2009. What have you been up to since 2009 in terms of career
progression?
Tony: Well, it’s pretty much the
same as then. I’ve kept
performing. I perform in a band
called Beautifully Mad with my
partner, Nina Vox, Chris Ralph in
real life. Nina Vox is her alter-ego.
We perform and have been
performing all that time.
I’ve written some songs that have
been recorded by other people
and played guitar with Andrew
Strong, the wonderful singer from
The Commitments, and wrote an
album with him.
We’ve just been writing songs for
ourselves mainly and we put out
our last CD about five years ago.
People don’t buy CDs anymore,
but we’re still writing and
recording songs and what else am
I going to do?
And we love it and we still put them up. We have subscriptions now and we’re kind
of kept alive by Patreon and subscribers who want us to keep making music. At least
we have kept going doing that, although streaming has decimated the incomes for
artists.
ASA: Well, there’s no point in retiring. What would you do?
Tony: Well, that’s exactly right. I don’t know what I would do. I love writing and it’s
funny, I tend to write songs that either make you cry or make you laugh. I’m really
bad at writing songs in the middle (laughs). I wish I was better at that, because
there’s probably a chance of appealing to more people.
And a lot of my favourite performers do the same thing. Eric Bogle does the same
thing. You’re sobbing, you’ve just written the most touching anti-war song and then
five minutes later, you’re aching from laughing. I admire other people who can do
that.
ASA: Well, thanks very much Tony for having a chat to us and all the best for the
future.
Tony: Thanks very much.
Wax Lyrical Roundup ASA Yarra Valley VIC, 20 May 2021, Symphony36, Warburton VIC
ASA Sunbury VIC, 6 May 2021, Sound System Studios, Sunbury VIC
ASA Central Coast NSW, 15 March 2021, Magenta Shores Resort
ASA Newcastle NSW, 19 May 2021, Carrington Bowling Club
ASA Canberra ACT, 25 April 2021, Boardwalk Bar Belconnan ACT
ASA Central Coast NSW, 19 April 2021. Magenta Shores Resort
ASA Newcastle NSW, 17 March 2021, Carrington Bowling Club
ASA Central Coast NSW, 17 May 2021, Magenta Shores Resort
ASA Canberra ACT, 23 May 2021, Boardwalk Bar Belconnen ACT
ASA Northern Rivers NSW, 5 June 2021, Dunoon Sports Club
ASA Newcastle NSW, 16 June 2021, Carrington Bowling Club
ASA Hobart TAS, 6 June 2021, Fern Tree Tavern
ASA Canberra ACT, 27 June 2021, Boardwalk Bar Belconnen ACT ASA Hobart TAS, 4 July 2021, Fern Tree Tavern
Sponsors Profiles:
1. Major Sponsor: Wests Ashfield Leagues Club
Thanks to major sponsor, the Wests Ashfield Club.
A premier entertainment and dining venue, and home of Wests Tigers and Wests
Magpies Rugby League teams, Wests Ashfield is an excellent place to visit in
Sydney’s inner west.
Not only supporting a host of local sporting and youth-related activities, the Club lifts
itself above the rest by also being a “Patron of the Arts”, as demonstrated by its
incredible ongoing sponsorship of the ASA.
All music lovers are encouraged to return the favour by becoming members of Wests
Ashfield and, at very least, indulging yourself by enjoying some of the culinary
delights the Club has on offer.
The Club is located in Sydney’s inner west, at 115 Liverpool Road Ashfield, and
provides great dining restaurants, great coffee, and regular community activities for
members and friends. Check out the website at www.westsashfield.com.au.
The ASA would like to thank the Wests Ashfield Club for hosting a function on 16 May
for sponsors and friends of the ASA to view the online virtual 2020 National
Songwriting Awards.
2. Major Sponsor: APRA AMCOS
APRA AMCOS is a major
sponsor of the ASA, and
provides generous support,
including prize money of
$3,000 annually to the
APRA/ASA Songwriter of the
Year, which this year, was
Tony King.
The ASA would like to thank
APRA AMCOS for its continuing
support, to assist make ASA
activities, such as the
Australian Songwriting Contest
and the National Songwriting
Awards possible each year.3. Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company (STC) has
been a major force in Australian drama
since its establishment in 1978. The
Company presents an annual season of
diverse productions at its own venues at
The Wharf and nearby Roslyn Packer
Theatre at Walsh Bay, and as the
resident theatre company of the Sydney Opera House. The current Artistic Director is
Kip Williams, who was appointed in 2016.
STC offers audiences an eclectic program of Australian plays, interpretations of the
classic repertoire and the best of new international writing. It seeks to produce
theatre of the highest standard that consistently illuminates, entertains and
challenges. It is committed to the engagement between the imagination of its artists
and its audiences and the development of the theatrical art-form.
Go to www.sydneytheatre.com.au for more information.
4. Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, formerly known
as (and still commonly referred to as) Western
Plains Zoo and commonly known as Dubbo Zoo,
is a large zoo near Dubbo, New South Wales.
The zoo is run by the Taronga Conservation
Society (formerly Zoological Parks Board of New
South Wales), along with Taronga Zoo Sydney.
Western Plains Zoo is located on the Newell
Highway in west Dubbo about 4 km from the city.
For further information, go https://taronga.org.au/dubbo-zoo.
5. The Code
Katcha Live Studio has been operating for
ten years in the Sydney suburb of West Ryde,
since 2009. It is run by husband and wife
team, Cha Samaraweera and Kat Ferguson.
“We opened and dedicated to teach for one
reason and one reason only: "To get you
performing live. Whether it’s in front of your
family, friends or other audiences we want to
see you perform in confidence. The bottom line
is to be able to perform in front of many with
confidence and entertainment skills. It does
not matter how old or young you are, you
need to be able to do this if you want to learn
an instrument.” For more information, go to
www.katchamusic.com.6. Vagabond Cruises
With over three decades experience,
Vagabond Cruises is one of Sydney
Harbour's longest established cruise
companies!
“As a family run business, we deliver a
wide range of convenient and all-inclusive
packages including live entertainment lunch
and dinner cruises, private functions for any
personal or formal occasion such as weddings,
receptions, corporate events, harbour transfers, school formals, university parties
and formals, birthdays, hens and bucks parties and much, much more!”
Further information may be found on www.vagabond.com.au.
7. PaintballBookingOffice.Com
Love paintball? Then look no further than Paintball Booking Office.
Paintball Booking Office is an international organization for paint ballers, with 22
locations around Australia.
For further information, go to www.paintballbookingoffice.com.
8. James North Productions, Brisbane QLD
James North is an award-winning
Australian musician, producer,
recording and mix engineer who works
with local, national and international
acts in his boutique studio environment
in Brisbane.
James also contributes to recordings
when required as a session grade
guitarist, bass player, piano/keyboard
player and drummer. He is also a
professional songwriter, arranger and composer and these skills are used
daily in the production process.
For further information, visit www.jamesnorthproductions.com.au.9. Magesongs
Magesongs School of Songwriting
has mentored over a thousand
songwriters since 2002 some of whom
have achieved various successes and
opportunities, staffing for record labels,
APRA, signed to labels, music
publishers, while others forming
successful bands enjoying a solo performing career.
Many of Magesongs students have made the top 10 finalists at the ASA Awards,
some have been first prizes winners, and three (3) of them have taken home the
prestigious APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year Award besides Jacques Gentil himself,
their mentor.
Jacques has run workshops around major Australian cities mentoring thousands of
songwriters as well as via his Magesongs live web-conferencing portal. His
songwriting philosophy is based on applying the tools and techniques that’s proven
to have worked for successful songwriters over the past decades. With an eye and
ear for detail, Jacques knows what can make or break a song. His own songwriting
talent has given him the opportunity to collaborate with hit songwriters such as Joe
Dolce, Grammy award winners Diane Warren and Joey Kibble (Take 6) amongst
others.
His webinar classes of 20 sessions cover both the songwriting and business aspect of
a songwriter’s career, including homework while writing one song throughout the
entire course under Jacques guidance, to finally be produced in studio. If your song
has never brought you any success, why not also join the ranks of Magesongs
achievers and make a difference.
New live webinar classes starting soon.
Book now: 0417 585 767 admin@magesongs.com
Website: www.magesongs.com
P.O. Box 239, Hampton Park, VIC, 3976, Australia
10. Maton Guitars
Maton has been a premier Australian musical
instrument maker since 1946.
Maton manufactures acoustic guitars, electric
guitars, ukuleles and accessories. All Maton
instruments are hand crafted in Australia from
sustainably sourced Australian timbers.
Maton is a sponsor of the ASA, and each year,
it presents one of its beautiful acoustic guitars
as the prize for the winner of the Rudy
Brandsma Award For Songwriting Excellence.
For more information: www.maton.com.au.11. Vocal Art Studios
Established in 2003, VAS is Australia's
Award Singing & Music School and the only
Australian Partners of The Institute of
Contemporary Music Performance in Europe
as well as the leading trainers and exam
centre for Rockschool in Australia.
All Levels and Ages from Beginners to
Professionals; Children, Teens and Adults.
For more information: www.vocalartstudios.com.
12. Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium
Queensland Conservatorium is one of Australia’s leading music and performing arts
schools, offering a wide variety of specialist degrees, from classical music, jazz,
opera, popular music to musical theatre, acting and music education.
Study music and performing arts at Griffith, and you’ll learn in an environment that
will enable you to flourish. Our award-winning teachers are dedicated to producing
polished music professionals of the highest calibre. Relevant, cutting-edge courses
allow students to tailor their studies to suit their interests and aspirations.
Contact the University at www.griffith.edu.au.
13.Kix Country
If you’re a country music fan, The KIX
Country radio network is the one for you.
Broadcasting throughout Regional Australia,
KIX gives you an exceptional music choice
that you can listen to at work, at home, or
heading down the highway. So, keep it
country and turn on to KIX. For more
information, go to www.kixcountry.com.au.
14. Hal Leonard Australia
Hal Leonard Australia is part of the Hal
Leonard Corporation, which is known
internationally as the world leader in the
print music industry. Hal Leonard sells some
of the best-known music from some of the
best known Australian and International
artists. www.halleonard.com.au.15. QMusic
QMusic is Queensland's music industry
development association and has been
transforming music industry careers since
1995.
Best known internationally for our signature event, BIGSOUND, QMusic also offers
an extensive and free professional development program throughout Queensland,
and a grants program funded by Arts Queensland.
QMusic also stages the annual Queensland Music Awards to celebrate everything
that makes Queensland music great. QMusic works closely with government at all
levels, to ensure a thriving Australian music industry, and sustains partnerships with
corporate and philanthropic partners who want to support the future of Australian
music.
16. Christian Fox Accountants
Christian Fox Accountants undertake all
types of accountancy work, including
Income Tax Return preparation.
They are located at 8 Ingleburn Road
Ingleburn NSW 2565 and can be contacted
on (02) 9829 3111.
So, if you need assistance with accounting,
please contact Christian Fox Accountants.
www.
17. Ashton
Ashton musical instruments are designed in
Australia for Australian musicians.
Products include acoustic guitars, classical
guitars, electric guitars, drums, ukuleles
and accessories.
With over twenty years of experience,
Ashton’s aim is to design reliable, quality
equipment at affordable prices, in
conjunction with industry experts.
For further information go to the web site:
www.ashtonmusic.com.18. Black Pearl Studios
Black Pearl Studios offers its clients a
truly unique recording experience in a
state-of-the-art environment. The studio
was designed with the help of world-class
theoretical acousticians and environmental
sound specialists and constructed in
Melbourne by qualified Victorian builders.
The project was completed in January 2012,
and since has steadily carved a reputation
as a studio of the highest calibre, with a
gear list that would attract the envy of the
famous Abbey Road.
The fully equipped turnkey recording studio boasts two large acoustically designed
studio rooms, providing clients with an exceptional creative space and a chance to
record with an unrivalled collection of top quality gear. The services available include
live recording, mixing and production, with access to on-site services including the
legendary Black Pearl mobile studio van.
Black Pearl Studios
9/21 Capella Crescent, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189
Contact: (03) 9939 7209; 0417 356 026
Website: www.blackpearlstudios.com.au
19. IndieCentral.com
Thanks to IndieCentral.com for co-hosting this year’s Australian Songwriting Contest.
For more information on the services offered by IndieCentral.com, visit their website
at www.indiecentral.com.
20. SongCentral.net.au
Thanks to SongCentral for co-hosting this year’s
Australian Songwriting Contest.
For more information on the services offered by
SongCentral, visit their website at
www.songcentral.net.au.21. I Heart Songwriting Club
Do you suffer from writer’s block? Do you
struggle to find time to write songs in your
busy schedule? Do want to be a better
songwriter?
I Heart Songwriting Club is a totally online
songwriting club for all songwriters. Yes,
this club is about writing songs, it’s about
getting unstuck, it’s about becoming
creatively free, but it’s even more than
that. This is a global community of
songwriters supporting each other to keep
creating, to share music and to be totally
creatively satisfied. And the result of all this
is amazing songs that can change your life.
And thanks to the amazing support of the major global organisations we've
partnered with, such as APRA AMCOS (AUS/NZ), IMRO (IRE), UBC (BR), Ivors
Academy (UK), we get to work further and wider now supporting over 850
songwriters from over 22 countries to live their wildest creative dreams by writing
well over 10,000 songs! Some of those songs have been nominated for ARIA Awards,
have been played on major international radio stations, and on festival stages, but
some of those songs are debut singles!
This is bigger than just writing great songs. This is about becoming a better
songwriter.
Imagine how it would feel to be writing songs every week, sharing them with peers,
getting feedback and being a part of something bigger.
Don’t do this alone. Do this with us.
When you join I Heart Songwriting Club, you'll be part of an ongoing and online 10-
week songwriting adventure designed to help you become a more resilient,
productive and confident songwriter. Through our structured challenges and
guidelines, and peer community cheering you on your journey, we support you to
write songs fast (in 1 hour) and with a greater sense of creative freedom than you've
probably had since you were 8 years old!
A big part of the success of our community is sharing your new creations (ie songs)
within your privately assigned groups and giving feedback and encouragement to
one another. And before you start to overthink this, we show you how you can give
feedback effectively without the fear of having to be a critic. In fact, no one expects
perfection in just 1 hour of songwriting, so you can leave your critic at the door.
We love to offer other bonuses to our members, such as trainings, shout outs,
showcases, features and more. Members will be emailed about such awesomeness!
And we encourage our members to contact us too! www.iheartsongwritingclub.com.22. Bandzoogle Bandzoogle is an all-in-one website and direct-to-fan platform for musicians. Powering over 50,000 websites, the platform offers powerful design options, commission-free music, merch, and ticket sales, built-in crowdfunding and fan subscriptions, mailing list management, analytics, and more. Plans start at just $8.29 USD per month, which includes a free custom domain name. Artists can try it free at www.bandzoogle.com 23. Russell Zimmer When you need your dream song to be given its full potential to turn music industry heads …. Call Russ Zimmer for help! Whether your song started life on a train or a tractor and it’s on your i-phone, or perhaps it just lives in your note pad for now (or even a cassette – cringe!), we can take your basic lyric and music idea and turn it into the production the world is waiting for. Just send me what you have, and in the studio with our lifetime of experience we will turn it into something special for you to present to the music industry…. Call Russ Zimmer mob: 0419 311 650
24. LAWinSTYLE: Marlena Jankowska Marlena Jankowska from LAWinSTYLE is an international lawyer with 15 years of experience specialising in intellectual property law and business, with a particular focus in the fashion and music branches. She is an Author, Advocate and Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Design, Fashion and Advertisement Law at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. She advises on Intellectual Property and Business Law as well as Brand Management. Her client base has encompassed the largest organisations, while she is equally at home working with smaller businesses and individual clients drawn from many branches including fledgling artists, musicians, authors and fashion designers. As an ASA sponsor, Marlena is pleased to offer mentoring sessions on music copyright law to selected winners. Contact: +48 608 206 869; mj@lawinstyle.net Website: www.lawinstyle.net
Members News and Information
1. Support Act Limited: Musickeeper and Crewkeeper Crisis Grant Relief
In response to the additional funding announced by the Australian Government
through the Office for the Arts on 25 March 2021, Support Act has announced a new
category of crisis relief funding called Musickeeper and Crewkeeper.
As the name suggests, these one-off cash grants of $2,000 ($2,700 for families with
dependent children) are intended to cushion the blow for artists, crew and music
workers from all genres who have been receiving Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments
and who remain largely unable to earn an income due to ongoing COVID-19
restrictions.
Application forms are available on the Support Act website at www.
supportact.org.au.
2. A Few of the ASA’s Contest Judges
The ASA has over forty very-
talented and experienced
judges who judge the
Australian Songwriting Contest
each year.
We thought that we would
show you a photo of three of
the judges who gathered to
watch the 2020 virtual National
Songwriting Awards at the
Wests Ashfield Club on 16 May
2021.
From left to right, we have Martin Cilia, Australia’s premier surf rock guitarist and
member of legendary surf band, The Atlantics, as well as Mental As Anything; Ray
Butler from the 1960s bands, The Johnny O’Keefe Band and The Whispers; and
1960s pop sweetheart, Dinah Lee.
(Photo: Mandy Hall)3. Vale: Mike Bailey (1950 to 2021) Photo: Mike Bailey, pictured with his wife, Helena, at the 2019 National Songwriting Awards Mike Bailey was one of the ASA’s greatest supporters and took on the role of Master of Ceremonies at the National Songwriting Awards for many years. Mike’s media career began in the late 1960s, when he joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a cadet. Following that, he spent 13 years as a reporter and weather presenter with Channel Seven Television. He rejoined the ABC in 1984 and became best known as a trusted face in the NSW 7:00 pm TV news bulletin, presenting the weather for more than two decades. He left the broadcaster to unsuccessfully run for The Australian Labor Party against Joe Hockey in the seat of North Sydney at the 2007 federal election. Mike was honoured in last year's Queen's Birthday Honours list with an OAM. He was appointed Chairman of Wests Ashfield Leagues Club in 2011 and remained in that role until his passing. Mike is survived by wife, Helena, their son, Michael.
4. Farewell and a Big Thank You to Cairns QLD Regional Co-Ordinator,
Julia Starr
ASA Regional Co-Ordinator for Cairns QLD, Julia Starr, will be stepping aside from
her role from 1 August this year.
Julia will be using her talents to make an animated film and has booked space to
make the sets and will be fully focused on the production and directing process.
This year, Julia was selected by Screen Queensland to participate in an Ardman
Academy course and had meetings with founder/CEO Peter Lord and attended
online from Bristol, UK, to complete this. The Ardman Academy is a four times
Academy Award winning animation studio famous for its work on Wallace & Gromit,
Shaun The Sheep, Creature Comforts and Chicken Run.
Julia is also re-releasing her catalogue of over 2,000 songs, gradually, online, and
each one needs a video...
Julia will continue to write, perform and produce songs - to include in the film. In the
words of Dr Seuss: 'Oh the places you’ll go”.
The ASA Board would like to thank Julia for the excellent job that she has done for
the ASA in Cairns QLD and wish her the very best for her new undertakings.
More news on the replacement Cairns QLD Regional Co-Ordinator coming up.5. Miriam Lieberman: Just Transforming
Miriam Lieberman has just released her sixth
studio album, entitled Just Transforming, and
a new single entitled Infinite We Are.
The eight tracks on the album have all been
written by Miriam and feature a mixture of
global influences in the serene sounds.
Rolling Stone Australia calls the album “An
enthralling intoxicating piece of blissful
wonder”.
We can’t help but agree.
6. Jim Ottaway: When Eternity Touches Time
Gold Coast QLD composer and musician, Jim
Ottaway, has continued his musical success
with his album, When Eternity Touches Time.
The album has been awarded Best Electronic
Album at the 17th Annual Zone Music
Reporter Music Awards announced in New
Orleans, USA.
The complete list of award winners can be
viewed at this link...
http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/20
20award_finalists.asp
You can listen to the album of all major streaming services. Below is a link to the
album on YouTube...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lEbX4bc6EibKXlFE0WXRiPl3EznabPj
N0
ZMR is recognised as the industry source for New Age, World, Ambient, Electronic,
Solo Piano, Relaxation, Instrumental and other genres of music based in the USA,
however the awards and monthly Top 100 chart are based on world-wide reporting.Niamh Watson & Mario Spate: 2020 Winners of the Contemporary Pop/Dance Category Photo: Niamh Watson from the Central Coast of NSW and Mario Spate from Adelaide have taken out the 2020 Contemporary Pop/Dance Category with their song, Silenced (For Too Long). ASA: We have with us today, Niamh Watson, who is the winner of the 2020 Contemporary Pop/Dance Category, together with her co-writer, Marion Spate. Welcome Niamh. Niamh: Thank you for having me. ASA: Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? Niamh: I’m a seventeen year-old singer/songwriter from the Central Coast of NSW and I’ve been writing songs since I was maybe twelve. Through the years, I’ve had opportunities to work with very different musicians, writers and producers to get to the point where I am hoping to formulate a career in music. I’m so pleased to have won the Contemporary Pop Category. I couldn’t believe it. I was like in awe, I’m so happy. It’s such a great achievement for me. ASA: Now, your winning song, Silenced (For Too Long). It’s an intriguing title, what’s it all about? Niamh: So, I’ll just tell you a bit about the process as well. I had the opportunity to go into Forbes Street studios (Universal Music Group) in Sydney and work with a great producer and songwriter, Mario Spate, who lives in Adelaide, and he flew over to work with me on this.
We kind of just wanted to write a song
about lots of different experiences in life
when you feel you are able to speak up
about something that you weren’t
comfortable with or were told that you
weren’t knowledgeable enough or too
young to even understand certain stuff.
And I think for me, personally, one of the
key factors for me writing songs, as a
young person or a teenager even, is that
a lot of the time in relationships and love,
teenagers are kind of told that your
feeling isn’t actually real or you don’t
really know what love is.
I wanted to explore the idea that any
experience, no matter your age or any of
the experiences you had previously, is
valid, and you’re allowed to speak up
about it. So, that’s kind of what the song’s
about.
ASA: Does this come from personal experience at all?
Niamh: Yes definitely. I kind of just wanted to explore all the kind of notions of me,
as a young person, being told that I’m not really aware of the world and I don’t know
everything because I’ve not experienced it. And I think the song kind of formed from
that feeling that it’s OK to speak up about what you think is right and what you think
is true and that your opinion is valid.
ASA: So, it’s a co-written song. Can you tell us a bit about your co-writer?
Niamh: Mario Spate is a producer from Adelaide and I believe he’s worked with one
of my favourite artists, Montaigne. He’s a great person overall and so talented and
I’m pleased to have been able to work with him. He is certainly someone to be
praised for his incredible talent.
ASA: So, did you bring the idea for the song to him to work on or was it a totally
joint collaboration?
Niamh: We wrote from scratch but I went in with a bit of an idea. I had some brain-
storm kind of things that I brought in from ideas that I was coming up with but I
think it totally was 50/50. It was probably one of the coolest ways to write a sing,
really, and I think it was the first experience that I have had writing from scratch in
a studio and also recording it on the same day. And kind of writing a bit and
recording and coming back and producing and things like that.
It was really cool to just collaborate and have a 50/50 balance in that kind of setting.
It was really full-on. It was like eight hours or so just in the studio, and now I’ve had
more experience, it was good to have that first experience turn out so well with the
song.ASA: Obviously, you can’t go out to perform at the moment, but are you usually a performing songwriter? Niamh: Yes, I’ve maybe been doing this since I was twelve or thirteen and I’ve had a fair amount of experience with performing and things like that. Obviously, due to COVID, I’ve not been out so much. So hopefully once that vaccines are rolled out and people are able to go back to their normal lives, or as normal as it can be, hopefully I’ll be able to do some more touring and things like that which I’ve not been able to do. ASA: What do you see as your future? Would you like to become a full-time musician and perform that way? Niamh: Yes, definitely. I have some goals to make a living. I’ve always said that even if I wasn’t making money, I would still do songwriting and be a musician, because that’s my passion. I’m hoping to become an artist and I’ve actually changed my artist name. It’s still Niamh (pronounced Neave) but it now spelled “Neav” and I’m going to be releasing the track that won this award. I hope to continue my career as an artist and songwriter and I hope to be able to share my music and make people feel something with the music and share my emotions and my thoughts and feelings through my songs. A big dream of mine would be to tour around, make a living off something that I’m really passionate about and be able to sustain myself financially as well. It’s obviously a big bonus because I would enjoy music anyway even if I wasn’t able to have it as a job. ASA: Thanks Niamh and all the best.
Latest Music Releases From ASA Members And Friends If you have any new music releases, let us know and we’ll feature them here.
Mark Cawley’s Monthly Songwriting Blog HIT CHORUS = HIT SONG Chorus First You can’t have too many tools in your songwriting toolbox and this is one of my favorites. So you’ve hit a wall, your approach to songwriting is starting to seem like too much of the same thing, the usual method is getting stale. Try forgetting about everything else in your song but the chorus. Seriously. Just focus on those huge 4 to 8 lines that are going to be the most memorable part of what a listener hears. I would call myself a title writer and could also add that I’m a chorus writer first a lot of the time. I’m looking for an interesting title and I know that title is going to be an integral piece of the chorus and I also know I’m probably going to use it more than once. Not a hard and fast rule by any means but a good place to start. In coaching songwriters, I’m always pointing them to the idea of settling on their title followed by writing a short bit of prose. What’s the song going to be about? The big idea? That’s you're prose. That’s also going to be what your chorus reflects. It’s common knowledge that a listener picks up on the melody of your chorus first followed closely by the title of your song and as much of the chorus lyric as they need to sing along. Only makes sense that if something is that important it’s worth being your main focus. I was told a few years back by a pretty well-known hitmaker that he always starts with a chorus. When I asked why he replied, “If you don’t have a hit chorus you don’t have a hit song”. Again, not suggesting this is the only way to go about writing your own hit but it’s one great tool to try.
Almost Home I’ve always felt that if I had a chorus that felt great that I was 75% home. Almost as if I could fill in the blanks in the verses, pre-chorus, post-chorus, or bridge. I’ve even gone so far as to start right out putting my chorus idea in bold print so my eye always comes back to it as I write the rest of my song. Am I still following my prose? No rabbit trail detours from my main point? And most of all is my chorus all about the big idea? Repetition is another valuable option as you’re putting together your chorus. For instance. You might try drawing four lines and putting your title in line one and line four. Now you only have two lines to fill in. Take the same approach with an eight- line chorus. The title is the first line, 4th line, 5th line, and 8th line. Just one way of going about it but you can see the major role your title might play in your chorus. Can you overuse the title? Maybe, but the more you can use it in your chorus the easier it is for a listener to instantly learn your song. Listen to your favorite songs to see how these choruses are put together to help you build your own. No rules here and there are tons of exceptions to the idea of the importance of the big, fat hit chorus but it is hard to deny the role it plays in most popular music. Multiple Hooks We’re in an age of multiple hooks. Your intro should be a hook along with every other part of your song but, there is no more important hook than your chorus, so why not start there? Hit chorus hit song. Mark Cawley Nashville Tennessee Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker to Wynonna Judd and Paul Carrack to The Spice Girls and many more. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, In Tune Magazine, and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Load Out The song in the picture below has been doing the rounds now for almost fifty years. If you were in your teens at the time, then you’re most likely a senior citizen now. Scary, isn’t it? If you can’t work out the joke, just Google “Stealers Wheel”.
Official Sponsors of the Australian Songwriting Contest
About Us:
The Australian Songwriters Association Inc. is a national, not-for-profit,
member organization, dedicated to the support of songwriters and their
art, by providing avenues for encouragement and education of developing
Australian songwriters, and recognition and promotion of our
accomplished members.
Aims of the Association:
To celebrate the art of songwriting;
To assist and encourage developing Australian songwriters;
To provide information and general advice to members;
To create performance opportunities for members;
To aid the professional development of members;
To enable members to meet and/or exchange ideas and information;
To facilitate member transition into the established music industry;
To facilitate delivery of member services at a National, State and Regional
level;
To salute our best songwriters at major industry events such as our National
Songwriting Awards Night.
History of the ASA:
The Association was founded in Melbourne VIC in August 1979 by the late Tom Louch
(1932-2009) and the late Rudy Brandsma (1944-1983), who saw the need for an
organisation that would bring Australian songwriters together.
Today, the Association has a vibrant membership Australia-wide and enjoys an
established and respected role within the music industry.
The ASA’s membership is diverse and embraces and explores all genres of music.
Contact Us:
Mail: 2/2 Rawson Street Newtown NSW 2042 Australia
Phone/Fax: (02) 9516 4960
Email: asanationaloffice@asai.org.au
Website: www.asai.org.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asamusicians
www.facebook.com/australiansongwritersassociation
Youtube: www.youtube.com/austsongwriters
Patron: Glenn A Baker
Life Members: Tom Louch, Rudy Brandsma, Russell Zimmer, Dominic Crea,
Marie Murphy, Colleen Zulian, Alex Bialocki, Rob Fairbairn,
Brian Henderson Ward and Kieran Roberts.Directors:
Denny Burgess Chairman
Alan Gilmour Vice Chairman, Public Officer, Financial Officer, Online Content
Manager and Editor of The Australian Songwriter Magazine
Clare Burgess Director, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
Gary Luck Director and Manager of Regional Co-Ordinators
Regional Co-Ordinators:
Ana Key Canberra ACT anak@asai.org.au
Angelo Pash Adelaide SA angelop@asai.org.au
Brian Ward Melbourne VIC brianw@asai.org.au
Brendan Smoother Northern Rivers NSW brendans@asai.org.au
Chris Fisher Northern Rivers NSW chrisf@asai.org.au
Hugh Brown Brisbane QLD hughb@asai.org.au
Jane Cornes-Maclean Perth WA janecm@asai.org.au
Jo Dunning Blue Mountains NSW jod@asai.org.au
Julia Marr Cairns & Tablelands QLD juliam@asai.org.au
Kerrie Garside Sunshine Coast QLD kerrieg@asai.org.au
Lisa Sutton Dalby QLD lisas@asai.org.au
Marcus Cassells Ballarat/Goldfields VIC marcusc@asai.org.au
Maria Harkins Gippsland VIC mariah@asai.org.au
Matt Sertori Hobart TAS matts@asai.org.au
Melinda J Wells Wide Bay Burnett QLD melindajw@asai.org.au
Melissa Black South East QLD melissab@asai.org.au
Michelle Parsons Sunbury VIC michellep@asai.org.au
Paul Vella Central Coast NSW paulv@asai.org.au
Russell Neale Sydney NSW russelln@asai.org.au
Sandy Bennett Newcastle NSW sandyb@asai.org.au
Wendy J Barnes Yarra Valley VIC wendyb@asai.org.au
Webmaster:
Dean Mackin, F1 Internet Services, (0409 240 660)
2020 APRA/ASA Australian Songwriter of the Year
Tony King (NSW)
2020 Rudy Brandsma Award Winner
Cathy Dobson (VIC)
2020 ASA Regional Co-Ordinator Of The Year:
Ana Key (Canberra ACT)Australian Songwriters Hall Of Fame: 2020: Colin Hay (Men At Work) 2019: Andrew “Greedy” Smith & Martin “Plaza” Murphy (Mental As Anything) 2018: Iva Davies (Icehouse) 2017: Vikki Thorn, Donna Simpson & Josh Cunningham (The Waifs) 2016: Andrew Farris and Michael Hutchence (INXS) 2015: Johnny Young 2014: Kate Ceberano 2013: Garth Porter (Sherbet) 2012: Don Walker (Cold Chisel) 2011: Steve Kilbey (The Church) 2010: Richard Clapton 2009: Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock) 2008: Doc Neeson, John Brewster & Rick Brewster (The Angels) 2007: Brian Cadd 2006: Glenn Shorrock, Beeb Birtles & Graeham Goble (Little River Band) 2005: Russell Morris 2004: Harry Vanda, George Young & Stevie Wright (The Easybeats) Lifetime Achievement Award: 2017: Christine Anu, for her work as a Songwriter in the Music Industry for First Nations Peoples 2020 Australian Songwriting Contest Category Winners: Eric Read (QLD) Australia Category Jemma Siles and Cyrus Villa (VIC) Ballad Category Tony King (NSW) Comedy/Novelty Category Niamh Watson and Mario Spate (NSW) Contemporary Pop/Dance Category Katrina Burgoyne (USA) Country Category Renee Jonas, Robert Pearce, Craig Cooke and Allan Caswell (NSW) Folk/Acoustic Category John Robinson, Bukhchuluun Ganburged, Peter Kennard and Bertie McMahon (NSW) Instrumental/World Music Category Tony King (NSW) Lyrics Category Aniesha Hunt and James Feagai (QLD) Open Category Michael McGee and Michael Kachani (USA) Rock/Indie Category Stephen Kiely & Roxanne Kiely (NSW) Songs For Children Category Susan Muranty and Renee Jonas (NSW) Spiritual Category Lucy Parle (NSW) Youth Category
Australian Songwriters Of The Year & Rudy Brandsma Award Winners:
Songwriters Of The Year Rudy Brandsma Award Winners
2020 Tony King Cathy Dobson
2019 Steve Montgomery Tiffany Gow
2018 Anirban Banerjee Lola Brinton
2017 Steve Montgomery Samantha Mooney
2016 Donna Dyson & Damien Leith Alex Tobin
2015 Karen Guymer George Begbie
2014 Rick Hart Robert McIntosh
2013 Jacques Gentil Dani Karis
2012 Andrew Winton Melia & Nerida Naughton
2011 Brian Chapman Katie Hardyman
2010 Kate Rowe Karen Guymer
2009 Tony King Kate Lush
2008 Jason Campbell-Smith Jo-Kelly Stephenson
2007 Simon Shapiro Brenda-Lee Heathcote
2006 Emma Joleen Daniel Arvidson
2005 Michael Maher K’Crasher
2004 Trish Delaney-Brown Callee Mann
2003 Contest Not Held Contest Not Held
2002 Kyls Burtland Sara Downs
2001 Helen Mottee Keith Armitage
2000 Andrew Horabin Tomino Speciale
1999 Alf Tuohy Mike Kidd
1998 Kyls Burtland Not Known
1997 Xanthe Littlemore Michael Waugh
1996 Mark Crocker Felicity Hunt
1995 Rob Pippan Sharon Bothe
1994 Danny Hooper & Steve Cole Nigel Foote
1993 Not Known Billy Dettmer
1992 Not Known John Cooney
1991 Not Known Not Known
1990 Ian Paulin Jane Robertson
1989 Steve Wade Not Known
1988 Steve Wade Steve Wade
1987 Not Known Not Known
1986 Rob Stambulic Stu Storm
1985 Ross Nicholson & John Coco Steve Wade
1984 Not Known Debbie Bignell & Tony Stark
1983 Chris Lamech & Debbie Bignell Chris Lamech & Debbie Bignell
1982 Not Known Commenced in 1983
1981 Not Known Commenced in 1983
1980 Not Known Commenced in 1983
1979 Commenced in 1980 Commenced in 1983
This publication is © 2021 by The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.,
ABN 12 140 838 710, and may not be re-used without permission. The
views expressed in this magazine are the views of the writers and may not
necessarily reflect the views of the ASA. The ASA acknowledges and thanks
all sources from which information for this magazine has been obtained.You can also read
