Exclusive opportunity to e-meet Plested – Tuesday 7th September at 6pm

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We’ve teamed up with YouTube Music to create an exclusive opportunity to meet Plested & ask him questions about his songwriting & experience in the music industry.  Plus you’ll learn how to get the most from the YouTube platform and be inspired by performances from a couple of talented young songwriters.

Phil Plested, who performs as “Plested” is a singer/songwriter from Croxley Green, Hertfordshire. He began writing songs at school (Rickmansworth) and was scouted at a talent show and signed to Island Records. He’s spent the past several years penning songs for some of pop music’s biggest names, including Lewis Capaldi (“Hollywood” and the UK and US Radio #1 “Before You Go”), Little Mix (the UK Top 5 single “Touch”) and Kygo (“Remind Me To Forget” ft. Miguel & “Lose Somebody” ft. One Republic). Phil most recently co-wrote “Leave Before You Love Me” for Marshmello x Jonas Brothers as well as the Anne-Marie & Niall Horan duet “Our Song”. He is in the studio with Lewis Capaldi, Dermot Kennedy, Niall Horan & Clean Bandit to name a few.

This online event on Tuesday 7th September, 6pm to around 7:15pm is for aspiring young songwriters aged 8-18 worldwide. Limited places available. To reserve your place (it’s free to attend) send an email to contact@songacademy.co.uk

New song production & recording workshops launched!

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We’re super excited to announce the launch of our new song production & recording workshops and 121 sessions!  Although we focus on the art of songwriting, we believe that it’s important for young songwriters at a minimum to learn how to make their recording sound clear enough to hear the individual parts – the listener doesn’t want to miss out on hearing your amazing lyrics!

We encourage all young songwriters to develop a knowledge of production as it opens up a new creative dimension to songwriting across different genres and helps to enhance the impact of a song.

It’s important to note that you do not need incredible production skills and a top mix in order to submit a successful song to The Young Songwriter competition, many of the best songs ever written would still be just as good whether they were produced fully or just played on one instrument!

Check out our production & recording workshops and opportunities for 121 sessions, for those who are new to producing & recording their songs, and opportunities for more advanced young producers.

What do you need to start producing your songs at home?

Here are some examples of home studio setups, with 1 being the most simple and 5 being the most complex.

  1. The most simple – recording yourself performing your song using either the voice memo app on your phone or a tape recorder to capture the raw performance as it sounds in the room.
  2. Using a USB microphone with your computer to capture your performance, possibly adding a few simple effects after the fact to enhance the recording.
  3. Using music production software/a DAW to record the individual parts of your song separately. For example, a USB microphone and an adaptor/cable to connect a guitar/keyboard/MIDI keyboard directly into your computer, resulting in multiple recorded tracks that will be mixed together.
  4. Music production software/DAW using an audio interface, allowing for multiple instruments/voices to be recorded at once either by plugging microphones into the XLR inputs or jack leads into Hi-Z inputs. This can be combined with multiple virtual instruments controlled via MIDI in the DAW.
  5. A full studio setup, including 16 or more input channels, giving you the ability to record several instruments with multiple microphones, including live drums, live piano, guitar amps and strings, at the same time. This setup may also include a MIDI interface in order to control several synths and/or drum machines at the same time. This would also usually be accompanied by a monitoring setup that allows for multiple headphone mixes for different musicians.

Some of the most well known brands for home studio setup audio interfaces include Focusrite, Universal Audio, M-Audio and Presonus. The pros and cons will depend entirely on your needs, but it’s a good idea to research every bit of kit as thoroughly as possible as they all have their own unique selling points. As for microphones, the most well known brands are Shure, Rode, AKG, Audio Technica and Sennheiser. As with the audio interfaces, it’s a good idea to research microphones, and it may be more important as different microphones work better for different sources. A microphone that is good for vocals, may not be great for mic’ing a guitar amp, for example.

Why use a USB microphone?  The first step up from using your phone to record voice memos would be a USB microphone. These range in price and quality, but typically will sound better than a phone microphone or standard computer microphone. You can use it to record the different parts of your song in separately, then mix them together in a DAW, which brings us to the next question…

Why use a DAW?  A Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW, is a piece of software that allows for the recording, layering and processing of audio files. It is the heart of most modern setups, and DAWs are a cheaper, efficient alternative to expensive large format mixing consoles. Some bigger studios may still use traditional style consoles, but many will still record into a DAW via an audio interface instead of recording to tape.

Why use an audio interface?  Audio interfaces have many benefits over USB microphones or plugging a microphone directly into your computer. First of all, they are dedicated units that are built to record audio at a high quality without introducing unwanted noise or artefacts that you might get when using USB microphones. Most interfaces also have independent gain controls so you can set the gain of your microphone and get a comfortable level using a physical control on the interface itself. Audio interfaces can also have multiple inputs, something which isn’t usually possible (or is very difficult) without using one, so they increase the possibilities of your studio with each extra input. Lastly, most interfaces use XLR and jack inputs, that allow you to easily plug in a variety of instruments or microphones, including guitars, keyboards, drum machines. If the interface has a phantom power feature, it means you don’t have to have an extra phantom power supply for your microphone.”

We’re looking forward to helping you start your journey as a young producer and develop your production skills.  Click here for song production & recording workshops dates and the various 121 sessions we offer.

 

How to win The Young Songwriter 2022 competition

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Every year we get asked the questions “what type of song should I enter into The Young Songwriter competition?” and “do you have any songwriting tips?” so we thought we would put together some ideas and guidelines to help you write a winning song!

We believe the key way to raise your songwriting game is practice – write more and more songs and get feedback on how you’re doing.  Take on different ideas and challenges.  Write songs on your own and collaborate with others who have different skills sets to spark ideas off each other.

As well as running The annual Young Songwriter competition, we inspire many aspiring young songwriters throughout the year and help make sure their songs are the best they can be by offering an insightful song feedback service, weekly online and in-person songwriting clubs in term-time and online/in-person holiday workshops throughout the year.  Being part of a vibrant community helps to raise everyone’s songwriting level.  In addition, across our social media platforms we offer songwriting tips and challenges to accelerate your songwriting progress.

The main things that we listen out for when judging The Young Songwriter competition entries are originality, captivating melodies, evocative lyrics, a coherent structure, a catchy chorus, emotive performances, clever use of rhyme, invention, a sense of anticipation, and strong concepts.  The songs can be in any genre.

It’s important to say at the outset that songs which break all the rules and defy any expectation  can be the biggest hits of all! Therefore, in as much as there are so called ‘rules’, feel free to bend and break them if you feel inspired to!

The power of songwriting is that no matter what inspired the songwriter to write a song, the listener interprets the song in their own unique way, and finds strength from the message and connection.

 

Here are some elements of the songwriting process which we think are important:

Have a strong theme/concept

One of the key components, and biggest challenges, of songwriting is trying to express common, relatable feelings in an original and interesting way. The more inventive you can be when describing your feelings or experiences (for example, the pressures and joys of growing up and living in our society), the better. It’s a great way to boost self-respect and self-identify through song, and to talk about issues you are passionate about in an engaging way.

Young Songwriter competition entries cover a huge spectrum of topics, from personal experiences and feelings, to wider issues involving the writer’s communities, or even the entire world. Looking back on prior years, a popular theme was the state of the planet and awareness of environmental issues such as climate change. Another theme that came up a lot was mental health, with songs exploring anxieties, depression, drugs, death and high expectations. We also received many entires that explored the need be who you are, embrace your individuality and go for your dreams. Many songs took a stand for equality and freedom from barriers. Love and heartbreak always feature highly in Young Songwriter entries, with many different spins: we broke up, we’re breaking up, we’re about to break up, we’re not going to break up, I wish I could break up with you, we didn’t break up, I wish I had someone to break up with. Also, songs about the pain of toxic relationships and unrequited love.

But not all songs have to be dramatic and poignant – many people wrote songs about aspects of everyday life, like nature, sunlight, boredom, society, the stars, anything! Through lyrics and harmony the seemingly banal can sometimes be lifted onto another plain. It is great to be able to find inspiration in ordinary things, and it’s an amazing skill to be able to present those things in a way that people find exciting.

 

Come up with an interesting song title

A song title is almost like a book cover, so make it interesting! Compare a heartbeat to a flashing light or the feeling of losing fear by roaring it away – the more inventive the concept around the ordinary, the better. Think of recent hits Dark Horse, Wrecking Ball, Pompeii – interesting titles and concepts talking about everyday feelings to do with fear, love and empowerment. It can also be a good way to start a song, having a strong title that sets the theme of the song can inspire more lyrics around it!

We’ve had many interesting song titles in The Young Songwriter competition past entries, including; Biting Into Ice, Concrete Sheets, Sneaks & Geeks, Dead Plants, Like Lava, T-shirt, Packet Full Of Noodles, Armour, Paperclips, Shine in the Darkness, Blue Fingertips, Burnt Peaches, Lies In Makeup, Sungrazer, Hijacked By Parasites, Reset, Little Alchemy, Dopamine, Me Myself and I, Mrs Ocean, Keyboard Warrior, Battlecry, Muddy Clear, Growing Gills, Swim Against The Stream, Muddy Boots & Messy Hair, Ode To Ego, Painting With Colour, Helvetica, Puppeteer, Head Full Of Clouds, Same Blood, Mindless Town, Can’t Buy Forgiveness, Cat And Mouse, Fading Rainbow, The Taste Of Dust.

 

Have a good song structure

Here’s an example of a great song structure:

Introduction — An opening passage, either instrumental or vocals without lyrics

Verse I — Introduces the song’s message and sets the scene

— 4 to 8 bars long

Pre Chorus — Link between the verse and chorus
— Builds up both melodically and lyrically

— 2 or 4 bars

Chorus — Main message of the song
— Catchiest part and most memorable part of the song (normally includes a ‘hook’)
— Most dynamic part of the song

Verse II — Continuing the explanation of the song

— Solidifying the message and introducing new imagery

— Lyrics change, melody stays broadly the same as verse 1, but you can tweak it a bit to keep it interesting!

Bridge or Middle Eight — A contrasting section that brings the song to a new level

— Rhythmically and melodically the song changes

— Looking at the message from a different view point
— Can build up tension leading up to the climax of the song

Chorus — Repeat (can add hooks to the outro of it)
Outro — The closing passage. It can be instrumental or vocal

 

Write engaging lyrics

Young Songwriter finalists write lyrics that show the listener a scene unfolding rather than simply telling the listener how they feel. American songwriter Jason Blume, who has had hits with Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, says whilst there are no rules to songwriting, there are tools to help you craft that perfect hit. And all you need is a simple AID – action, imagery, detail.

Action:

Use verbs (action or doing words) to help illustrate what is going on in your song. For example, instead of saying ‘I miss you and I’m sad’, try and show what missing someone and being sad looks like :

  • ‘I wipe the tears falling from my eyes’
  • ‘I clutch a tear stained picture of you’
  • ‘I drove by where we first met’
  • ‘I couldn’t walk through the door where we said our last goodbye’

The action words are ‘wipe’ ‘clutch’ ‘drove’ ‘walk’.

And instead of saying ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m in love’, why not show what a person in love does?

  • ‘I wrote our names inside a heart, engraved upon a tree’
  • ‘I hand picked and carried home 100 flowers for you and put a vase in every room’
  • ‘I sing your name like a favourite song’

The action words are ‘wrote’ ‘picked’ ‘carried’ and ‘sing’.

Write a list of action words down before starting on your next song and try and use at least 5 of them in your next song to show what your feeling.

Imagery:

Blume says ‘whilst you cannot see heartbreak you can see the images and actions that convey that a person is heartbroken’:

  • ‘She fell to her knees, laying flowers on his grave’
  • ‘He kisses her photo’
  • ‘His tears hit the floor like a waterfall of pain’

The images are ‘knees’ ‘flowers’ ‘grave’ ‘photo’ ‘tears’ ‘floor’ ‘waterfall’. Blume also states that by including ‘tangible items’ and nouns in your lyrics like ‘furniture, clothing, a car, a house, a specific place, food’, you enable your audience to enter your song.

Along with your list of action words, try and write down a list of images and every day nouns to try and include in your next song.

Detail: 

This is the third part of AID that will help you to show your listener what is going on in your song. This time we’re searching for adjectives (describing words) and adverbs (describing verbs) to help the listener visualise your song more clearly. For example, if we were to go one step further with some of our examples from the Imagery section above and add a bit more detail to the floor, or the grave, you have something like this…

  • ‘She falls to her knees on the cold, muddy ground and lays white lilies on his grave’
  • ‘He tenderly kisses the photo of their wedding day in his old rocking chair’
  • ‘His bitter tears slowly hit the wooden floor of his kitchen, like a cascading waterfall of pain’

Even with a few additional adjectives and adverbs, the scenes are much clearer to visualise; you can hear the creak of the old rocking chair, you can taste the bitter tears that fall onto the floor and see him in the kitchen, you can feel the cold muddy ground that she falls to – instantly you have transported your listener directly into the scene of your song, as if they are there with the singer, watching over what is happening.

So next time you’re stuck for lyrics, all you need is a little AID to help you on your way!

 

Play around with new melodies and chord sequences

Play around with different combinations until your find the melody you’re looking for. Choose a key for your song and then try out the I, IV and V primary chords as well as the  II III, VI and VII chords.

Make sure your chorus stands out from your verses with different melodies and chords.

Hooks
It has been said that the most successful ABBA songs have 5 hooks in each of their songs. A hook is a musical idea, melodic instrumental part, rhythmic phrase or a vowel/consonant sound or word repeated, that catches the ear of the listener to draw them into the song and helps to create its ‘catchiness’. According to popular commercial music today, the more hooks you can introduce throughout the song, the catchier it will be, because it’s constantly enticing the listener and, most importantly, keeping them interested. Listen to the start of Dancing Queen and the vocal ‘ahh’s and piano part before the hooky first line of the chorus, or Jessie J’s Price Tag (It’s all about the money, money, money/We don’t need your money, money, money). Other songs with simple but strong hooks include One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa, or Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.

A lot of hooks are incredibly simple and may even be made by manipulating vocal parts, cutting them up or re-pitching them in an interesting way, songs that do this include Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith, or Stay High (the Hippie Sabotage remix of Habits) by Tove Lo. Try and think about hooks for your own song, either lyrically, melodically or instrumentally. They can be incredibly simple and consist of a couple of notes, or a bit more interesting, just make sure they stick in your head!

 

Rhythm

Rhythm is an important part of many songs, it’s what makes people dance, or makes them nod their head and tap their feet. A solid rhythm can be a hook in itself, and it will lay the foundation on which to base the rest of your song around. It will also determine what kind of song it is, is it a fun, dancey song that makes you want to dance, like Get Lucky by Daft Punk? Or is it a slow, wistful song that people will sway along to, like Imagine by John Lennon? It could even be a fast, uptempo song that sounds exciting and triumphant, like Feel The Love by Rudimental ft John Newman.  If the aim is to make the listener dance, try writing a song to the BPM of 120. If you’re writing a romantic acoustic song, experiment with different time signatures like 6/8 as this will get people swaying along to your song!

Another thing to experiment with is using triplets, it can open up a whole new world of melodic and rhythmic possibilities! A good example that we mentioned in the previous section about hooks is Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith, you’ll hear the hi hat doing triplet rhythms where traditionally for that genre you would expect an even number of hi hats (either quarter notes, eighth notes or sixteenth notes).

Beats and rhythms also don’t have to be perfectly on beat, and often a beat that makes you want to dance will be a ‘swing’ or ‘shuffle’ rhythm, this is a technique that changes the length of notes to create a more uneven but interesting rhythm. An example of a swung rhythm is Ex’s and Oh’s by Elle King, hear how some of the hits are slightly late which gives a driving feel to the song.

 

Production

The Young Songwriter competition entries are mainly judged on the song itself rather than the production, but there are some entries that use the production to help present their song in a stronger way. For example, a more pop/electronic entry might rely on solid drum sounds and more bass than an acoustic entry. Both are totally acceptable approaches and it’s important to note that you do not need incredible production skills and a top mix in order to submit a successful song, many of the best songs ever written would still be just as good whether they were produced fully or just played on one instrument!

 

Recording

We receive many different styles of recordings, many people record themselves at home, even in their bedroom with a phone! We understand that not everyone has access to recording studios or fancy equipment, and much like the production, if your song is strong it will shine even without an expensive or time consuming recording process. The most important thing is that the recording is clear enough for our judges to hear the individual parts, try to avoid recording in noisy environments that may make your recording difficult to hear, or distract from the song itself. You can record elements separately and combine them in a DAW (SoundTrap, Logic, Pro Tools, Reaper, Ableton or any other suitable software) or record with one microphone in one go, whichever you feel most comfortable with!  If recording onto voice memos be sure to sing as clearly as possible as the judges don’t want to miss out on hearing your amazing lyrics. That goes for all recordings.

 

THE POWER OF SONGWRITING IS THAT NO MATTER WHAT INSPIRED THE SONGWRITER TO WRITE A SONG, THE LISTENER INTERPRETS THE SONG IN THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY, AND FINDS STRENGTH FROM THE MESSAGE AND CONNECTION.

 

Remember to check out our insightful song feedback service to make sure your songs are the best they can be before entering The Young Songwriter 2022 competition!  Entries can be sent from 1st February to 31st March 2022.  We also run online songwriting clubs and holiday workshops throughout the year.  In addition, across our social media platforms we offer songwriting tips and challenges to accelerate your songwriting progress.

 

 

 

The Young Songwriter 2021 winners are announced!

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Songs reveal the hearts & minds of young people after a year in lockdown.  Impressive originality, creativity & musical bravery displayed.  Young creators across the world unite.

Star Judges include Fraser T Smith, Tom Odell, Miranda Cooper, Chris Difford,
Calum Scott, Midge Ure, Tom Grennan & Michelle Escoffery

Drumroll please! The winners of the hotly contested Song Academy Young Songwriter (SAYS) 2021 competition have now been revealed. This year’s competition attracted over 1,000 entries from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-18 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song.  As in previous years 70% of entrants were girls.  13% of entries were in the international categories and 70% were from 13-18 year olds.  Entries from the UK/Ireland were widespread with 65% outside London.

The Young Songwriter competition stands for the craft and art of songwriting in its purest form, enabling young songwriters to aspire to the very best melody, lyric, structure, concept, harmony, mood and impact a song can have. It inspires young people to think about and speak up about things that are important to them personally, in their community and in the wider world and get their voices heard. It’s a supportive community where young people feel brave and can express themselves, celebrate individuality and be themselves. The benefits from this unique community are far reaching, especially the positive boost to mental health.

What makes a sensational song is ultimately subjective. The winners were selected as they stood out for being special and original. Emily Phillips, renown songwriter and chair of The Young Songwriter 2021 judging panel said, “Chairing the judges this year was an exciting and stimulating experience!  To hear the feedback and thoughts of such renowned writers, producers and artists was fascinating.  The selection process was hotly debated as strong opinions clashed over different genres of music, reinforcing the fact that this is not an exact science but equally, that the winning songs were recognised and applauded for their artistry, inspiration and craft.  The standard was very high this year, so a huge congratulations to the winners and runners up!”

Michelle Escoffery, President of the PRS Members’ Council and SAYS21 judge, said:  “The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2021 competition is an incredibly valuable platform for helping the next generation of music creators develop their skills and build confidence in the profession. This year’s submissions have been filled with some fantastic original and interesting new music, that really captures the imagination and most importantly, reflects the resilience displayed by these songwriters over the past year. I want to thank all of the applicants for sharing their creations with us and a huge congratulations to those who have made the top three in each category. I look forward to seeing what you all do next and wish you the very best of luck in your careers.”

Goto the Song Academy SoundCloud account to listen to the finalists’ songs!   The Young Songwriter 2021 live showcase will be held at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London on Saturday 25th September 2021.

Fraser T Smith (songwriter, producer and SAYS21 judge) says “With so much going on in the world, it’s never been more vital for young people to be able to channel their energy and emotions into something positive, which is what The Young Songwriter competition encourages and facilitates through songwriting. Every young person has something to say, a story to tell, or a message to share – that’s why Song Academy is so important to our community.”

The SAYS21 winners were announced on a live stream with SAYS21 judges Tom Odell, Emily Phillips, Hannah V and Janet Devlin joining the live stream. Have a listen to Tom Odell talking about how he writes his songs and tips for young songwriters.

TOP 3 SAYS21 SONGS – 13-18 YEAR OLDS, UK/IRELAND

1st Place.  ALL IT TAKES – HETTA FALZON
2nd Place. WE’RE NOT LONELY ANYMORE – LEXIE CARROLL 
3rd Place.  LAYING ON MARS – BENJAMIN FRERE

TOP 3 SAYS21 SONGS – 8-12 YEAR OLDS, UK/IRELAND

1st Place. GIRL IN THE DRESS – LOIS BROOKS
2nd Place.  FIREFLIES – LILY CRIDDLE
3rd Place. ILLUSION – JOHNNY BEAU

TOP 3 SAYS21 SONGS – 13-18 YEAR OLDS, INTERNATIONAL

1st Place.  STARDUST – KELTY PARKER
2nd Place.  LOST MYSELF – JO MACKENZIE
3rd Place.  PEOPLE LIKE YOU – PIP LEWIS

TOP 3 SAYS21 SONGS – 8-12 YEAR OLDS INTERNATIONAL

1st Place. MY FRIEND IN MIAMI – VENICE AND BELLE HERRERA
2nd Place.  COLOURFUL – EVANGELINE DURUPT
3rd Place. TALK – BENJAMIN MAGRO

Listen to all Top Finalists songs on the Song Academy Soundcloud account

Quotes from The Young Songwriter 2021 finalists:

Benjamin “It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are or how much equipment you have. Someone who just has a guitar and a voice has just as much opportunity and chance as someone with a full size music studio.”

Charlie “allows people from all areas and walks of life to share their music with people and spread messages and emotion through music. There is also such an incredible judging panel and team behind the competition and it’s great to see that they are all just as excited as the entrants.”

Jacob “What I like most about The Young Songwriter is the community it creates between songwriters.”

Hetta “It’s a really cool way to listen to what other people your age are writing and I’ve discovered so many songs that I love just from the Song Academy playlist. I also like how it is judged purely on the song and not the quality of recording or production which means anyone can enter.”

Hatty “This is a fantastic platform for songwriters to be heard and to learn from.”

Morietnez “Inspires us to be brave to express our feelings and be ourselves.”

James “I like how the competition pushes young people and encourages creativity, allowing songs that might not otherwise be out there, a chance to shine.”

Conor “It’s really open minded with the music it takes into the competition. There is a list of genres, from rock to rap! It’s really incredible, and a great experience!”

Faye “I love how it gives a supportive space for young songwriters like me from all over the world. I also really like how we can listen to each other’s entries to hear the diversity and uniqueness of each individual song writer.”

Venice & Bella “It’s easy to enter and you don’t have to record in a fancy studio or have expensive equipment. It’s genuinely about the song and you feel truly heard.”

This year’s panel of award winning judges includes:

Fraser T Smith (Stormzy, Dave, Adele, Drake, Sam Smith), Tom Odell, Chris Difford, Tom Grennan, Michelle Escoffery, Calum Scott, Hannah V, Dan Gillespie Sells, Janet Devlin, Eg White (Adele, Duffy, Take That, Pink), Sacha Skarbek (James Blunt, Miley Cyrus, Adele, Jason Mraz, Duffy), Paul Adam (Dannii Minogue, Amy MacDonald & A&R Director at Island Records), Emily Phillips (Rizzle Kicks, Florence and the Machine, Sigrid, John Newman, Madison Beer, SOAK), Miranda Cooper (Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Pet Shop Boys, Alesha Dixon), Simon Aldred (Sam Smith, Rag’n’Bone Man, Avicii) and Iain Archer (Bugg, Sea Girls, Lisa Hannigan, Liam Gallagher, James Bay, Snow Patrol, Niall Horan).

Rowena Atkins, Founder of Song Academy, says “Song Academy inspires young people to speak up, express themselves, celebrate their individuality & get heard. By connecting them to a vibrant community of their peers who all love writing songs, as well as exposing their songs to key players in the Music Industry, we help to build young people’s confidence, self-esteem and drive to achieve their potential. As well as nurturing the next generation of music & creative leaders.”

QUOTES FROM SPONSORS KOBALT, SOUNDTRAP AND YAMAHA

Willard Ahdritz, Founder & Chairman of Kobalt says “It’s very important to support, inspire, and celebrate young creators as they start on their path in music. We are happy to be involved in this competition as it provides great opportunities and education for the young contestants. I know many of them will go on to have bright careers in music!”

Leanne Barrell, Marketing Manager of Yamaha says, “At Yamaha, we believe that music can empower everyone to express themselves, build friendships and make a positive impact in the world, so naturally we’re delighted to support The Young Songwriter 2021 Competition. It’s a great opportunity for young people everywhere to get inspired and share their music on a global stage. This is all about the future, and we can’t wait to hear the songs of a whole new generation of musical talent.”

Per Emanuelsson, Director of Soundtrap says “The annual Young Songwriter competition is a premiere event introducing many students from around the world to the art of creative expression through song, and is therefore an event close to our heart. Soundtrap is pleased to sponsor the 2021 Young Songwriter competition and advance the mission of helping students find and share their voices.”

For further media information, photography, videos, interviews, etc., contact Rowena Atkins, Founder of Song Academy at rowena@songacademy.co.uk or on +44 7710 023743

NOTES TO EDITORS:

SONG ACADEMY – helping every child find their voice

Founded 12 years ago, we’re dedicated to the future of music & the wellbeing of young people aged 8-18. We enable young people to express themselves and have their voices heard. From their first song to developing their first album. We nurture young writers, artists, musicians, producers & creative thinkers, empowering young people at a formative time of their life.

We believe that songwriting and music can transform the lives of young people by helping them find their voice. Young people are growing up in a competitive, fast changing & potentially isolating environment, which can cause various pressures and lead to issues with their mental health. Through songwriting young people can communicate their thoughts and feelings and connect to others. This creative and therapeutic process helps young people discover & develop their identity, overcome challenges, feel empowered by speaking up and advance their creative and social skills. The songs they write have the potential to spark debate, help their peers and shape their future.

Song Academy runs after-school clubs, holiday workshops, school workshops, birthday parties, song feedback reports and an annual international Young Songwriter competition. As a result of our programmes, we have seen a direct correlation in the increase and advancement of confidence, self-esteem, creativity, motivation, well-being and technical songwriting ability of our members.

NEXT OPPORTUNITIES:

Summer Holiday Workshops

Song Feedback Reports

Autumn Term 2021 weekly songwriting clubs

Song Academy Top Trumps Young Songwriters

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Create your own top trumps card, celebrate your creative talents and get to know more about aspiring young songwriters around the world!  The Song Academy Top Trumps Young Songwriters new initiative aims to connect young songwriters aged 8-18 around the world, sparking new collaborations, showcasing their creative talents and nurturing new leaders in the Music Industry.

We’re launching a new Top Trumps Young Songwriters initiative on Instagram & Facebook to encourage connections and collaborations between young songwriters around the world and have a bit of fun!

If you’d like to create your card please tailor the image below (right click to download it) and email your card to contact@songacademy.co.uk.  Plus please share with your followers and tag us (Instagram song_academy Facebook songacademyUK).

We can also create your card.  Please email a photo/avatar and answers to the following questions to contact@songacademy.co.uk:

Top Trumps File: Your name!
Favourite genre:
Musical Hero:
Instruments played:
Lyrical genius (out of 100)
Melody Master (out of 100)
Production Wizard (out of 100)
Number of songs written:
Life Motto:

We’re looking forward to seeing your cards and connecting you to our vibrant community of young songwriters!

Top 3 Young Songwriter 2021 finalists are announced!

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Songs reveal the hearts & minds of young people after a year in lockdown.  Impressive originality, creativity & musical bravery displayed.  Young creators across the world unite.

Star Judges include Fraser T Smith, Tom Odell, Miranda Cooper, Chris Difford,
Calum Scott, Midge Ure, Tom Grennan & Michelle Escoffery

Drumroll please! The top 3 finalists of the hotly contested Song Academy Young Songwriter (SAYS) 2021 competition have now been revealed. This year’s competition attracted over 1,000 entries from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-18 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song.  As in previous years 70% of entrants were girls.  13% of entries were in the international categories and 70% were from 13-18 year olds.  Entries from the UK/Ireland were widespread with 65% outside London.

The Young Songwriter competition stands for the craft and art of songwriting in its purest form, enabling young songwriters to aspire to the very best melody, lyric, structure, concept, harmony, mood and impact a song can have. It inspires young people to think about and speak up about things that are important to them personally, in their community and in the wider world and get their voices heard. It’s a supportive community where young people feel brave and can express themselves, celebrate individuality and be themselves. The benefits from this unique community are far reaching, especially the positive boost to mental health.

What makes a sensational song is ultimately subjective. The top 3 finalists songs were selected as they stood out for being special and original. Emily Phillips, renown songwriter and chair of The Young Songwriter 2021 judging panel said, “Chairing the judges this year was an exciting and stimulating experience!  To hear the feedback and thoughts of such renowned writers, producers and artists was fascinating.  The selection process was hotly debated as strong opinions clashed over different genres of music, reinforcing the fact that this is not an exact science but equally, that the winning songs were recognised and applauded for their artistry, inspiration and craft.  The standard was very high this year, so a huge congratulations to the winners and runners up!”

Michelle Escoffery, President of the PRS Members’ Council and SAYS21 judge, said:  “The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2021 competition is an incredibly valuable platform for helping the next generation of music creators develop their skills and build confidence in the profession. This year’s submissions have been filled with some fantastic original and interesting new music, that really captures the imagination and most importantly, reflects the resilience displayed by these songwriters over the past year. I want to thank all of the applicants for sharing their creations with us and a huge congratulations to those who have made the top three in each category. I look forward to seeing what you all do next and wish you the very best of luck in your careers.”

Goto the Song Academy SoundCloud account to listen to the finalists’ songs!   The winners will be announced on the 29th June and The Young Songwriter 2021 live showcase will be held at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London on Saturday 25th September 2021.

Fraser T Smith (songwriter, producer and SAYS21 judge) says “With so much going on in the world, it’s never been more vital for young people to be able to channel their energy and emotions into something positive, which is what The Young Songwriter competition encourages and facilitates through songwriting. Every young person has something to say, a story to tell, or a message to share – that’s why Song Academy is so important to our community.”

TOP 3 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 13-18 YEAR OLDS, UK/IRELAND

ALL IT TAKES – HETTA FALZON
LAYING ON MARS – BENJAMIN FRERE
WE’RE NOT LONELY ANYMORE – LEXIE CARROLL

TOP 3 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 8-12 YEAR OLDS, UK/IRELAND

FIREFLIES – LILY CRIDDLE
GIRL IN THE DRESS – LOIS BROOKS
ILLUSION – JOHNNY BEAU

TOP 3 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 13-18 YEAR OLDS, INTERNATIONAL

LOST MYSELF – JO MACKENZIE
PEOPLE LIKE YOU – PIP LEWIS
STARDUST – KELTY PARKER

TOP 3 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 8-12 YEAR OLDS INTERNATIONAL

COLOURFUL – EVANGELINE DURUPT
MY FRIEND IN MIAMI – VENICE AND BELLE HERRERA
TALK – BENJAMIN MAGRO

Listen to all Top Finalists songs on the Song Academy Soundcloud account

Quotes from The Young Songwriter 2021 finalists:

Benjamin “It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are or how much equipment you have. Someone who just has a guitar and a voice has just as much opportunity and chance as someone with a full size music studio.”

Charlie “allows people from all areas and walks of life to share their music with people and spread messages and emotion through music. There is also such an incredible judging panel and team behind the competition and it’s great to see that they are all just as excited as the entrants.”

Jacob “What I like most about The Young Songwriter is the community it creates between songwriters.”

Hetta “It’s a really cool way to listen to what other people your age are writing and I’ve discovered so many songs that I love just from the Song Academy playlist. I also like how it is judged purely on the song and not the quality of recording or production which means anyone can enter.”

Hatty “This is a fantastic platform for songwriters to be heard and to learn from.”

Morietnez “Inspires us to be brave to express our feelings and be ourselves.”

James “I like how the competition pushes young people and encourages creativity, allowing songs that might not otherwise be out there, a chance to shine.”

Conor “It’s really open minded with the music it takes into the competition. There is a list of genres, from rock to rap! It’s really incredible, and a great experience!”

Faye “I love how it gives a supportive space for young songwriters like me from all over the world. I also really like how we can listen to each other’s entries to hear the diversity and uniqueness of each individual song writer.”

Venice & Bella “It’s easy to enter and you don’t have to record in a fancy studio or have expensive equipment. It’s genuinely about the song and you feel truly heard.”

This year’s panel of award winning judges includes:

Fraser T Smith (Stormzy, Dave, Adele, Drake, Sam Smith), Tom Odell, Chris Difford, Tom Grennan, Michelle Escoffery, Calum Scott, Hannah V, Dan Gillespie Sells, Janet Devlin, Eg White (Adele, Duffy, Take That, Pink), Sacha Skarbek (James Blunt, Miley Cyrus, Adele, Jason Mraz, Duffy), Paul Adam (Dannii Minogue, Amy MacDonald & A&R Director at Island Records), Emily Phillips (Rizzle Kicks, Florence and the Machine, Sigrid, John Newman, Madison Beer, SOAK), Miranda Cooper (Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Pet Shop Boys, Alesha Dixon), Simon Aldred (Sam Smith, Rag’n’Bone Man, Avicii) and Iain Archer (Bugg, Sea Girls, Lisa Hannigan, Liam Gallagher, James Bay, Snow Patrol, Niall Horan).

Rowena Atkins, Founder of Song Academy, says “Song Academy inspires young people to speak up, express themselves, celebrate their individuality & get heard. By connecting them to a vibrant community of their peers who all love writing songs, as well as exposing their songs to key players in the Music Industry, we help to build young people’s confidence, self-esteem and drive to achieve their potential. As well as nurturing the next generation of music & creative leaders.”

QUOTES FROM SPONSORS KOBALT, SOUNDTRAP AND YAMAHA

Willard Ahdritz, Founder & Chairman of Kobalt says “It’s very important to support, inspire, and celebrate young creators as they start on their path in music. We are happy to be involved in this competition as it provides great opportunities and education for the young contestants. I know many of them will go on to have bright careers in music!”

Leanne Barrell, Marketing Manager of Yamaha says, “At Yamaha, we believe that music can empower everyone to express themselves, build friendships and make a positive impact in the world, so naturally we’re delighted to support The Young Songwriter 2021 Competition. It’s a great opportunity for young people everywhere to get inspired and share their music on a global stage. This is all about the future, and we can’t wait to hear the songs of a whole new generation of musical talent.”

Per Emanuelsson, Director of Soundtrap says “The annual Young Songwriter competition is a premiere event introducing many students from around the world to the art of creative expression through song, and is therefore an event close to our heart. Soundtrap is pleased to sponsor the 2021 Young Songwriter competition and advance the mission of helping students find and share their voices.”

For further media information, photography, videos, interviews, etc., contact Rowena Atkins, Founder of Song Academy at rowena@songacademy.co.uk or on +44 7710 023743

NOTES TO EDITORS:

SONG ACADEMY – helping every child find their voice

Founded 12 years ago, we’re dedicated to the future of music & the wellbeing of young people aged 8-18. We enable young people to express themselves and have their voices heard. From their first song to developing their first album. We nurture young writers, artists, musicians, producers & creative thinkers, empowering young people at a formative time of their life.

We believe that songwriting and music can transform the lives of young people by helping them find their voice. Young people are growing up in a competitive, fast changing & potentially isolating environment, which can cause various pressures and lead to issues with their mental health. Through songwriting young people can communicate their thoughts and feelings and connect to others. This creative and therapeutic process helps young people discover & develop their identity, overcome challenges, feel empowered by speaking up and advance their creative and social skills. The songs they write have the potential to spark debate, help their peers and shape their future.

Song Academy runs after-school clubs, holiday workshops, school workshops, birthday parties, song feedback reports and an annual international Young Songwriter competition. As a result of our programmes, we have seen a direct correlation in the increase and advancement of confidence, self-esteem, creativity, motivation, well-being and technical songwriting ability of our members.

NEXT OPPORTUNITIES:

Summer Holiday Workshops

Song Feedback Reports

Autumn Term 2021 weekly songwriting clubs

Writing songs boosts mental health

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This week it is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, hosted by @mentalhealthfoundation. The theme this year is connecting with nature, so we’ve decided to create a Spotify playlist of songs about nature that may help you think about the world around us and see the benefits of nature when it comes to mental health. We are also huge believers that songwriting can help young creators express themselves and has a direct, positive affect on mental health, so why not combine the two and write a song about nature or the world around us?

In today’s world, feeling relaxed and being creative isn’t easy. There are so many technological distractions which can easily cut young people off from the real world and encourage them to live in a disconnected social media world, plus big events like COVID-19 and climate change have created fear and uncertainty in our daily lives as well as uncertainty about the future. Imagine a young person had something they wanted to share but didn’t know how to express it, or they were afraid that their creativity would be laughed at or frowned upon, or they feel isolated and that no one believes in them. Maybe they are starting a new school and have worries but feel embarrassed or unable to talk about them directly, or perhaps they’ve lost someone close or argued with a friend and don’t know how to express their emotions.

This is where songwriting can help. Music and especially songwriting is a powerful tool that allows people to express emotions, as well as relate to the emotions of others. Songs are written from the heart, mind and soul – whether joyful or sorrowful – and the very act of composing and writing lyrics and melodies can be very cathartic. The Ancient Greeks believed if you had sorrow and you wrote it down in a song for Apollo he would take away the pain! Many musicians and therapists believe that songwriting is a great way to discover and process feelings of all kinds – hope, fear, joy, sorrow, excitement, anxiety – which can all be uncovered as children learn to play with words and melodies. The physical act of writing down what they are feeling can help children deal with their worries and fears as well as express wishes, hopes and dreams.

Music therapist Barbara Dunn said that ‘songwriting is a way to give voice to the essence of who we are, to understand and express ourselves and, to some extent, our relationship to the community and world that surrounds us’. If we can get more young people engaging with their feelings and thoughts, and transforming them into a song with a message that is personal or universal, then maybe they’ll grow up to believe, as John Lennon once penned, ‘there’s nothing you can do that can’t be done, nothing you can sing that can’t be sung’.  Everything is possible.

Song Academy is dedicated to the wellbeing of young people and the future of music. Through our songwriting programmes and The Young Songwriter competition we enable young people to express themselves and be heard. From writing their first song to developing their first album, we nurture young writers, artists, musicians, producers & creative thinkers, empowering young people at a formative time of their life.

Have a listen to our Spotify playlist of songs about nature. Click here to listen to the playlist on Spotify.

What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.  Earth Song by Michael Jackson.  Sun is Shining by Bob Marley & The Wailers.  Go To The Woods by Dar Williams.  One World by John Martyn.  (Nothing But) Flowers by Talking Heads.  Truth to Power by OneRepublic.  Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell.  Eyes Wide Open by Gotye.  Pass It On Down by Alabama.  Rocky Mountain High by John Denver.  Going Up The Country by Canned Heat.

For those young people who’d like some help developing their songwriting talents or writing their first song, we have an exciting programme of online songwriting workshops running this Half-Term & in the Summer holidays.  Another opportunity we provide is an excellent song feedback service throughout the year.

 

Top Finalists of The Young Songwriter 2021 are announced!

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Songs reveal the hearts & minds of young people after a year in lockdown.  Impressive originality, creativity & musical bravery displayed.  Young creators across the world unite.

Star Judges include Fraser T Smith, Tom Odell, Miranda Cooper, Chris Difford,
Calum Scott, Midge Ure, Tom Grennan & Michelle Escoffery

Drumroll please! The top finalists (top 10 for the UK/Ireland categories and top 5 for the International categories) of the hotly contested Song Academy Young Songwriter (SAYS) 2021 competition have now been revealed. This year’s competition attracted over 1,000 entries from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-18 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song.  As in previous years 70% of entrants were girls.  13% of entries were in the international categories and 70% were from 13-18 year olds.  Entries from the UK/Ireland were widespread with 65% outside London.

The Young Songwriter competition stands for the craft and art of songwriting in its purest form, enabling young songwriters to aspire to the very best melody, lyric, structure, concept, harmony, mood and impact a song can have. It inspires young people to think about and speak up about things that are important to them personally, in their community and in the wider world and get their voices heard. It’s a supportive community where young people feel brave and can express themselves, celebrate individuality and be themselves. The benefits from this unique community are far reaching, especially the positive boost to mental health.

What makes a sensational song is ultimately subjective. The top finalists songs were selected as they stood out for their creativity, invention & courage with lyrics & melodies illuminating our imaginations. Congratulations also go to all SAYS21 entrants for creating an impressive community of young songwriters, up for sharing and developing their creative talents.

Goto the Song Academy SoundCloud account to listen to the finalists’ songs!  The top 3 finalists of all categories will be announced on the 1st June.  The winners will be announced on the 29th June and The Young Songwriter 2021 live showcase will be held at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London on the 20th November 2021.

Fraser T Smith (songwriter, producer and SAYS21 judge) says “With so much going on in the world, it’s never been more vital for young people to be able to channel their energy and emotions into something positive, which is what The Young Songwriter competition encourages and facilitates through songwriting. Every young person has something to say, a story to tell, or a message to share – that’s why Song Academy is so important to our community.”

TOP 10 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 13-18 YEAR OLDS, UK/IRELAND

ALL IT TAKES – HETTA FALZON
CLAPHAM JUNCTION – JOE LEVER 
DROWNS ME OUT – TAIA THOMPSON
HONEY – NETTLE
HOW TO BE VULNERABLE – EMILY SEMPLE
I CAN’T BREATHE – HATTY YAP
LAYING ON MARS – BENJAMIN FRERE
TALKS TOO MUCH – LEONA MAE 
TWO TWO SEVEN- ALEKS KOSTOV
WE’RE NOT LONELY ANYMORE – LEXIE CARROLL 

TOP 10 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 8-12 YEAR OLDS, UK/IRELAND

DEEP WATERS – TWINKLE ANSAR
DID I – ISLA CAMPBELL 
FIREFLIES – LILY CRIDDLE
FOLLOW ME – LUKE PENDER 
GIRL IN THE DRESS – LOIS BROOKS
GOLDEN DAYS – LILY CARROLL 
ILLUSION – JOHNNY BEAU
SLOWLY – SAMBELLE PRINCE 
TEARDROPS – NELLY BINGHAM
VOICES – MACY O’NEILL 

TOP 5 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 13-18 YEAR OLDS, INTERNATIONAL

GOLDEN YEARS – YOB
LOST MYSELF – JO MACKENZIE 
PEOPLE LIKE YOU – PIP LEWIS
STARDUST – KELTY PARKER 
THE ASTRONAUTS’S SONG – MICHAEL ABIMANYU KAENG

TOP 5 SAYS21 FINALISTS – 8-12 YEAR OLDS INTERNATIONAL

COLOURFUL – EVANGELINE DURUPT
GRAFFITI ON THE WALL – ALEXIS G. ROLEY 
MY FRIEND IN MIAMI – VENICE AND BELLE HERRERA
TALK – BENJAMIN MAGRO 
WHO AM I – TAMARA YASIN

Listen to all Top Finalists songs on the Song Academy Soundcloud account

Quotes from The Young Songwriter 2021 finalists:

Benjamin “It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are or how much equipment you have. Someone who just has a guitar and a voice has just as much opportunity and chance as someone with a full size music studio.”

Charlie “allows people from all areas and walks of life to share their music with people and spread messages and emotion through music. There is also such an incredible judging panel and team behind the competition and it’s great to see that they are all just as excited as the entrants.”

Jacob “What I like most about The Young Songwriter is the community it creates between songwriters.”

Hetta “It’s a really cool way to listen to what other people your age are writing and I’ve discovered so many songs that I love just from the Song Academy playlist. I also like how it is judged purely on the song and not the quality of recording or production which means anyone can enter.”

Hatty “This is a fantastic platform for songwriters to be heard and to learn from.”

Morietnez “Inspires us to be brave to express our feelings and be ourselves.”

James “I like how the competition pushes young people and encourages creativity, allowing songs that might not otherwise be out there, a chance to shine.”

Conor “It’s really open minded with the music it takes into the competition. There is a list of genres, from rock to rap! It’s really incredible, and a great experience!”

Faye “I love how it gives a supportive space for young songwriters like me from all over the world. I also really like how we can listen to each other’s entries to hear the diversity and uniqueness of each individual song writer.”

Venice & Bella “It’s easy to enter and you don’t have to record in a fancy studio or have expensive equipment. It’s genuinely about the song and you feel truly heard.”

This year’s panel of award winning judges includes:

Fraser T Smith (Stormzy, Dave, Adele, Drake, Sam Smith), Tom Odell, Chris Difford, Tom Grennan, Michelle Escoffery, Calum Scott, Hannah V, Dan Gillespie Sells, Janet Devlin, Eg White (Adele, Duffy, Take That, Pink), Sacha Skarbek (James Blunt, Miley Cyrus, Adele, Jason Mraz, Duffy), Paul Adam (Dannii Minogue, Amy MacDonald & A&R Director at Island Records), Emily Phillips (Rizzle Kicks, Florence and the Machine, Sigrid, John Newman, Madison Beer, SOAK), Miranda Cooper (Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Pet Shop Boys, Alesha Dixon), Simon Aldred (Sam Smith, Rag’n’Bone Man, Avicii) and Iain Archer (Bugg, Sea Girls, Lisa Hannigan, Liam Gallagher, James Bay, Snow Patrol, Niall Horan).

Rowena Atkins, Founder of Song Academy, says “Song Academy inspires young people to speak up, express themselves, celebrate their individuality & get heard. By connecting them to a vibrant community of their peers who all love writing songs, as well as exposing their songs to key players in the Music Industry, we help to build young people’s confidence, self-esteem and drive to achieve their potential. As well as nurturing the next generation of music & creative leaders.”

QUOTES FROM SPONSORS KOBALT, SOUNDTRAP AND YAMAHA

Willard Ahdritz, Founder & Chairman of Kobalt says “It’s very important to support, inspire, and celebrate young creators as they start on their path in music. We are happy to be involved in this competition as it provides great opportunities and education for the young contestants. I know many of them will go on to have bright careers in music!”

Leanne Barrell, Marketing Manager of Yamaha says, “At Yamaha, we believe that music can empower everyone to express themselves, build friendships and make a positive impact in the world, so naturally we’re delighted to support The Young Songwriter 2021 Competition. It’s a great opportunity for young people everywhere to get inspired and share their music on a global stage. This is all about the future, and we can’t wait to hear the songs of a whole new generation of musical talent.”

Per Emanuelsson, Director of Soundtrap says “The annual Young Songwriter competition is a premiere event introducing many students from around the world to the art of creative expression through song, and is therefore an event close to our heart. Soundtrap is pleased to sponsor the 2021 Young Songwriter competition and advance the mission of helping students find and share their voices.”

For further media information, photography, videos, interviews, etc., contact Rowena Atkins, Founder of Song Academy at rowena@songacademy.co.uk or on +44 7710 023743

NOTES TO EDITORS:

SONG ACADEMY – helping every child find their voice

Founded 12 years ago, we’re dedicated to the future of music & the wellbeing of young people aged 8-18. We enable young people to express themselves and have their voices heard. From their first song to developing their first album. We nurture young writers, artists, musicians, producers & creative thinkers, empowering young people at a formative time of their life.

We believe that songwriting and music can transform the lives of young people by helping them find their voice. Young people are growing up in a competitive, fast changing & potentially isolating environment, which can cause various pressures and lead to issues with their mental health. Through songwriting young people can communicate their thoughts and feelings and connect to others. This creative and therapeutic process helps young people discover & develop their identity, overcome challenges, feel empowered by speaking up and advance their creative and social skills. The songs they write have the potential to spark debate, help their peers and shape their future.

Song Academy runs after-school clubs, holiday workshops, school workshops, birthday parties, song feedback reports and an annual international Young Songwriter competition. As a result of our programmes, we have seen a direct correlation in the increase and advancement of confidence, self-esteem, creativity, motivation, well-being and technical songwriting ability of our members.

NEXT OPPORTUNITIES:

Half-Term Songwriting Workshops 

Summer Holiday Workshops

Song Feedback Reports

Half-Term and Summer Holiday Songwriting Workshops – dates announced

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A must for aspiring young songwriters!  Develop your songwriting skills.  Be inspired.  Meet like-minded young people. Write great songs.

Bookings are now open for our popular online songwriting workshops over half-term & the Summer holidays! Songwriting workshops for beginners, intermediates & advanced young songwriters.  Small groups of like-minded young creatives get inspired by Song Academy professional songwriters & take on songwriting briefs to express themselves with lyrics & music….writing their own original songs. Collaborative technology used with Zoom and Soundtrap to create an excellent online experience.  Builds confidence & creative skills……and great fun!

Two types of songwriting workshops:

  • Want to write a song with others? Join a group of up to 8 young people to write a song from scratch together. Then start writing your own song. 3 hour workshop
  • Want to write your own song? Join a group of up 4 young people and write your own original song over 3 days (2 hours each day). 6 hour workshop.

All groups have young people the same age and songwriting/musical experience.

CHECK OUT DATES & HOW TO BOOK YOUR PLACE. Don’t miss out! Limited places available.

Testimonials:

“A perfect holiday activity – creative, fun, great group of kids, inspiring leaders and a fantastic song written & performed in such a short time. Bravo!” Emma, Mother
“I’ve come away with loads of ideas to try out with my new songs. Plus I’m going to start writing some with the friends I’ve made!” Anya, aged 16

Get to know the SAYS21 finalists in the 13-18 year old International category

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This year’s Song Academy Young Songwriter competition attracted over 1,000 entries from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-18 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song. The judges were extremely impressed with the originality, creativity & musical bravery of the songs.  We interviewed each of the finalists to get to know them and learn more about how they write songs.

Faye Nicole – Walk Again 

What inspired you to write your finalist song?  ‘Walk Again’ is written about my experience with scoliosis, which was a very traumatic and personal aspect of my life. When I was 9, I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine that can cause a lot of issues, depending on the severity and what stage it’s at. The plan was for me to undergo 2 rounds of surgery over a 3-week period in order to correct the curve. When I was 11, I had my first operation. I was in hospital for the following 2 weeks, and I was confined to a bed or a wheelchair as I couldn’t walk or do anything independently. During this period, I was preparing for the final round of surgery, which unfortunately didn’t go as planned. The operation had to be aborted due to potential nerve damage in my left leg. Waking up, I remember faintly hearing doctors around me talking about a ‘3rd operation’ and saying that they ‘couldn’t finish it’. At that point, the thought of going through it all over again was almost unbearable. I was kept in the intensive care unit for around 4 days so that they could increase the blood flow to my spine. I wasn’t allowed out of bed, I barely ate anything, and I was so mentally and physically drained. All I could think was ‘will I be able to walk’? The shape of my spine didn’t matter to me anymore, as long as my legs still worked. The final round of surgery was thankfully successful. I still had to re-learn how to walk, and the recovery was long and frustrating. But it wasn’t until about three years later that I realised I had such a unique story that deserved to be shared, and what better way to do that than to channel my creativity and put it into a song?

What got you into writing songs?  I started writing songs as a way to express what I had been through. Not only my experience with scoliosis, but the events that have shaped me throughout high school and the impact that had been left on me after facing challenges that I never thought I’d face. I got such a good feeling from turning my personal struggles into something that other people could listen and relate to, so song writing became a necessity for me.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  Definitely lyric writing. Creating unique ways of expressing my thoughts and finding interesting metaphors and interpretations of a concept has to be the part of the process where I feel like I have the best opportunity to really deliver a powerful message.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio?  When I was writing ‘Walk Again’, it was pretty much just me, my pen, my song book, and my piano. I wanted to write it in a stripped back, authentic environment, so that I could get the rawest emotions out and focus my energy on powerful, passionate lyrics.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark?  I usually start with messing around on the piano to find a chord progression, and then I try to visualise an emotion that matches the music. After that, I’ll try to find a part of me that personally connects to that emotion based off experience, or I’ll put myself in the shoes of someone else. Once I have the rough feel of the song, I’ll start humming along until I find a decent melody and I kind of sing whatever words come to mind. If the words fit, I keep them. Otherwise, I change it around until it sounds and feels right.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  If I could choose one, it would have to be Boy in Space. Something about his music is so captivating and it inspires me to incorporate different sounds and concepts into my own originals.

What made you enter #SAYS21? How did you hear about it?  I heard about The Young Songwriter Competition back in 2019, and I started entering it since then. Especially this year, since I’ve been experimenting with different song writing styles, I saw it as an opportunity to put some different stuff out there and just see what happens!

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?  I would say to just give it a shot! There’s no reason to hold back on putting yourself out there, and the worst that could happen is that you don’t progress, but continue to work on your craft, only to improve and give it another go next year. The first step to getting ahead in anything is to just try. If you don’t try, you’ve already set yourself back. So definitely don’t be afraid to enter, you’ve got nothing to lose!

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  I love how it gives a supportive space for young songwriters like me from all over the world, the opportunity to put our music out there and see what happens! I also really like how we can listen to each other’s entries to hear the diversity and uniqueness of each individual song writer.

Joa – Golden Years 

What inspired you to write your finalist song?  I got the inspiration to write this song after a conversation I had with my friend. We were talking about the covid-situation, and how we felt that we had to sacrifice a lot. “the old people live while the young once, we die, is this supposed to be the time of our lives” concludes our conversation. I couldn’t stop thinking about what we talked about and had to write something about it.

What got you into writing songs?  I started writing when I was about 14. I’ve always loved music but never really liked my voice specifically, so when I started writing I finally found something that I felt comfortable singing. I write songs when I feel like my head is about to explode and I’m overwhelmed by thoughts and questions.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  My favourite part of writing a song is when the pieces fit together. Going from a few melodies and lines to a complete story. I also love when I come up with a chorus and the rest of the song comes naturally.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio?  I wrote the song at my keyboard in my room and wrote it down of my phone. I also recorded it at my room in Garage band.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark?  I usually start with a melody. I’ll sit down and the feeling I have at that moment will often reflect the melody. When I come up with a melody is often a chorus, and I will try different chords on the piano to find a verse and pre chorus. I find the spark when I often have a lot on my mind, and writing becomes a way of clearing my mind.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  I have listened a lot to Empire of the sun lately and it would be a dream to write with them. I think they have a unique way of writing and interesting, magical melodies. I also love Ryan tedders songs and what he has written, so it would have been super interesting working with him.

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?  Go for it!

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  It’s an easy way of getting in touch with young songwriter all around the world.

Jo Mackenzie – Lost Myself 

What inspired you to write your finalist song? I wrote my finalist song “Lost Myself” about feeling disillusioned about the person you’ve become after years of trying to fit into a mold that isn’t you.

What got you into writing songs?  I started writing songs when I was seven years old and was inspired by songwriters Elton John, Taylor Swift, and Billy Joel.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  My favorite part of the songwriting process is when parts click together. For example, when I figure out the right way to transition from the verse to the chorus or how to spice up the second verse in a fun way.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? The whole process is like a puzzle and finishing it and getting to see the whole picture is super fun and satisfying. I wrote “Lost Myself” in my bedroom studio.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I first started out by recording myself playing a drum loop. I then used Ableton Live to chop it up and add other elements. I started to freestyle over the loop and from there I built up the rest of the song. This is exemplary of one of the ways I start songs. Sometimes, I will get an instrumental loop going to write over. Other times, I just like to sit by the piano and think about my day and what I’m feeling. I will then usually play chords and start to sing whatever comes to me at the moment.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  My dream collaborators are Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, Elton John, Grace Vanderwaal, Conan Gray, and Lorde.

What made you enter #SAYS21? How did you hear about it? I entered #SAYS21 this year because I also participated last year (my song “Suicide Season” made it to the top 3!), and it was a great experience. If someone was wondering if they should enter SAYS, I would tell them that it’s a great way to showcase their art and listen to other young artists’ songs.

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  I think my favorite thing about SAYS is that it’s a platform for young artists to be heard by successful and talented judges and artists.

Julie Kuhl – Where Seabirds Scream

What inspired you to write your finalist song?   Last year I started a stay abroad in England but after a couple of months I had to go back to Germany because of the corona pandemic. It was very painful for me because it has always been my dream to live in England. I wanted to come back as soon as possible. My plan was to return in 2021 but I got a rejection from the school I wanted to go to, because of the Brexit. Out of my frustration I wrote that song.

What got you into writing songs?  In a way I have been inventing music since I was a little child. I always made up stories in my head and chanted them to myself. Mostly in fantasy languages – there are some really funny pieces my parents secretly recorded. Later I tried out different instruments and started writing songs on my guitar. When I was 13 I went to an Ed Sheeran concert which inspired me a lot. In the following weeks I wrote many songs and making music became a very, very important part of my life.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  My favourite part in the song writing process is expressing myself through music. When harmonies and lyrical words reflect the way I feel it’s very healing for me. I love processing my feelings through music.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio?  I wrote that song lying in my bed without any purpose. When I played it to my guitar teacher he really liked it. We recorded it in the next lesson, it was actually just a kind of sketch but I realized, I liked it that way. So I didn’t change anything and the final song ended up very pure.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark?  There is not one way how I start to write a song. Usually I need to be alone in my room. But I find a lot of my song ideas and small lyrical pieces when I’m somewhere outside for example when I’m going for a walk. But the important thing is I have to be on my own so I can let my thoughts flow.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  There are many! It’s hard to decide. The first two musicians who come into my mind are Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks. They inspire me a lot. It would be also great to work with the Giant Rooks. Not to be forgotten: Ed Sheeran. He really inspired me when I was younger.

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?

I can just say believe in yourself and enter with a song you are happy with, eventually that’s the most important thing. Don’t be afraid to express your feelings because that doesn’t make you weak. It is brave!

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  I love that you support us young musicians. I feel very seriously taken as a musician and such a competition is a big motivation. It is great that everyone has the opportunity to take part. It’s all very well and easily organized. Thank you so much for giving me the feeling to get a step closer to my dream.

Kelty Parker – Stardust 

What inspired you to write your finalist song?  This song was inspired by a boy I went to school with who committed suicide shortly after I met him. When I attended his funeral, it felt clear to me that he died largely unknown and misunderstood. The funeral did not represent any part of him correctly and left me haunted for weeks afterward. I didn’t quite understand why I felt the loss so deeply but as I processed it, I realized that it was because I felt the same way I think he did. I felt like a cosmic beam stuck in a reality in which I would never truly be seen or understood. I think many people resonate with this hopeless feeling of unfulfillment with the realities of everyday life; it seems to be a cloud that never quite lifts. This song tells the story of what it feels like to be burdened with something unique to offer the world but also the heaviness of that burden — “our seeds so magnificent they were treacherous to sow.”  These lyrics are some of the dearests to me I have written, because they tell the story of me, my friend from Chemistry, and all those who feel unseen in their brilliance as they live in a dull world.

What got you into writing songs?  We always had a guitar in the house and once I started learning how to play it was impossible for me not to create songs, and I fell in love with writing. Throughout my life, songs have been a place where I can explain how I’m feeling to myself through rhythms and melodies. Once I start a song, where it is meant to go feels natural to me and always comes from a raw place of struggle, anger, or pain.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  My favorite part of the songwriting process is when while writing I come across a lyric that completely explains to myself how I am feeling. Oftentimes, accidentally I will be playing guitar and find a perfect line that rhymes, and this rythme just so happens to be a truth I hadn’t even yet known until after I had written it down.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio?  I wrote Stardust in my basement shortly after my friend’s funeral in my writing journal. After writing it and editing it, our family friend who is an incredible musician, David Zach, helped me further produce it and diversify the melody.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark?  I often get a sick feeling in my stomach when I feel I need to write something and am not writing it. I usually write my first draft of a song in 10-20 minutes and often write when I feel as though no one or nothing will be able to settle me except for words on paper. I start my songs with an idea- it is usually based on feelings of injustice, anger, depression, or the feeling of being deeply misunderstood.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  Matt Maeson is my favorite artist. I feel deeply connected to each one of his songs and I have never felt so understood by any artist. My dream would be to create music as honest and raw as his that has such a powerful effect on people.

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?  I would push anyone considering entering this competition to do it. For the longest time, I was terrified to even share my songs with my friends or family because to me my songs are somewhat of a diary. All the things I can’t find words for I can somehow find rhythms for, and it is in my songs where I am maybe the most vulnerable and true version of me. There is something so courageous about being willing to share your work but also something so gratifying. Art was meant to be shared. A tip I would give would be just to be as honest and genuine with your lyrics as possible. The more vulnerable lyrics are the more powerful they affect and connect with others.

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  I love that the Song Academy Young Songwriter Competition is an international competition. I also love that since it is an amateur competition it feels like the youth’s talent is more applauded, seen, and not looked over. It is a community in which I feel encouraged to continue writing, creating, and sharing.

Lily Welch – Grey 

What inspired you to write your finalist song?  Quarantine. It was so hard being isolated from all of my friends and family and even doing simple things like going to the movie theaters and traveling. The more and more I sat with myself I felt empty, alone and grey. In any situation when I don’t know what to do, I write a song. The words flowed out of me so easily because I had so much I wanted to share about the experience.

What got you into writing songs?  In 3rd grade I would keep numbers of journals with lyrics in them. I would bring them everywhere with me and I would write about things I didn’t even know much about. Once I started to really learn to play many instruments my dad bought me a loop pedal and an amo which I would use everyday. It was like the possibilities of what I could make with my words and music was infinitive. I fell in love with songwriting then and still to this day it is my biggest passion.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  Definitely the lyrics. I love this part; I could sit in my room for hours and write about so many things. Another fun part is putting the lyrics and music together. Once it all clicks together, that’s it. It’s one of the best feelings in the world.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio?  My bedroom is my sanctuary, my studio. I always use pen and paper to write a song. Occasionally if I have an idea in the middle of nowhere I will write it down in my phone, but I really prefer to write it down, get it in my brain, and have that hard copy forever. Every song I write starts with me and guitar. Even if it ends up being on piano or ukulele it always starts with a piece of paper and guitar for me.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark?  Often, I will have days or a moment where I just FEEL like writing a song. It will come easily to me and I can knock out a rough draft within an hour. Other times, I’m stumped on what to write about and nothing comes to me. So it really just depends on the day or the experiences I’ve had.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  People always ask me this question and it is a hard one to answer. I have so many artists I look up to and would love to collaborate with them. My number one will always be Taylor Swift. The way her words resonate with me is really a cool thing. I can relate to so many of her songs, she’s incredible. Other artists I would absolutely love to work with are Bon Iver, Noah Kahan, Billie Eilish, and Matt Maeson and Khalid.

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?  You just have to go for it. One’s music can really affect someone more than you think!

 What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  I like how it gives young people an opportunity to share their talent and songs with everyone.

Malvina Kavita – Ghosts In Our Hometown 

What inspired you to write your finalist song?  Due to the pandemic, my plans to move out for college were pushed back and I found myself still at my parents’ house in my hometown.  I felt like I was in this strange place in between childhood and adulthood grieving the life I had imagined for myself.  No matter how much I wanted to move on, I couldn’t.  I realized I felt like a ghost stuck between two worlds unable to fully let go of the past.

What got you into writing songs?  I became fascinated with songwriting after learning that my favorite musicians wrote their own music, but I never considered it was something I could do myself.  I spent so much time watching interviews of my favorite musicians talking about their writing process that, when I got an idea for a song, I somewhat knew how to proceed.  Once I wrote my first song, I was able to get over the mental block that I couldn’t write songs, and I kept practicing and honing my skills every chance I got.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  My favorite part of the songwriting process is that it’s different every time.  I have never written two songs exactly the same way, and I think a lot of the excitement comes from seeing how it all comes together.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio?  I wrote this song out on pen and paper sitting on my bedroom floor with a guitar.  I have experimented with lots of different ways of writing, but I think starting with something simple allows you to really focus on lyrics and melody.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark?  I start songs in a lot of different ways.  Usually, I have a general idea of the topic I want to write about in mind.  From there, I will either pick up and instrument and try to find a chord progression that matches the tone I’m looking for, or I brainstorm words, phrases, and feelings that correspond to that topic.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  I would love to collaborate with Taylor Swift, because she is one of the people who inspired me to try writing songs and I still learn so much from analyzing her work and work ethic.  I would also love to work with Brandi Carlile, Bon Iver, and HAIM, who all inspire me greatly.

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?  I would just go for it and try not to overthink it.  Having others hear and judge your work can be a vulnerable experience, but it is so worth it and will make you a better songwriter in the long run.

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  I like that it focuses on young writers and that it’s open internationally!

Michael Abimanyu Kaeng – Astronaut’s song 

What inspired you to write your finalist song? I love reading about space exploration, planets, and what happened beyond our solar system. One day I watched a video about the Challenger explosion in 1986 and the 73-seconds tragedy stuck in my mind. I imagined myself being an astronaut when the space shuttle was about to launch. There would be hundreds of feelings in that very moment. Love, fear, courage, hope, pride, and what else?

What got you into writing songs?  I write songs to express my thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. Music and words complement each other. There are some feelings that words cannot describe as distinctly as music does.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  I love the early stage of the song writing process which is finding the soul of the song in one or two lines of melody. This is my favourite part as well as the most challenging. Once we got the soul of the song the next parts would effortlessly flow.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? It was Yamaha PSR 970 and myself.  I use the piano sound to make the outline of the song. After that I added various tracks such as flute, string and percussion.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I start with understanding my thoughts or emotions. As in my No, 3 anser, the next step is finding the spark in one or two lines of main melody.  For me the main melody is usually in the chorus or in the beginning of the song.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  Keyboard master Cory Henry

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the SAYS competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?  I would say how SAYS competition unites the world. I am a student in Jakarta but immediately connect to hundreds/thousands fellow young songwriters from other countries. No doubt. Join it.  My tips would be “Be true to yourself in writing your music!”.

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter Competition?  I really appreciate the fact that SAYS Competition publishes all the song from the contestants. We can learn and have fun with the songs.

Morietnez Azra Mashuri – Best Friend 

What inspired you to write your finalist song?  I felt really sorry for him because a simple thing could change the way we feel about others, especially close friends. So I decided to write this song and let you know that communication is an important thing in any sort of relationship.

What got you into writing songs?  Well I was in junior high at that time and my music teacher gave the whole class an assignment to make their own song. The idea I had was from my friend’s love story which she felt friendzoned by her “boy friend”. I wasn’t that confident and was very shy to listen to my own song. 2 years passed by and there was this talent event called Bintang SMA who are looking for a senior high student around Indonesia to star in Pocari Sweat commercial. I decided to sign up because I felt it was a very good opportunity. I thought it would be great to show something different. I wanna show that I am not just a singer but I also write songs. Then I wrote the song Prince Charming, inspired by some high school love story issues  and gladly I made it to the top 10 Bintang SMA Pocari Sweat. I am so proud of myself seeing that now I am not just a singer but I can write my own song.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process?  Definitely the idea and the story plot. I grew up watching Disney movies and fantasizing in my room. When I was little I used to write stories on my laptop and imagine what would happen to my stories if they were  in real life. Now the idea that I imagined for years could be poured to my songs.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio?  It’s basically my pencil, my songwriting book, then I grab my guitar, and strum the chords that suits with the idea of my song. The final process is to record it in my home recording studio.

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark?  I was inspired by a story or something that I felt, saw or heard about which can come from me, my friends, my family and even the world’s situation. So it basically came from something inspiring then I took my time to focus on it and the idea just pops up.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with?  I would really love to collaborate with BTS, Amen! I’ve followed them since the early 2020, and I fell in love from the moment I heard their newest single. I’m not only loving their appearance or their style, but their personality and songs really touched me. At first I wasn’t into them because I thought they were just some Korean boy band group who sing and dance just like the others. But when I listened to their songs, it was just a whole new thing. They aren’t just artists, they actually care about other people especially their fans and motivates people to love themselves. They made a campaign about their Love Yourself album and spoke in UNICEF. That made me inspired and I wish I could collaborate with them someday.

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year?  Do you have any tips for them? I am a singer who always sings for a song cover. It’s good,  I learn lots of  genre music but at some point I felt something was missing. I need to show who I  really am. That is when you sing your own song. So I would absolutely recommend them to be confident and enjoy songwriting from a young age. This environment is making us creative,  build more confidence and definitely be proud of your own song. Being the winner is not the key to it, but to always make your own creation because no one knows someday it would be a masterpiece. Keep making your own song!!  Don’t be shy to express how you feel, let the world hear you and always be inspired by little things in your life!

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition?  What I like about this competition is it has a good and conducive environment that can gain our creativity, brave enough to express our feelings,  build confidence and the most important thing is being ourselves.

Pip Lewis – People like you 

What inspired you to write your finalist song? “People Like You” was written during the height of the pandemic and lockdown, and I found that many people were growing despondent about both the situation of the world and towards themselves. I have faith in the good of humans, so the underlying message of the song is “if there are good people like you, then everything’s going to turn out fine”.

What got you into writing songs? A combination of my love of listening to music, and personal struggles I was going through at the time. I started to write about a year after I moved from the UK to the US; it was a difficult time for me and it was a useful outlet of negative emotion.

What is your favourite part of the song writing process? I absolutely love finishing songs because I get to hear what I was formulating in my head. My songs often look kind of weird when they’re written down, so hearing them as a tangible finished product – as they were intended – is so rewarding.

Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? I sat down and wrote “People Like You” in twenty minutes in a Logic Pro session, and then built the arrangement around the lyrics. The following day, I recorded the top vocal and harmonies with the mic and interface I have in my bedroom. Then I sent my demo to my producer, Mylo Bard!

How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? Honestly, I don’t find the spark. I just wait for it to come to me, and that can take a while! It’s frustrating to hear professional songwriters say “you should write songs even when you don’t feel like it”. Personally, I’ve written my worst songs when I don’t feel like writing them. “People Like You” was created because a spark came to me, and it turned out to be my most successful song to date.

Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? Gosh, there’s so many. I’d love to collaborate with Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) or Phoebe Bridgers. Then again, there are people like Mavis Staples, FINNEAS, Tom Odell, Madness, Maggie Rogers, and MARINA, too. Can you tell how indecisive I am?!

What made you enter #SAYS21? How did you hear about it? I entered in 2020 and made it to the Top 10 with my song, “Missing in Action”. I wanted to enter for the last time before I turn 19!

What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? Go for it! Music changes lives, and it could be your song that does so. My only tip would be don’t overthink it! If you have something you love and want to share with the world; do it!

What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I love the support that it provides young artists. It’s such a one of a kind experience and an awesome opportunity. I’m so grateful to be amongst such amazing songwriters.

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