The Australian Songwriter - The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.
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The Australian Songwriter
Issue 138, December 2018
First published 1979
The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.
In This Edition:
On the Cover of the ASA: 2018 APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year,
Anirban Banerjee (Centre), with Jessica McDonald (APRA) and Denny
Burgess (ASA Chairman)
Chairman’s Message
Editor’s Message
Top 10 Finalists In The 2018 Australian Songwriting Contest
Anirban Banerjee: 2018 APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year
Official Photos From The 2018 National Songwriting Awards
2018 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees
The 2018 Halloween Theme
Wax Lyrical Roundup
Lucy Parle: 2018 Winner Of The Folk/Acoustic Category
Sponsors Profiles
2018 In Memoriam
Members News and Information
Stephen Phillip: 2018 Winner Of the Australia Category
2018 ASA Regional Co-Ordinators Conference
ASA Members CD Releases
Mark Cawley’s Monthly Songwriting Blog
The Load Out
Official Sponsors of the Australian Songwriting Contest
About Us:
o Aims of the ASA
o History of the Association
o Contact Us
o Patron
o Life Members
o Directors
o Regional Co-Ordinators
o Webmaster
o 2018 APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year
o 2018 Rudy Brandsma Award Winner
o 2018 PPCA Live Performance Award Winner
o Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2004 to 2018)
o Lifetime Achievement Award
o 2018 Australian Songwriting Contest Category Winners
o Songwriters of the Year and Rudy Brandsma Award (1983 to 2018)
Chairman’s Message
Hey Members,
The outstanding success of this year’s National
Songwriting Awards has had a profound effect on your
Board, and there has already been a flurry of activity,
with ongoing talks regarding securing Canterbury
Hurlstone-Park RSL in Sydney as the venue for 2019
once again. It is really an ideal place for such a
prestigious occasion as far as presenting our valued
Songwriters in a truly professional setting, which
includes wonderful sound and lighting.
Expect an announcement regarding the locking in of a
date for the ASA’s big night in 2019 soon. We believe
that the earlier a firm time slot can be procured, it will
give your Board more time to work toward making the
event bigger than ever before. Watch this space!
In the meantime, take a gander at all the goings-on from our sell-out show on
Wednesday 31 October. It truly was a magical night, and photographer Bob King has
certainly captured the sheer breathtaking atmosphere generated. As usual, your Vice
Chairman and Editor Alan Gilmour has outdone himself to bring you all the ‘fun of
the fair’ in the ASA December 2018 e-Newsletter. So, get yourself into the Christmas
spirit with this special edition.
On behalf of the ASA Board, please have a Christmas filled with singing, songs and
much love. We know 2019 will be HUGE for all ASA Members.
See you in the New Year!
Denny Burgess
Chairman
Editor’s Message
Welcome to the final edition of The Australian Songwriter for the year.
With the 2018 National Songwriting Awards now in our rear-view mirrors, your ASA
team will be taking a well-earned break, and will be back in 2019 to do it all again!
Congratulations to our 2018 APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year, Anirban Banerjee,
our 2018 Rudy Brandsma Award winner, Lola Brinton, and to all of the 2018
Category winners and contest entrants. I would particularly like to thank Carole Beck
for all her help with the magazine during the year.
The Australian Songwriter welcomes written contributions from ASA members and
friends. If you have anything that you would like to say about yourself, other
songwriters/musicians/artists/new releases or upcoming events, simply send your
contribution via email to the Editor at alang@asai.org.au.
Alan Gilmour,
Editor and Vice Chairman
2018 Australian Songwriting Contest Category Top 10s
Australia Category
Stephen Phillip
1 Stephen Phillip A Changing Landscape QLD
2 Stephen Phillip I’m Australian QLD
3 Melvyn Moll Turn Off The TV (And Forget NSW
All You’ve Seen)
4 Steve, Tony, Tim, Mike & Joan Jack Keagan’s Pub NSW
Montgomery and Colin Roberts
5 Paul Grierson & Chris Reiger She’s A Picture NSW
6 David Reeve & Philip Arthur Warren Australia NSW
7 Brendan Smoother Old Chimney NSW
8 Kieran O’Connell Take Me Back To Melbourne VIC
9 Kylie Adams-Collier My Best Friend ‘Round The NSW
Block
10 Jim Van Fleet Barbed Wire And Bullets QLD
10 Wendy Wood Through The Eyes Of A Boy NSW
Ballad Category
Joint Winners: Anirban Banerjee (Left) and Ricky Muscat, James Leigh and
Vince Leigh (Right)
1 Anirban Banerjee Love Of My Life ACT
1 Ricky Muscat, James Leigh & Vince Leigh Why Can’t You Love Me VIC
3 David Reeve & David Highet Beautiful Attraction NSW
4 Skii Harvey Dance Devil Dance NSW
5 Peter Christie & Roger Corbett If I Don’t Have Love NSW
6 Catherine Dobson On The Corner Of Hope VIC
And Devine
7 Lloyd Back Ball Of String QLD
8 Lola Brinton & Felicity Urquhart Candle Moth NSW
8 Katie Hardyman Somebody’s Someone NSW
10 Mercy Mercy & John De Laurence Miss You NSW
Contemporary Pop/Dance Category Jemma Siles 1 Jemma Siles D.A.M.N. VIC 2 Jade Goodge Paper Mache VIC 3 Chris Murphy & Travis Bryant Demolition WA 4 Ricky Muscat, James Leigh & Vince Leigh Selfish VIC 5 Celeste Newman & Mark Crocker Smiling Assassin VIC 6 Leea Nanos & Frank Dixon Set Me Free VIC 7 Lucy Burke Leaving On A Lie NSW 8 Alex Tobin Sucker For Punishment NSW 9 Anirban Banerjee What You’ve Done ACT 10 Dene Menzel & D Small Believe It Be It VIC 10 Elisa Kate Promise Me NSW 10 Isabella Porter Yesterday VIC
Country Category
Stephanie Wade
1 Stephanie Wade Bartender And A Bottle Of Jack VIC
2 Spencer Kelly Six String Drifter WA
3 Brian Stitt Little Country Town NSW
4 Andrea Robertson Again And Again VIC
5 Spencer Kelly & Stacy Hogan Goodbye Never Felt So Good WA
6 Catherine Dobson A Moment Like This VIC
7 Samantha Mooney Friend Of Mine QLD
8 Lola Brinton & Christopher That Dear John Song NSW
Matthews
9 Stephen Phillip Fancy Shirts QLD
9 Steve Montgomery The Old Ghost Road NSW
Folk/Acoustic Category Lucy Parle 1 Lucy Parle I Used To Love You NSW 2 Anirban Banerjee Something I Know ACT 3 Anirban Banerjee Feelings In My Pocket ACT 4 Rob Imeson Old Welcome Feeling NSW 5 Donna Dyson & Tyrone Noonan Black Dog QLD 5 Julie Prowse Love It That Way NSW 7 Sadie Jones & David Penman Rogue Folk QLD 8 Ian Muir & Glennys Briggs Salt On My Pillow QLD 9 Lizzie Flynn I Married Someone Just Like You QLD 10 Nathan Seeckts Beast Beneath The Bed VIC
Instrumental Category Tom Anderson 1 Tom Anderson Ragtime Palpitations 4 NSW 2 Tom Anderson A Walk Down Ragtime Lane 2 NSW 3 Lee Simon Waves SA 4 Philip Gardner Moonlit Night VIC 5 Manjia Luo Violin Into A Journey Of No Man Space NSW 6 Terry Bennetts Chicken Pickin’ WA 7 Ray Pratley Colours Of The Kimberly NSW 8 Andy Travers Fishing Pole NSW 9 Peter Salata Ferny Grove QLD 10 Ben Bowen Home Again NSW
International Category Anirban Banerjee 1 Anirban Banerjee Undecided AUS 2 Anirban Banerjee Love Of My Life AUS 3 Samantha Mooney In This Town AUS 4 Anirban Banerjee AEIOU AUS 5 Anirban Banerjee Feelings In My Pocket AUS 6 John Blok & Joanna Fuchs More Like Jesus AUS 7 Keri McInerney You’re Not There AUS 8 Aislinn Sharp & Joel Turner The Wall AUS 9 Samantha Mooney The Touch Of Your Wings AUS 10 Dane Owen Feel So Alive AUS 10 Willie McCracken & P Lavender Mr Fancy Pants AUS 10 Brian Baker Open Up Your Heart AUS
Lyrics Category
Kieran Roberts and Katelyn Newlands
1 Kieran Roberts & Katelyn Newlands Dream Reward (The Farmer’s ACT/WA
Life)
2 Steve & Tony Montgomery They Won’t Let Him Down NSW/QLD
3 Alec Raymer The Rhythm Of The Wind QLD
4 Noel Gardner Taking A Stand QLD
5 John Walsh The Disappearing Man NSW
6 Carmelo Cacciola The Battle of Coral And QLD
Balmoral
6 Kerry Maher The River VIC
8 Susan Muranty I Can’t Unlove You NSW
9 John Walsh Faded Star NSW
9 Anirban Banerjee Feelings In My Pocket ACTOpen Category Joint Winners: Kerrie Garside and Abbey Gardner 1 Kerrie Garside Shout QLD 1 Abbey Gardner War Child NSW 3 Jade Goodge Ready Set Go! VIC 4 Carmelita Lees & John Roy Demons Of My Own NSW 5 Anirban Banerjee AEIOU ACT 6 Abbey Slattery Take Me Under VIC 7 Elisa Kate On My Side NSW 8 Anirban Banerjee Something I Know ACT 9 Skii Harvey Boys Don’t Cry NSW 9 Anirban Banerjee Love Of My Life ACT
Rock/Indie Category Antonio Corea 1 Antonio Corea Honey N Money WA 2 Paula Punch Don’t Look Down NSW 3 Melissa Robertson Red Head At Heart NSW 4 Catherine Dobson Hurricane Child VIC 5 Santino Salvadore Smile Of A Clown NSW 6 Hannah May Bartle Ring The Bell TAS 7 Skii Harvey Uninvited NSW 8 Abbey Slattery Aftershock VIC 9 Anirban Banerjee Undecided ACT 10 Danielle Deckard Happy NSW
Songs For Children Category Stephen Kiely and Roxanne Kiely 1 Stephen Kiely & Roxanne Kiely Sometimes A Friend NSW 2 Stephen Kiely & Roxanne Kiely Newly Truly NSW 3 Stephen Kiely & Roxanne Kiely When You Wake Up NSW 4 Kath Bee & Suzy Cato Sprinkle A Little Sunshine NZ 5 Kath Bee & Douglas Stenhouse Make Someone Smile NZ 6 Dez Staunton & Vanessa Staunton I Jump QLD 7 Donna Dyson Swish The Fish QLD 8 Dez Staunton & Vanessa Staunton Frogs Like To Hop QLD 9 Dez Staunton & Vanessa Staunton Let’s Dance QLD 10 David Reeve Share NSW
Spiritual Category
Jacques Gentil
1 Jacques Gentil A Million And One Ways To Die VIC
2 Jacques Gentil Till My Love Is Gone VIC
3 Peter Christie, Roger Corbett & God Guitars And The Open Road NSW
Allan Caswell
4 David Carter & Merelyn Carter World Full Of Angels VIC
5 Jacques Gentil People Need To Know VIC
6 Lola Brinton & Dale Duncan Little Old Church On The Hill NSW
7 David Reeve & David Highet Resurrection NSW
8 Jacques Gentil Blinded Mind (Bartimaeus Song) VIC
9 Samantha Mooney The Touch Of Your Wings QLD
10 John Blok & Joanna Fuchs More Like Jesus QLD
10 Stephen Kermode Twilight NSWYouth Category Kaitlyn Thomas 1 Kaitlyn Thomas Shotgun VIC 2 Sophia Petropoulos Boy In The Shadow VIC 3 Leea Nanos & Frank Dixon Set Me Free VIC 4 Angelica Del Bono & Ricky Muscat Stronger VIC 5 Delta Charlesworth Sweet Dreaming NSW 6 Georgia Triantafillopoulos Compass VIC 7 Angus Brill Reed Fit In SA 8 Delta Charlesworth Go To Town NSW 9 Jasmine Dale Over My Head NSW 10 Georgie Raft & Alex Hosking Better Off Without Me SA 10 Sam Campbell-McRae Christine NSW
Anirban Banerjee: 2018 APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year On 31/10/18, we had a chat to Anirban Banerjee, the winner of the Ballad and the International Categories in the 2018 Australian Songwriting Contest. At this time, he was not aware that he had been selected as the 2018 APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year. ASA: We are pleased to have Anirban Banerjee with us again. He has been a past Category winner in the songwriting contests, and this year, he has won two categories: firstly the Ballad Category with a song called “Love of My Life” and secondly, the International Category, with a great song called “Undecided”. So, welcome Anirban. Anirban: Thank you very much Alan. I am excited to be here. ASA: Tell us a bit about the songs: firstly, the Ballad Category winner? Anirban: I have had this melody in my head for a while and I thought why not try a different tempo this time? So, it’s on a six by eight tempo and I think that suits the feel of the ballad. Basically, I wanted to write a wedding song and the lyrics flow in that direction, and of course she chooses the love of her life and that’s what the chorus is all about. I think it worked out really well in the end and I am glad it won a category. ASA: The judges certainly agreed. Now, the international category is a song you had entered previously, and it stuck in a few people’s heads. Tell us a bit about the song, Undecided? Anirban: Its quite a personal song of mine. It sort of reflects collective mistakes we make and the consequences we suffer because of those mistakes. Having said that, at the end of the song, the lyrics refer to accepting the consequences and moving on, never to repeat again. Though it’s my personal story, I think we can all relate to the circumstances. ASA: You are a non-performing songwriter, and you have two soloists performing your songs tonight? Anirban: Yes, I am very blessed to have these two amazing artists to perform my songs.
ASA: Tell us who they are if you will?
Anirban: Bec Caruana is doing the Ballad
and Luke Ryan is doing the other.
ASA: Tell us a bit about your songwriting
process. I know during the judging process
that you had some very good songs
entered in the contest. What’s your process
of writing? You said for the Ballad that you
had a melody in your head, so is it lyrics
first and melody later? How do you
combine them?
Anirban: It’s a good question really! It can
vary from song to song. Sometimes if I
have a melody in my head I keep playing it
over and over on my keyboard, then I
reach a point where I need to make a
decision whether it’s a verse melody or a
chorus melody. Once the melody is half
done, then I start thinking about the lyrics
and if it’s going to go towards a ballad or a
rock- pop song or R&B, so it’s sort of jointly
done, but I do think its melody first for me.
Bec Caruana (above) performed Anirban’s Ballad on the night.
ASA: All your songs seem to be professionally recorded. Where do you record them?
Anirban: I am very fortunate to have some of the best producers both in Sydney
and Melbourne. Love of My Life was recorded in Sydney and Undecided was recorded
by a Melbourne producer.
I work with different producers. There is a lot of great production talent and singing
talent in Australia. In a way, I am glad I don’t perform. That way I get to work with
the best producers and artists.
ASA: Obviously you are good at your craft, so let me ask you for a bit of advice for
any up and coming songwriters. What would you say to them?
Anirban: It’s important to use both your brain and your heart in a very intelligent
way. You need both sometimes to make sure that the song has a lot of feelings, and
at the same time, it has to have a commercial appeal so that it connects with the
audience and it has all the essential elements of a hit song. So, you need to balance
the head and the heart. That’s what the game is all about if you want to make a hit
song.
ASA: Well said! Thank you, Anirban.Official Photos From The 2018 National Songwriting Awards
2018 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees
The Rudy Brandsma Award is presented annually by the Board of Directors of the
ASA in recognition of songwriting excellence by an ASA member during the course of
each year’s Australian Songwriting Contest. The eight 2018 nominees were:
Left to Right: Abbey Slattery (Melbourne VIC), Brendan
Smoother (Goonellabah NSW) and Donna Dyson
(Brisbane QLD)
Julie Prowse (Blackville NSW), Lola Brinton (Central Coast NSW) (2018 Winner)
and Sally-Anne Whitten (Tamworth NSW)
Steve Montgomery (Sydney NSW) and Tess Libreri & Thomas Libreri (Yinnar VIC)The 2018 National Songwriting Awards: The Halloween Theme In keeping with the Halloween theme of the 31 October 2018 National Songwriting Awards, some of our guests came along in Halloween themed dress. Our very own Dead Singer Band dressed for the occasion and performed their version of the 1970s hit song, Horror Movie. The Dead Singer Band (above) comprises (Left to Right): Colin Burgess, Vanessa Lea, Denny Burgess (ASA Chairman) and Roger Faynes. Other guests (below) also came along attired for Halloween.
Wax Lyrical Roundup: Sydney NSW Christmas Wax Lyrical, 1 November 2018, Wests Ashfield Club
ASA Sunshine Coast QLD, 1 November 2018, Sunnys @ Moffatt ASA Yarra Ranges VIC, 15 November 2018, Cunningham’s Hotel
ASA Central Coast NSW, 19 November 2018, Magenta Shores Golf Club
ASA Regional Queensland, 26 November 2018, Russell Tavern Dalby QLD
ASA Newcastle NSW, 12 November 2018 Carrington Bowling Club
ASA Canberra ACT, 16 September 2018, Irish Club
ASA Cairns QLD, 4 December 2018, Portsmith Club
Lucy Parle: 2018 Winner Of The Folk/Acoustic Category Last year’s Youth Category winner, Lucy Parle, has won the Folk/Acoustic Category this year. We caught up with Lucy prior to the 2018 National Songwriting Awards. ASA: We are pleased to have Lucy Parle with us for a chat. Lucy is the 2018 winner of the acoustic category with her song “I Used To Love You”. Welcome Lucy! You were the winner of the Youth Category in the 2017 contest and now you have popped up as a winner of one of the adult categories. How does that make you feel? Lucy: Pretty proud. it’s a big achievement for me seeing as I am only fifteen. Most of the time I feel intimidated by the older people, I think it’s nice to have that self confidence that I can be as good as them. ASA: Can you tell us a little bit about your song? Lucy: The song is about my ex-boyfriend. it’s called “I Used to Love You”. it’s about the time we spent together and how I miss that, I guess it’s all explained in the song. ASA: Tell us a bit more of the story, it’s obviously inspired by a past relationship, but what can we conclude out of the message the lyric tells? Lucy: Its sort of about the getting over process. it’s like you are not fully over it, but you know you can’t get it back, but you still miss all the times you had together, so I think it’s about the realization that you need to move on and letting go.
ASA: You are a performing songwriter and you are from the Central Coast of NSW. Do you perform around the Coast at all? Lucy: Yes, all the time. I do gigs at pubs and I do lots of busking gigs. It gives me a bit of money. I have done a gig with Kasey Chambers band and I did one with my guitar teacher and that was awesome. That was one of my favourite gigs that I have done so far. I go to a few open mic nights. My guitar teacher, Trent Crawford, runs open mics. They are a whole lot of fun. Sometimes, he gets up with his mandolin and plays with me which is great. ASA: Are you doing any recording of your songs? Lucy: Not at the moment. I have a lot of songs I want to record, and I have a lot of recording deals which I have won in contests, so I am emailing all those people trying to get them involved. ASA: In terms of your songs what is the main inspiration for your writing? Lucy: Boys, being a teenager. I have been writing a lot about that lately because everything is changing as you’re growing up and realizing that life is too short to be all dramatic, so that’s mostly what I write about. ASA: So, eventually are you planning to put an EP out of your songs? Lucy: Yes, I have written an EP a few years ago when I was thirteen and my voice has changed so much, every time I listen to that I think oh my goodness I sound nothing like that anymore, but definitely I am going to put one out. I have a few songs I would love to record so I’m working to get that done.
Sponsors Profiles:
1. Major Sponsor: Wests Ashfield Leagues Club
Thanks to major sponsor, the Wests Ashfield Club.
A premier entertainment and dining venue, and home of Wests Tigers and Wests
Magpies Rugby League teams, Wests Ashfield is an excellent place to visit in
Sydney’s inner west.
Not only supporting a host of local sporting and youth-related activities, the Club lifts
itself above the rest by also being a “Patron of the Arts”, as demonstrated by its
incredible ongoing sponsorship of the ASA.
All music lovers are encouraged to return the favour by becoming a member of
Wests Ashfield, and at very least, indulging yourself by enjoying some of the culinary
delights the Club has on offer.
Thanks Wests Ashfield for a great year!
LET WESTS ASHFIELD
TAKE CARE OF CHRISTMAS
LUNCH!
Share in the joy of Christmas with your
family and friends with a 3 course meal,
a selection of fresh seafood, pepper
crusted beef and yummy desserts.
Santa Claus will be making a special
guest appearance.
Session 1: 11.30am – 1.30pm
Session 2: 2.00pm – 4.00pm
$80 Members | $90 Non-members | $30 kids up to 12 years
Contact Club Reception on (02) 8752 2000 as bookings are essential and pre-
payment is required.2. Major Sponsor: APRA AMCOS
Thanks also to major
sponsor, APRA/AMCOS, for
sponsoring, and presenting,
the APRA ASA Songwriter of
the Year Award, at the 2016
National Songwriting
Awards.
APRA AMCOS generously
provides prize money of
$3,000 to the winner/s,
which last year, was Steve
Montgomery.
If you write music, you should become a member of APRA AMCOS. It’s free to join,
and once you do, APRA AMCOS can help you make money from your music. Become
part of a collective community of 100,000 songwriters!
3. Maton Guitars
Maton Guitars have been sponsors of The
Rudy Brandsma Award for many, many
years.
Each year, Maton provides one of their
beautiful acoustic guitars as the prize for
the award.
This year, Rudy Brandsma Award winner,
Lola Brinton, was presented with a Solid
Road Series (SRS) acoustic/electric guitar,
valued at $1,899.
The new Maton SRS series of guitars is the culmination of years of development by
Maton’s senior luthiers and production designers. The Solid Road Series features
Tasmanian Blackwood or Queensland Maple back and sides, A Grade Sitka Spruce
Top, Scalloped Bracing, Queensland Maple Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge.
The AP5 Pro Pickup System comes as standard, ensuring you have the very best in
acoustic guitar pick up technology at your fingertips.
Maton also produces a wide range of electric guitars and folk instruments, so if
you’re looking for the best in Australian made instruments, you can’t go past Maton.
To view the full range of Maton musical instruments, visit the Maton website at
www.maton.com.au. Maton products are available at all good music stores around
Australia.4. Noteflight
Noteflight is an online music writing application
that lets you create, view, print and hear
professional quality music notation right in your web
browser.
Be sure to take advantage of a FREE 3 Months
access to the wonderful online songwriting tool,
Noteflight.
Use this link:
https://www.noteflight.com/commerce/purchase_m
onthly?url_coupon_code=3monthasa
5. Vocal Art Studios
Vocal Art Studios hit the jackpot at the 2018
National Songwriting Awards, when VAS General
Manager, Ricky Muscat, took out joint first place in
the Ballad Category.
Congratulations, Ricky, and your fellow songwriters,
James Leigh and Vince Leigh, for an amazing
result.
Vocal Art Studios is an award-winning vocal and
music school providing
Vocal Art Studios commenced operation in January 2003 in Brunswick, Victoria as a
boutique Singing School focusing on honest and quality advice and tuition for
Beginners to Professionals of all ages.
In mid-2003, the studio moved to East Keilor where it remained for almost 8 years,
and during that time introduced new services including full music tuition as well as
other Entertainment services. VAS moved to bigger premises to Airport West in
January 2011 and 2016.
There have been too many achievements to mention over the last 14 Years, however
the studio’s goal is to always provide the very best quality in Music Training, with
realistic and honest advice about the Music Industry and to provide skills and
confidence that you can take with you through the rest of your life.Past and Present Students' have featured on Television, Radio, Recording Contracts in Australia and overseas, Professional Musicals, Corporate Productions, and Press around Australia and across the globe. The reputation of the studio is held in high regard across the Music Industry, which is testimony to the fantastic Teaching Team and the relationships the Founder Liz Tripodi has developed and built with Industry Professionals in various aspects of the Entertainment Industry. VAS provides the following services: • Singing Lessons & Vocal Coaching • Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, Keyboard & Theory Lessons • Recording & Music Production Studio • Songwriting Classes • Talent Development Program • Performance Opportunities • Rock Band Classes • GLEE Club • Audition and Performance Training • Workshops • Exams • Entertainment Agency • Adjudication Services • Accredited Courses to Diploma Level • Competitions • VCE Music Preparation • Performance Tours • Music Events across Australia & OS • Wide Support Industry Network • VAS Records registered with ARIA • Digital Music Content Provider
2018 In Memoriam
Greg Bonham
Growing up in the country town of West
Wyalong, NSW, this lovely bloke was an
entertainer and songwriter who was
relatively unknown in Australia, but
hugely successful in other parts of the
world including the USA and Europe. In
Russia, he sold over 14 million records. He
was a regular performer in Las Vegas and
was recently performing his ‘G’day Las
Vegas’ show at the Smith Center.
Greg got his start in Australia performing on the Graham Kennedy Show and the
Ernie Sigley Show before moving to the UK and appearing on the Petula Clark Show.
In the USA, Greg appeared on the Merv Griffith Show three times, and opened for
Jay Leno, Don Rickles and Joan Rivers.
Extremely wealthy from his musical career (so rare it’s worth mentioning!), but
eternally humble and kind, Greg always remembered his Aussie roots and his friends
out here, releasing a CD through local independent label Regal Records in recent
years.
Tragically, Greg died from a heart attack at just 69 years of age.
Phil Emmanuel
Phil Emmanuel was one of Australia’s
greatest guitarists, as well as being an
award composer in his own right. He was
still actively performing, with a show
booked at the Cootamundra Hotel on the
weekend of his death. He was a popular,
down to earth, friendly and lovable
character to the end.
From the age of 9, and for 6 years (until
1966), Phil toured with his family band,
variously named The Emmanuel Quartet, The Midget Surfaries and The Trailblazers.
Phil played lead, Tommy played rhythm guitar, while their brother Chris was on
drums and their sister Virginia on slide guitar. They earned their family’s soul income
until they were forced by the Australian Child Welfare Department to stop travelling,
and were sent to a ‘regular’ school! The Emmanuel’s first brush with fame came
when The Trailblazers won two televised talent contests and were able to produce an
album.
After leaving school, Phil scored a gig at the Texas Tavern (Kings Cross),
entertaining American servicemen, and that was where he developed his love of
American country music. He was influenced by the “instrumental tunes that defined
the sound of the electric guitar when it was a new instrument”, as well as the
Beatles, Al Di Meola, Steve Morse, Gary Moore and Jeff Beck, but most profoundly of
all by Hank B. Marvin and The Shadows. He eventually played alongside many of this
idols, including Hank, John Jorgensen, Will Ray, Bonnie Raitt, Duanne Eddy, JamesBurton, Carlos Santana, the band ‘America’, The Ventures and Eric Clapton.
Examples of his versatility are that he played jazz with James Morrison and Don
Burrows, country with Slim Dusty, Lee Kernaghan, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson,
and rock with Dire Straits, Midnight Oil, Don Walker and John Farnham, to name a
few. He played packed concerts across the world, but was also a regular participant
around Australia at many festivals and events, including Steve Flack’s Guitar Heroes
shows. Who could ever forget his renditions of the ever romantic ‘Wonderful
Tonight’?
Compounding a sad year for the Emmanuels, who in April also lost their 69 year old
sister Virginia, Phil died suddenly after suffering an asthma attack in Parkes, NSW at
the age of 65 years.
Paul Gray
A popular Australian remembered for his
gentleness and good nature, Paul met
with early success as the lead vocalist of
the funk/pop band Wa Wa Nee. The band
formed in 1982, signed with CBS Records
in 1985, and then and had an Australian
hit with their debut single ‘Stimulation’,
which Paul wrote and sang. It peaked at
#2 on the Australian singles charts. Wa
Wa Nee later charted in the United
States with the song ‘Sugar Free’. The
band broke up in 1989 but re-formed
later to perform at 1980s revival concerts and support Rick Astley and The Human
League tours.
After Wa Wa Nee, Gray concentrated on working fruitfully as a keyboard player,
musical director, songwriter and producer. He worked with the likes of Tina Arena,
Kate Ceberano and Bardot. He also appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2
concert series, and he performed around Melbourne with fellow 1980s stars Scott
Carne, of Kids in the Kitchen, and Brian Mannix, of Uncanny X-Men.
He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2014 and died at just 54 years of age.
Jeff St John
More of a poet than a songwriter, but a
legendary singer deserving
acknowledgement for his courage and
spirit. Jeff was born with spina bifida, but
began performing young.
At 15, he came 2nd on the TV talent
show Opportunity Knocks, and soon after
joined the band The Syndicate after
they saw him on The Don Lane Show.
The owners of Sydney’s first discotheque
offered them a residency if they changed their name to The Id (because it
was Freud’s idea of ‘greatest motivation’). The Id enjoyed a huge hit with the brass-driven single, ‘Big Time Operator’, which reached Top 10 status. The Id was also the
first Australian band to be busted for possession of pot!
Jeff continued to perform live until he was in his late 30’s, despite a series of
operations that left him wheelchair-bound. One highlight was with Copperwine, which
played at the 1970 Ourimbah Pilgrimage For Pop – Australia’s first major outdoor
rock festival. Jeff also became the first Australian artist to sign to the US Asylum
label and reached the Top 10 in 1977 with ‘Fool In Love,’ written by Frankie Miller
and Andy Fraser.
Jeff’s philosophy was ‘take a big bite of life and chew like hell’ – and that is exactly
how he lived his life, as he continued to record, and supported others with
disabilities. He finally died from complications of his own long illness, at the age of
71.
Rory O’Donoghue
Born in London to musical parents, Rory
began playing guitar at 7 years old, and
appeared on Coca-Cola Bottler's Club
Radio Show playing ‘skiffle’ music.
He was also a professional child actor
before moving to Australia where he
joined The Pogs, with great success.
Collaborating at uni with Grahame Bond in the student theatre revue ‘The Great Wall
of Porridge’ in 1967, they achieved commercial success that reportedly paid for
a parquetry floor in the Sydney University architecture students' common room!
Many further collaborations followed with members of the revue team, such as
writer Geoffrey Atherden, future producer-director Maurice Murphy and future film
director Peter Weir.
Rory’s ongoing work with Grahame Bond included the ground-breaking sketch
comedy The Aunty Jack Show (1972-73), which catapulted them to national
prominence. Rory's biggest popular music success was as the singer and co-
composer (with Bond) of the Aunty Jack Show closing theme, ‘Farewell Aunty Jack’ in
1974; it became an Australian No. 1 hit single for three weeks.
Another TV series collaboration with Bond for the ABC however was infamously
pulled just before going to air by an ABC executive who objected so vehemently to
the first episode of ‘The Off Show’ (1975) and its sketch ‘Leave It To Jesus’ (a
religiously-themed parody of the 1950s American sitcom Leave It To Beaver), that
he reportedly seized the master tape and erased it!
Rory and Bond's unhappiness with their treatment by the ABC led to their
estrangement from the network, exacerbated by persistent rumours (though later
proved untrue) that the ABC had erased all or major parts of the master tapes of the
duo's various Aunty Jack-era projects. Hence, until the parties reconciled in the
2000s, the material wasn’t re-screened due to the pair refusing (as copyright
owners) to give permission for the ABC to re-broadcast any of the large amount of
original music they’d composed for the series.Rory and Bond also formed an award-winning advertising partnership, composing
many successful jingles, including a popular animated advertisement for Kentucky
Fried Chicken. In addition, Rory composed the music for many TV movies, series and
documentaries, including co-writing the score for the Australian movie Fatty Finn, for
which he won an AFI Award for best music.
He played lead guitar solo on the hit 1974 Kevin Johnson single ‘Rock 'N' Roll (I Gave
You all the Best Years of My Life)’ too, and moved into music teaching.
Unexpectedly, he also completed regularly in Ironman competitions in later life!
On 13 December last year, whilst undergoing treatment for depression and mental
illness, Rory committed suicide in hospital at the age of 68 years.
Michael Weiley
Lead guitarist, singer and songwriter with
Sydney band V Spy V Spy, Michael was
born in London and proudly recalled
having only one guitar lesson in his life.
“We moved to Wales and I was at the
actress Julie Christie’s house and a bloke
with an earring dropped around for a visit
and ended up showing me a chord. The
next day I happened to be reading a pop
magazine, and I saw that the bloke
was Ronnie Lane, of the Small Faces!”
Moving to Sydney in his mid-teens,
Michael ended up forming a band whick
lived in a roofless squat in Glebe for
almost eight years, surrounded by
refugees, drug dealers and bohemian
artists.From there came their lyrical street
politics.
Like the Oils, Hoodoo Gurus and Australian Crawl, V Spy V Spy were massive in
Brazil, where they toured no less than 16 times.
In recent years, Michael led a new line-up of the band, and commented that songs
written 30 years ago – like Don’t Tear It Down about the destruction of inner
cities, Credit Card about the gulf between the haves and have-nots, Injustice about
the plight of First Nation communities, Harry’s Reasons about heroin addiction, Trash
The Planet and Xenophobia(Why?) – were still as relevant today as then.
Michael passed after a battle with cancer. He was 59.Peter John Gelling
Blues musician, music teacher, song-
writer, composer and author, Peter was
born in Bulli, NSW, before moving to
Canberra.
His life was similar to many a bluesman in
that he went through extremely hard
times and struggled with some savage
demons including a life-long struggle with
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A 12-step
rehab program that he entered in his late
teens, and music, were his saviours.
Peter wrote more than 130 music
instruction books and released five
critically acclaimed albums, including the
Aria-nominated Bluestime and multi
award-winning Fortune.
In 2003, he won the Musicoz award in the
Blues and Roots category for his song ‘If it
wasn’t for the Blues’.
His blues guitar manuals sold well, even in
America, and his playing was described by
‘Rolling Stone’ magazine as ‘shimmering’.
He was the founder, guitarist and harmonica player in the band, Blind Freddy, which,
remarkably for a Canberra-based band, broke into the Sydney scene with regular
gigs at the legendary ‘Soup Plus’ venue.
Peter was also a brilliant song-writer and in 2003 came second in the blues category
of the International Songwriters Competition held at Nashville, with one of the
judges of his song, ‘Strong Medicine’, being BB King.
Performing at the Byron Bay Blues Festival in 1994, he did a quick survey of the
hundred-plus musicians and found that only two were female. In response, he
designed a mentoring program to encourage young female musicians in Canberra.
Peter died last month of ongoing health issues at the age of 58 years.
Farewell to these songwriters.Members News and Information
1. Songwriters Meeting Point
Perth WA lyricist, Patrick McMurray, is
looking to pursue musical collaboration
with like-minded composers. Patrick can
be contacted at
Patrick@patrickmcmurray.com.
ASA member, Donna Hotz, is a lyricist
who is seeking a composer to help
create songs from her lyrics. If you can
help, please contact Donna on
donna_hotz@hotmail.com.
Sydney songwriter, Bob Brown is
looking for a co-writer. His musical likes
are “ballads/ country/ country rock/ guitar instrumental, but I'm open to whatever
project.” “I've been in the Top 30 of ASA but never cracked it further in.” Bob has
sent us some recordings which we are happy to pass on to anyone who is interested.
Bob can be contacted on hbmarvin@gmail.com.
ASA member, Tony Bogan is a lyricist, who is looking to team up with a
musician/composer, to put music to his words.
Tony writes: “I have a collection of around 40 song lyrics I have written of varying
ideas or themes (not boring love songs either) and I really want to team up with
some good musos/composers ASAP.”
Tony can be contacted on 0488 443 155 and tonydb71@gmail.com.
ASA Member, Liz Connolly, is a vocalist, lyricist and songwriter, looking for a Gold
Coast or Northern NSW based songwriting partner who can help write/co-write
guitar/piano accompaniments to her songs. Liz has half a dozen songs in a variety
of styles (pop, rock, folk, ballads), that she has completed or semi-completed using
electronic songwriting tools. In 2014, her song "Don't be Afraid" was short listed for
the ASA song writing competition Contemporary Pop/Dance Category but didn’t
progress any further. Liz can be contacted at lizconnollymusic@gmail.com or
0409345133.
Willy57 is a lyricist who is looking for someone to write melodies to his lyrics. If you
are interested, Willy can be contacted at willy57@optusnet.com.au.
Spencer Kelly writes “I've been writing songs for years but it's only in the past 6
years that I've been getting Stacy Hogan at Writers Paradise studio to produce them.
Have been on the lookout for a great co-writer / lyricist as I tend to get a bit tired of
my own lyrics - I've got a lot of great backing tracks/melodies I've written and
demo'd (100+), but haven't developed further, so if you know of a good writer who
might be interested, I can be contacted at spencerwho@yahoo.com.
Looking for somebody? Contact us on alang@asai.org.au.2. 2018 Hollywood Music In Media Awards
We were pleased to see that three ASA members have done extremely well in the
2018 Hollywood Music In Media Awards.
The awards ceremony was held in Hollywood on 14 November 2018.
Susan Muranty (pictured above with
another ASA member, and fellow
nominee, Katie Hardyman), won the
Lyrics/Lyricist Category of the Hollywood
Music In Media Awards for her song,
Stephen Hawking Wants You To.
Katie Hardyman was a nominee in the
Adult Contemporary Category with her
song, Somebody’s Someone, which also
placed in the Top 10 in the Ballad
Category of the 2018 Australian
Songwriting Contest.
And, not to be outdone, ASA member and
Regional Co-Ordinator for Yarra Valley
VIC, Wendy Barnes, was also a nominee
in the Lyrics/Lyricist Category for her
song, Mistakes.
Wendy was also announced as ASA
Regional Co-Ordinator Of The Year at the
2018 National Songwriting Awards.
Congratulations, Susan, Katie and
Wendy, for your great efforts.Stephen Phillip: 2018 Winner Of The Australia Category Stephen Phillip was the winner of the Australian Category in the 2018 songwriting contest with his song “A Changing Landscape” we caught up with him for a chat. ASA: Welcome Stephen! Tell us about your song and what is changing in the landscape? Stephen: It was actually written about my father. We did a trip out west together where we were recollecting the old days where we grew up out west. Upon our return we split ways. I went north and Dad went south. My brother and I had a bit of time to reflect on the river and about the times we had with Dad and how he was looking back at his past and when he was a boy and how things had changed. It was a time of reflection of both our lives and how things have changed as the years went on and of our acceptance of change or lack thereof. ASA: The lyrics sound like it’s a very supportive song for men on the land who are a bit isolated and lonely perhaps. Is that written into it? Stephen: Absolutely. The strongest message in the song is for people not to be afraid to talk and also to listen. It’s very helpful for people who are going through tough times or experiencing changes they are unfamiliar with to talk it out, talk to others and their family and friends and if they are not available talk to someone who is able to offer some assistance and guidance with the direction you are going and acceptance of where you are heading. ASA: Is this a common theme in your songwriting or do you draw on different topics? Stephen: Most of my songwriting is very personal to me. I like to write on personal experiences that I have gone through. Writing is nothing I try to force. I don’t go searching for topics, it’s just something that just comes to me and the words flow out, but it is usually self-reflective in some shape or form. ASA: What comes first? Is it melody or lyrics or does it just pour out together?
Photo: The Australia Category finalists with Stephen Phillip in the Centre. Stephen: I think a melody is always there in the background niggling away, and then I try to put some words to it. Sometimes it’s vice versa and the lyrics will jump straight out at me and I then have to find some sort of melody to go with it. ASA: You have an album out don’t you? Stephan: Yes, I do have an album of eleven songs, with A Changing Landscape being the feature title. it was released in July this year. ASA: Is it country genre or crossover? Stephan: It’s a bit country, a bit ballad, a bit Australian, really it’s all very Australian. I like to focus on life in Australia and being Australian. There are a few funny tunes and a few serious things, some songs were written twenty plus years ago and made it on to the album, they just seemed to fit into album. ASA: Your songwriting has bought you here tonight as the winner of the Australia category, what are your plans for the future, is it more writing and recording? Stephen: For me the studio is where I like to put the colour to things so I would love to put pen to paper and continue the journey, it would also be great to collaborate with other artists to work with.
2018 ASA Regional Co-Ordinators Conference (Left To Right): Gary Luck (ASA Director), Wendy J Ford (ASA Regional Co- Ordinator Northern Rivers NSW), Alan Gilmour (ASA Vice Chairman), Denny Burgess (ASA Chairman), Angelo Pash (ASA Regional Co-Ordinator Adelaide SA), Clare Burgess (ASA Director and CEO), Paul Vella (ASA Regional Co- Ordinator Central Coast NSW) and Wendy J Ford (ASA Regional Co- Ordinator Yarra Valley VIC). Each year, following the National Songwriting Awards, the ASA holds a Regional Co- Ordinators Conference for the ASA Regional Co-Ordinators who are in town at the time. This year’s conference was held at the Wests Ashfield Club in Sydney. The purpose of the conference is to discuss issues facing Regional Co-Ordinator in their regions, and to plan for a fabulous 2019. Congratulations to Wendy Barnes, our Regional Co-Ordinator for Yarra Valley VIC, for winning the award for the 2018 ASA Regional Co-Ordinator Of The Year at the 2018 National Songwriting Awards. If you are interested in becoming an ASA Regional Co-Ordinatofr in your region, please contact ASA Director, Gary Luck, who would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
ASA Members CD Releases Above: Watling & Bates, Small Town Tales: Cathy Dobson, Tales From A Suburban Housewife; Kristy James, Raw; Francesca de Valence, Own Self; Jim Ottaway, Yesterday Passing; Sally-Anne Whitten, Burgundy Street; Beverley, Secret Strength; Chris Fisher, Singin’ For Change; Melissa Robertson, Little Country Life.
Above: Rick Hart, Let Me In; Lucy Pace, Country Fever; Andrea Robertson, Remind Myself; Lisa Sutton, Fallen Angel; Garry Bagnell, A Finer Line; Alex Tobin, Waiting; Lloyd Back, Travelling With You; Stephen Keily and Roxanne Keily, Busy Issy and Friends; The Kate Lush Band, Let It Fly. Below: Emma Dykes, Pay It Forward; Vanessa Delaine, Wild & Free; Lynn Hazelton, The Cook’s Daughter; Becci Nethery, Beautiful Life; Lloyd Clarke, I’ll Sing You A Song; The Genre Benders (Hugh Brown), Alive And Alone; Taylor Pfeiffer, Take Her; The Long & The Short Of It, Requested Favourites; Kalesti Butler, Airborne; Andrew Barker, Life’s Little Steps; Kylie Ryan, Dream Chaser.
Above: Sandy Louise, The Other Side; Billy Bridge, Stories Through Time; Skii Harvey, Standing For A Fall; Julia Starr, Roller Coaster Blues Band; Mike Lusk, Leap Of Faith (featuring 12 songs written by ASA member, John Blok); Sharon Heaslip, A Thousand Different Pictures; Renee Jonas, Renee Jonas; Tony Kennelly, Hittin’ The Wall; Keri McInerney, The Best of Keri McInerney; Francesca de Valence, Own Self; Chris Fisher, Singin’ For Change; Kristy James, Overdrive; CJ Turner, Back From The Ashes; Peter Salata, Destination Unknown; Rachel Summerell, No Secrets. Below: Jim Williams, Click Bait; Kerrie Garside, Made It To Tamworth; Renee McAlpin, So Much More; Kathy Coleman, Because Of You; Pete Hawkes, Eastern Swing; Galliano Sommavilla, Welcome To My Side Of The World; Claude Poffandi, Inspirations; Sleeping Babys (Stacie Richardson), Resistor.
Above: Christina Crofts, Midnight Train; Stewart Peters, Keep On Running; Steve Wade, Tempted; Michael Meeking & The Lost Souls, Saturday Night Sunday Morning; Fabulous Lemon Drops (Dez and Vanessa Staunton); Everything’s Gone Green; David Harrison, Ten Thousand Faces; Carmel Charlton, Whispers On The Wind; John Hollywood, Frozen Memories; Beautifully Mad (Tony King), Spin; Tyller Fischer, The Battle Inside; The Jiggidy (Steve Kermode), Roots of Evil; Vanessa Lea and Road Train, Cause and Effect. Below: Manjia Luo, Autumn Spectacle; Chris Turner, CJ Goes To Boyup Brook; Jim Ottaway, Deep Space Blue; Melissa Robertson, My Heart’s On Fire; Jasper Shelton Hollis (songs by Lola Brinton), The Devil’s Garden; Lost Song Project (Christopher Mustica), Nashville Sessions; Tom Anderson, Rags and Classics; Anna Van Riel, Cooking Up A Storm; and George Begbie, What Have I Done?
Above: Kieran Roberts, Audio Mind Travel; Hither & Yon, The Man Bench; Kylie Adams-Collier, Little Stone; Spotty Kites (Donna Dyson and Craig Allister Young), I Won’t Believe It’s Christmas and December Child; Sani Bolton, Sani Bolton; Lucy’s Lockett, Sailor Bay; Lucy Pace, Ain’t No Friend Of Mine; Peter Salata Homeward Bound; Peter Christie, God Guitars & The Open Road; Maddi Lyn, Scars & Memories. Below: Karen Law, The Calm After The Storm; Stephen Phillip, A Changing Landscape; Susan Muranty, Incandescence; Manjia Luo, Violet Flames; Butterscotch Pony, Get the Bunny’ Glen Naylor, Don’t Call It A Day Tonight; Ben Ransom, Slow Burn; Destiny Band, Changes.
Mark Cawley’s Monthly Songwriting Blog ARE YOUR SONGS STUCK ON “NICE”? The Kiss on The Cheek I’m coaching songwriters, worldwide, every week and one of the most common complaints I hear in the beginning is they feel stuck. Not talking writer’s block in this case, more that they’ve been digging in, learning tools, getting their songs out there and the feedback they’re getting is the dreaded “nice” comment. Nice is a kiss on the cheek, nice is “good effort”, or “you really know your craft”. Nice is “I like it, I just don’t LOVE it.” Nice is good and good is the enemy of great. To get to that next level your song needs to be great. Period. Maybe when you’ve hit this stage you feel writing has gotten harder or not as much fun as it was when you took joy in just being able to come up with a fully formed idea. The more tools you’ve been picking up, the more knowledge you’ve accumulated the more tough choices you have. All good until you find yourself hitting a wall. It becomes a battle. “My song is as good as what I’m hearing on the radio”, “my friends love my song”, “I’ve put in the hours”…may all be true but you still get the “nice” comment more often than not. Original ?? Good place to stop now and remember you’re no longer dealing with just the music, you’re dealing with the music business. You might be getting heard by the powers- that-be who are hearing tons of songs every day in a place like Nashville for instance. You might be ticking every box except for one. The one labeled “original
idea”. You can write the most heartfelt love song, killer melody or even come up with a “radio ready” demo but if that person behind the desk sniffs out the least bit of “I’ve heard this before” you’re headed for “nice”. It hurts sometimes because it usually isn’t for a lack of craft or talent at this stage. It’s just not an original idea. I don’t mean gimmicky, I mean the idea or twist in the idea, that makes someone want to love it. I know you could argue that lots of what you’re hearing is not great, or not all that unique and you could have a case but…if you’re hoping to stand out from the crowd, including the signed writers, be objective and see if your song is fresh. Fresh is better than nice every time. If you’re at this stage you know how to write a song. Don’t let the competition part cause you to lose that sense of play. The next step is to play great, don’t play nice! Mark Cawley Nashville, Tennessee 13 September 2018 Mark Cawley is a hit U.S. songwriter and musician who coaches other writers and artists to reach their creative and professional goals through iDoCoach.com. During his decades in the music business he has procured a long list of cuts with legendary artists ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Kathy Mattea, Russ Taff, Paul Carrack, Will Downing, Tom Scott, Billie Piper, Pop Idol winners and The Spice Girls. To date his songs have been on more than 16 million records. He is also a judge for Nashville Rising Star, a contributing author to USA Songwriting Competition, Songwriter Magazine, sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, judge for Belmont University's Commercial Music program and West Coast Songwriter events, Mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK, a popular blogger and, from time to time, conducts his own workshops including ASCAP, BMI and Sweetwater Sound. Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Mark has also lived in Boston, L.A., Indianapolis, London, and the last 23 years in Nashville, TN. Mark is in the process of writing his first book to be released in early 2019 based on his coaching and adventures in songwriting.
The Load Out Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our readers. We’ll catch you again next year.
Official Sponsors of the Australian Songwriting Contest
About Us
The Australian Songwriters Association Inc. is a national, not-for-profit,
member organization, dedicated to the support of songwriters and their
art, by providing avenues for encouragement and education of developing
Australian songwriters, and recognition and promotion of our
accomplished members.
Aims of the Association
To celebrate the art of songwriting;
To assist and encourage developing Australian songwriters;
To provide information and general advice to members;
To create performance opportunities for members;
To aid the professional development of members;
To enable members to meet and/or exchange ideas and information
To facilitate member transition into the established music industry;
To facilitate delivery of member services at a National, State and Regional
level;
To salute our best songwriters at major industry events such as our National
Songwriting Awards Night.
History of the ASA
The Association was founded in Melbourne VIC in August 1979 by the late Tom Louch
(1932-2009) and the late Rudy Brandsma (1944-1983), who saw the need for an
organisation that would bring Australian songwriters together.
Today, the Association has a vibrant membership Australia-wide and enjoys an
established and respected role within the music industry.
The ASA’s membership is diverse and embraces and explores all genres of music.
Contact Us
Mail: Locked Bag 18/178 Newtown NSW 2042 Australia
Phone/Fax: (02) 9516 4960
Email: asanationaloffice@asai.org.au
Website: www.asai.org.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asamusicians
www.facebook.com/australiansongwritersassociation
Youtube: www.youtube.com/austsongwriters
Patron: Glenn A BakerLife Members: Tom Louch, Rudy Brandsma, Russell Zimmer, Dominic Crea,
Marie Murphy, Colleen Zulian, Alex Bialocki, Rob Fairbairn,
Brian Henderson Ward and Kieran Roberts.
Directors:
Denny Burgess Chairman
Alan Gilmour Vice Chairman, Public Officer, Financial Officer, Online Content
Manager and Editor of The Australian Songwriter Magazine
Clare Burgess Director, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
Gary Luck Director and Manager of Regional Co-Ordinators
Regional Co-Ordinators
Ana Key Canberra ACT anak@asai.org.au
Angelo Pash Adelaide SA angelop@asai.org.au
Chris Fisher Northern Rivers NSW chrisf@asai.org.au
Garry Bagnell Gold Coast QLD garryb@asai.org.au
Hugh Brown Brisbane QLD hughb@asai.org.au
Jack Sim Mid North Coast NSW jacks@asai.org.au
Jo Dunning Blue Mountains NSW jod@asai.org.au
Julia Marr Cairns & Tablelands QLD juliam@asai.org.au
Kerrie Garside Sunshine Coast QLD kerrieg@asai.org.au
Lisa Sutton Dalby QLD lisas@asai.org.au
Maria Harkins Gippsland VIC mariah@asai.org.au
Matt Sertori Hobart TAS matts@asai.org.au
Melinda J Wells Wide Bay Burnett QLD melindajw@asai.org.au
Mike Cardy Perth WA mikec@asai.org.au
Paul Vella Central Coast NSW paulv@asai.org.au
Russell Neale Sydney NSW russelln@asai.org.au
Sandy Bennett Newcastle NSW sandyb@asai.org.au
Trevor Shard Melbourne VIC trevors@asai.org.au
Wendy J Barnes Yarra Valley VIC wendyb@asai.org.au
Wendy J Ford Northern Rivers NSW wendyjf@asai.org.au
Webmaster:
Dean Mackin, F1 Internet Services, (0409 240 660)
2018 APRA/ASA Australian Songwriter of the Year
Anirban Banerjee (ACT)
2018 Rudy Brandsma Award Winner
Lola Brinton (NSW)2018 PPCA Live Performance Award Winner Ricky Muscat (VIC) Australian Songwriters Hall Of Fame: 2018: Iva Davies (Icehouse) 2017: Vikki Thorn, Donna Simpson & Josh Cunningham (The Waifs) 2016: Andrew Farris and Michael Hutchence (INXS) 2015: Johnny Young 2014: Kate Ceberano 2013: Garth Porter (Sherbet) 2012: Don Walker (Cold Chisel) 2011: Steve Kilbey (The Church) 2010: Richard Clapton 2009: Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock) 2008: Doc Neeson, John Brewster & Rick Brewster (The Angels) 2007: Brian Cadd 2006: Glenn Shorrock, Beeb Birtles & Graeham Goble (Little River Band) 2005: Russell Morris 2004: Harry Vanda, George Young & Stevie Wright (The Easybeats) Lifetime Achievement Award 2017: Christine Anu, for her work as a Songwriter in the Music Industry for First Nations Peoples 2018 Australian Songwriting Contest Award Winners: Stephen Phillip (QLD) (Australia Category) Anirban Banerjee (ACT) (Ballad Category- Joint) Ricky Muscat (VIC) (Ballad Category- Joint) Jemma Siles (VIC) (Contemporary Pop/Dance Category) Stephanie Wade (VIC) (Country Category) Lucy Parle (NSW) (Folk/Acoustic Category) Tom Anderson (NSW) (Instrumental Category) Anirban Banerjee (ACT) (International Category) Kieran Roberts (ACT) & Katelyn Newlands (WA) (Lyrics Category) Kerrie Garside (QLD) (Open Category- Joint) Abbey Gardner (NSW) (Open Category- Joint) Antonio Corea (WA) (Rock/Indie Category) Stephen Keily & Roxanne Keily (NSW) (Songs For Children Category) Jacques Gentil (VIC) (Spiritual Category) Kaitlyn Thomas (VIC) (Youth Category)
Australian Songwriters Of The Year & Rudy Brandsma Award Winners
The title of Songwriter/ Song of the Year was first awarded in 1980, following the
establishment of the ASA in late 1979. The Rudy Brandsma Award was first
awarded in 1983, following the passing of ASA co-founder, Rudy Brandsma.
Songwriters Of The Year Rudy Brandsma Award Winners
2018 Anirban Banerjee Lola Brinton
2017 Steve Montgomery Samantha Mooney
2016 Donna Dyson & Damien Leith Alex Tobin
2015 Karen Guymer George Begbie
2014 Rick Hart Robert McIntosh
2013 Jacques Gentil Dani Karis
2012 Andrew Winton Melia & Nerida Naughton
2011 Brian Chapman Katie Hardyman
2010 Kate Rowe Karen Guymer
2009 Tony King Kate Lush
2008 Jason Campbell-Smith Jo-Kelly Stephenson
2007 Simon Shapiro Brenda-Lee Heathcote
2006 Emma Joleen Daniel Arvidson
2005 Michael Maher K’Crasher
2004 Trish Delaney-Brown Callee Mann
2003 Contest Not Held Contest Not Held
2002 Kyls Burtland Sara Downs
2001 Helen Mottee Keith Armitage
2000 Andrew Horabin Tomino Speciale
1999 Alf Tuohy Mike Kidd
1998 Kyls Burtland Not Known
1997 Xanthe Littlemore Michael Waugh
1996 Mark Crocker Felicity Hunt
1995 Rob Pippan Sharon Bothe
1994 Danny Hooper & Steve Cole Nigel Foote
1993 Not Known Billy Dettmer
1992 Not Known John Cooney
1991 Not Known Not Known
1990 Ian Paulin Jane Robertson
1989 Steve Wade Not Known
1988 Steve Wade Steve Wade
1987 Not Known Not Known
1986 Rob Stambulic Stu Storm
1985 Ross Nicholson & John Coco Steve Wade
1984 Not Known Debbie Bignell & Tony Stark
1983 Chris Lamech & Debbie Bignell Chris Lamech & Debbie Bignell
1982 Not Known Commenced in 1983
1981 Not Known Commenced in 1983
1980 Not Known Commenced in 1983
1979 Commenced in 1980 Commenced in 1983
This publication is © 2018 by The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.,
ABN 12 140 838 710, and may not be re-used without permission. The
views expressed in this magazine are the views of the writers and may not
necessarily reflect the views of the ASA. The ASA acknowledges and thanks
all sources from which information for this magazine was obtained.You can also read
