Winners announced for 2011 International Songwriters Comp

Once again Australia shows what a fantastic number of world class songwriters that we have with the winners announced for the ISC 2011 Songwriters awards

Here's the Press Release from ISC's Candace Avery

Aussies Rock US-Based International Songwriting Competition (ISC)

ISC Grand Prize Is Awarded To New Zealand Native Kimbra
For The Song "Cameo Lover"

For Immediate Release - May 1, 2012 - The International Songwriting Competition (ISC), the world's foremost global songwriting event, is pleased to announce its 2011 winners. Over 16,000 songs were submitted and of those, Australian songwriters have come away with five First Place wins, five Second Place wins, four Third Place wins, and an astounding forty-two Honorable Mentions over the 22 categories spanning all genres of popular music. In the 2007 competition, Australia became the first country to make a clean sweep within a single category--and now they've done it again; rock artists Jebediah, Eskimo Joe, and The Living End shut out their international competition and received First, Second, and Third Place showings, respectively. In 2007 and again this year, the sweep was made in the Rock category, and makes a statement as to the superiority of Australian rock music on an international playing field.

Called "the songwriting competition to take note of" by the New York Times, ISC was
established in 2002 and awards more than $150,000 in cash and prizes to amateur and
professional songwriters around the globe. This year was the most competitive of any year
in terms of quantity and quality of entries, and winners were selected from over 16,000 songs
submitted from 112 countries worldwide. Judges included iconic artists Tom Waits, Jeff Beck,
McCoy Tyner, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae, Ozzy Osbourne, Lucinda Williams, Tori Amos,
Wynonna, Keane, and many more. In addition to the high-profile artists, the roster of judges
also included five record label presidents as well as other industry leaders, offering songwriters
the unprecedented opportunity to have their music heard by influential decision-makers. See
below for the complete list of judges.

For a complete list of 2011 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners

Winning ISC's highest honor is New Zealand's latest export and Melbourne resident, the quirky and wonderfully eclectic artist Kimbra. Kimbra has recently exploded onto the international music charts as the featured singer on Australian artist Gotye's current #1 hit song, "Somebody That I Used To Know." Her recent TV performances with Gotye on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Saturday Night Live were electrifying and introduced her to the US public, fortifying her meteoric rise to fame.

Only 22 years old, Kimbra began writing songs and performing at the age of 10. Spending her early years gigging around her native New Zealand, it was only once Kimbra borrowed a small eight-track recorder from her school's music department that her songwriting blossomed in earnest. Since then, she has made enormous strides in her career. Her debut album, Vows, was released in 2011 in New Zealand and Australia, and in its first week of release the album charted at #3 in New Zealand and #5 in Australia (peaking at #4 on the ARIA Charts). The album will be released in the US and Canada on May 22.

Accolades include winning the 2011 NZ Critics' Choice awards and also the Best Female Artist for "Cameo Lover" at the 2011 ARIA awards.

Even at such a young age, Kimbra already possesses great maturity and musical sophistication. Candace Avery, the Founder and Director of ISC, says this of Kimbra:

"We first became aware of Kimbra in 2010 when she entered ISC and won First Place in the Pop/Top 40 category with her song 'Settle Down.' At that time we knew she was one of those artists who had it. As a songwriter, her eclectic and somewhat quirky songwriting made her stand out. As an artist, she brings her songs to life with her unique vocal styling and compelling stage presence. Kimbra is rapidly establishing herself as a significant talent and a fresh and exciting new voice on the international music scene. We are proud to have her as our 2011 Grand Prize winner."

To download photos of winners, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners
ISC 2011 judges included:

Recording Artists: Tom Waits; Tori Amos; Jeff Beck; Lucinda Williams; My Morning Jacket; Kelly Clarkson; Ozzy Osbourne; Keane; McCoy Tyner; Wynonna; Francesca Battistelli; Janelle Monae; Billy Currington; Tegan and Sara; Massive Attack; Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor (Duran Duran); Michael W. Smith; Alejandro Sanz; Johnny Clegg; Jeremy Camp; Ray Wylie Hubbard; John Mayall; Craig Morgan; Basement Jaxx; James Cotton; Sandra Bernhard; Trombone Shorty; Robert Earl Keen; Black Francis (The Pixies); Mose Allison; Robert Smith (The Cure); Amadou & Mariam; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); and Matt Thiessen (Relient K)

Industry Executives: Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records); David Massey (President, Mercury Records); Brian Malouf (VP A&R, Walt Disney Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony/BMG); Ric Arboit (President, Nettwerk Music Group); Anastasia Brown (Music Supervisor, FORMAT); Dr. Demento (Radio Host, The Dr. Demento Show); Allison Jones (VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Dan Storper (President, Putamayo World Music Records and Putumayo Kids); Kim Buie (A&R and Artist Manager, Thirty Tigers); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Trevor Jerideau (VP of A&R, RCA Records); Antony Bland (Co-Owner, CandyShop Management); Steve Smith (VP of A&R, Aware Records); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); and Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment)

Sponsors included: Presonus, Lowden Guitars, Sennheiser, Posse, Mrs. Fields Cookies, ASCAP, Berklee College Of Music, D'Addario, Thayers, Onlinegigs, SongU.com, The Music Business Registry, SongTrust, Independent Mastering, Indie Venue Bible, George Stein, Esq., Sonicbids, Taxi, and music Submit.

ISC is now accepting entries for 2012. Go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for more information and an entry form.

Co-writer Don Walker, of Australian band Cold Chisel, is currently gearing up for the bands first studio album since 1998, No Plans. Don is credited with all but three songs on the album, which was released on April 6 in Australia.


Australian Winners Include:


First Place Winners

Kevin Mitchell, Vanessa Thornton, Brett Mitchell, Chris Daymond (Jebediah)
Rock - "She's Like A Comet"

First Place winners in the Rock category this year are band members Kevin Mitchell, Vanessa Thornton, Brett Mitchell, and Chris Daymond of Jebediah for their song, "She's Like A Comet." Jebediah have won eight WAMi (Western Australian Music Industry) Awards since 1996--most recently, the 2011 Most Popular Single for "She's Like A Comet." Their first studio album Slightly Odway went two-times platinum in Australia, and although the band took a four-year hiatus beginning in 2006, they returned to the studio in 2010 and have since continued to thrive in the Australian rock music scene.

Michael Paynter, Gary Clark, David Mead
Unsigned Only - "Are You Alive"

Winning the Unsigned Only category is Michael Paynter's "Are You Alive," co-written by Nashville based singer-songwriter David Mead and hit songwriter/producer Gary Clark. Paynter recently opened for Seal in Melbourne, and he is currently preparing for the release of his newest studio album, Money On Your Tongue, which is due within the next few months.

Missy Higgins
Folk/Singer-Songwriter - "Where I Stood"

First Place in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category goes to Missy Higgins for her song, "Where I Stood." After touring the globe with her undeniable songs and unforgettable live performances, Missy's highly acclaimed albums The Sound Of White (Album Of The Year featuring the hit singles "Scar" and "Ten Days") and On A Clear Night (featuring North American Top 20 airplay hit "Where I Stood" and "Steer") have sold over two million albums and singles. Missy has just finished recording a new album in the US with Nashville-based producer, Brad Jones, who co-produced the album with Australian musician, Butterfly Boucher.  The new album is scheduled for release in June 2012.

Natasha Duarte
Teen - "The Worst Part (Leave You Again)"

17-year old Natasha Duarte receives First Place in the Teen category for her song "The Worst Part (Leave You Again)" from her debut EP release Wanted To Feel due out May 30, 2012 with Empire Records. Her current single "Wanted To Feel" peaked at No. 14 on the ARIA singles chart and No. 2 on the AIR independent singles chart. In 2008 Natasha won first place in the Nationwide Kool Skools JB-HI-FI Competition, receiving a full album recording package through the Kool Skools Project, and has since been on the rise in the Australian pop scene.

Shane Nicholson
Americana - "The Broken Things"

A native of Brisbane, First Place in the Americana category is awarded to Shane Nicholson for his song "The Broken Things." Husband to ISC's 2010 Grand Prize recipient Kasey Chambers, Nicholson is a familiar name in the Australian music scene. Nicholson won Best Country Album at the 2008 ARIA Awards, scored five Golden Guitar Awards in 2009, won the 2009 APRA Award for Country Work of the Year, and has already received nominations for the 2012 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia including APRA Song of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.



Second Place Winners


Catherine Britt, Rory Feek
Americana - "Sweet Emmylou"

The Second Place winners in the Americana category are Catherine Britt and Rory Feek for the song "Sweet Emmylou." The self-titled album produced three #1 singles, including "Sweet Emmylou" which won the 2011 CMAA Award for Single of the Year. Catherine has toured, performed, and recorded with artists such as Kasey Chambers, Paul Kelly, Shane Nicholson, and Kenny Chesney and recently appeared at the 2011 Americana Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee.

Emma Louise
Pop/Top 40 - "Jungle" (see also - Third Place in Folk/Singer-Songwriter with "1000 Sundowns")

Emma Louise is the Second Place winner in the Pop/Top 40 category for her debut single "Jungle," and the Third Place winner in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category for "1000 Sundowns," her second single. "Jungle" topped the AIR Independent music charts for an astounding 26 weeks, and she signed last year with a joint venture of Universal Music Germany and B1M1 Recordings for Continental Europe. Her debut EP release Full Hearts & Empty Rooms earned her three Queensland Music Awards in 2011 including Best Pop Song and Song of The Year for "Jungle," Best Folk Song for "1000 Sundowns," and was also awarded Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year at the 2011 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards (JIMAs).

Johnny Mackay, Heath Crawley (Children Collide)
Music Video - "Loveless"

Second Place winners in the Music Video category are Johnny Mackay and Heath Crawley of Children Collide for their music video, "Loveless," directed by lauded Animal Kingdom director David Michod; the song also received Honorable Mention status in the Rock category this year. The band's second album Theory Of Everything was nominated for Best Rock Album, and "Loveless" was also nominated for Best Music Video at the 2011 ARIA Awards. Children Collide just released their third studio album Monument this month, and are looking forward to continued success.

Kav Temperley, Stuart MacLeod, Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe)
Rock - "Love Is A Drug"

Western Australian trio Eskimo Joe takes Second Place in the Rock category for their hit song, "Love Is A Drug." Band members Kav Temperley, Stuart MacLeod, and Joel Quartermain have experienced nothing but continued success since their start in 2001, including multi platinum sales, #1 albums and singles, as well as eight ARIA Music Awards. Ghosts Of The Past, the band's fifth studio album, was released through Warner Music in August of 2011, and the first single and winning song "Love Is A Drug" became Australia's most added song to radio in its first week.

Wes Carr, Don Walker
Performance - "Lost"

The Second Place winners in the Performance category are Wes Carr and Don Walker, for the song "Lost." After winning the sixth series of Australian Idol in 2008, Wes stormed the ARIA charts; his 2009 Gold album The Way The World Looks peaked at #2 on the album charts after his #1 single, "You." Carr's third studio album will be released in 2012. Co-writer Don Walker of Australia's legendary rock band Cold Chisel is considered to be one Australia's best songwriters. The band's first studio album since 1998, No Plans, was released on April 6 in Australia. Don is credited with writing all but three songs on the album.




Third Place Winners


Alexander Gow, Thomas Savage (Oh Mercy)
Adult Contemporary (AC) - "Stay, Please Stay"

Winning Third Place in the Adult Contemporary (AC) category for their song "Stay, Please Stay" is Melbourne indie rock band, Oh Mercy. Headed by songwriter Alexander Gow, their newest album Great Barrier Grief, was recorded by Mitchel Froom (Crowded House, Elvis Costello), debuted at #13 on the ARIA album charts and was nominated for two ARIA awards.

Chris Cheney (The Living End)
Rock - "Song For The Lonely"

Front man of one of Australia's most well-known rock bands, Chris Cheney of The Living End is the Third Place winner in the Rock category for his song, "Song For The Lonely." The band has won a total of six ARIA awards and eight gongs at the Jack Awards (for Australian live music), and and hold the record for the most consecutive entries in Triple J's Hottest 100; the band made the chart every year between 1997 and 2006. Released in July 2011, The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating is their sixth studio album and features "Song For The Lonely" and the ISC Honorable Mention, "Universe," also in the Rock category.

Dallas Frasca
AAA (Adult Album Alternative) - "All My Love Is Gone"

Third Place in the AAA (Adult Album Alternative) category goes to Melbourne native, Dallas Frasca. "All My Love Is Gone" is the first single from Frasca's second album, Sound Painter. Her career began to explode after winning JJJ's Light Your Fuse competition in 2006, and she has since received multiple accolades including a Top 10 JJJ roots release album in 2009 and "Artist Of The Year" at the 2010 Musicoz Awards. The band's tribal and stomping roots performances have earned them a large, loyal fan base that is still growing today.

Emma Louise
Folk/Singer-Songwriter - "1000 Sundowns"

For bio information, see above Second Place entry for Emma Louise's, "Jungle."



Honorable Mentions

"Everybody's Lost Someone" - Matt Joe Gow (The Dead Leaves) - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - AAA (Adult Album Alternative)
"Steer" - Missy Higgins - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - AAA (Adult Album Alternative)
"A Small Boat" - Michael Maher (Worldfly) - Darwin, NT, Australia - Adult Contemporary (AC)
"All Turn To Love" - Nicholas Deegan (Galleon) - Adelaide, SA, Australia - Adult Contemporary (AC)
"Been A Long Time" - Wes Carr, David Walsh - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Adult Contemporary (AC)
"I Forgot How To Love" - Michael Paynter - Langwarrin, VIC, Australia - Adult Contemporary (AC)
"Jimmie Rodgers Was A Vampire" - Shane Nicholson - Copacabana, NSW, Australia - Americana
"Nothin' Takes You Off My Mind" - Neville Anderson - Newcastle, NSW, Australia - Americana
"Where The Water Goes" - Shane Nicholson - Copacabana, NSW, Australia - Americana
"Elvis Jesus And The Devil" - Tom McEwan (Louis King) - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Blues
"Imaginary Friend" - Jamie Saxe (The Mighty Buzzniks) - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Children's Music
"Shake It Down" - Nadia Sunde - Gold Coast, QLD, Australia - Children's Music
"How Can I Love You?" - Jonathan Lee Jones, Mick Meradith (Ride the Wombat) - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Comedy/Novelty
"Sort Of Dunno Nothin'" - Peter Denahy - Yackandandah, VIC, Australia - Comedy/Novelty
"Borrowed Time" - Carolyn Tariq, Shehab Tariq (Audego) - Fitzroy North, VIC, Australia - Dance/Electronica
"Don't Clone Me" - Tommaso Parisi (Tom Ugly) - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Dance/Electronica
"Bleeders" - Thomas Calder (The Trouble With Templeton) - Brisbane, QLD, Australia - Folk/Singer-Songwriter
"My Love To Be" - Daniel Lee Kendall - Wamberal, NSW, Australia - Folk/Singer-Songwriter
"The Morning Sun" - Nolan Angell (The Genes) - Cabarita Beach, NSW, Australia - Folk/Singer-Songwriter
"Nothing Without Me" - Stephanie Small, Ben Gebert (Sandel) - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Gospel/Christian
"Release the Sound" - Roma Waterman - Ringwood North, VIC, Australia - Gospel/Christian
"6 Feet Under" - Rosie Grayson - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Lyrics Only
"Gastown Serenade" - Steve Seaton (Seaton) - Brendale, QLD, Australia - Lyrics Only
"Like No Other" - Anna Neradilkova (Anikiko) - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Music Video
"Man Walks Into A Bar" - Brett Every - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Music Video
"River Too Wide" - Matt Ellis - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Music Video
"Control" - Aimee Francis - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Performance
"Heatwave" - Chris Cheney (The Living End) - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Performance
"Can't Afford This Way Of Life" - Nicholas Owen, Alex Vaughan (The Brow Horn Orchestra) - Perth, WA, Australia - Pop/Top 40
"Kitchen On Fire" - Caterina Torres, Jarrod Rogers, Si Connelly - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Pop/Top 40
"A Thousand Lives" - Kenny Sabir, Tim Levinson, Shannon Kennedy, Dale Harrison (The Herd) - Sydney, NSW, Australia - R&B/Hip-Hop
"Eleven" - Fantine Pritoula, Marcello Maio (Fantine) - Sydney, VIC, Australia - R&B/Hip-Hop
"I Was Somebody Else (Feat. Pez)" - Tommaso Parisi (Tom Ugly) - Sydney, NSW, Australia - R&B/Hip-Hop
"Thinking About U" - Patrick Mwamba Mwilambwe, Nkulu Eric Mwilambwe (K9SLANG) - Brisbane, QLD, Australia - R&B/Hip-Hop
"Loveless" - Johnny Mackay, Heath Crawley (Children Collide) - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Rock
"One Step" - Kimberley Benzie, Rob Maric, Stewart Hill, Luke Williams, Forrester Savell (Dead Letter Circus) - Brisbane, QLD, Australia - Rock
"Universe" - Chris Cheney (The Living End) - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Rock
"Heart On Fire" - D'Arcy Spiller - Smeaton, VIC, Australia - Teen
"In Colour" - Michael Belsar (Hunting Grounds) - Ballarat, VIC, Australia - Unsigned Only
"Kitchen On Fire" - Caterina Torres, Jarrod Rogers, Si Connelly - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Unsigned Only
"The Duet" - Andrew Redford - Maroochydore, QLD, Australia - Unsigned Only
"Wanna Run" - Kate Vigo - Melbourne, VIC, Australia - Unsigned Only



For a complete list of 2011 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners