The Australian Songwriter Issue 130, December 2017 First published 1979 The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc. In This Edition: On the Cover of the ASA: The Waifs at the 2017 National Songwriting Awards Chairman’s Message Editor’s Message 2017 APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year & 2017 Rudy Brandsma Award Winner Photos from the 2017 National Songwriting Awards Category Top 10s in the 2017 Australian Songwriting Contest 2017 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees Behind the Scenes at the 2017 National Songwriting Awards Wax Lyrical Roundup Sponsors Profiles Members News and Information ASA Members CD Releases Songwriter Profile: Andrea Robertson More ASA Photos from The Vault 2017 ASA Regional Co-Ordinators Conference 2017 Australian Songwriters In Memoriam 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 2016 APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year o 2016 Rudy Brandsma Award Winner o 2016 PPCA Live Performance Award Winner o Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2004 to 2017) o 2016 Australian Songwriting Contest Category Winners o Songwriters of the Year and Rudy Brandsma Award (1983 to 2017) Chairman’s Message Hey Everybody, How good was the National Songwriting Awards 2017, held at Canterbury Hurlstone-Park RSL in Sydney on Wednesday 22 November? This annual ‘Event’ keeps getting bigger and bigger every year, and was of course sold-out once again. This time however, we were at a much larger venue, so a lot more people could be accommodated. It meant a record-breaking crowd was in attendance, with some of the best Songwriters walking the red carpet, and on show in an auditorium designed for the presentation of live music. The result was breathtaking, and definitely the best night ever. That’s saying something, because there have been some wonderful Awards Nights in the past. Personally, I was overwhelmed by the ‘show’ put on for the audience by our ‘Hall Of Fame’ recipients Josh Cunningham, Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn (The Waifs). Their sheer talent as Songwriters, singers and musicians is mind-blowing, whilst their unassuming, straight forward natures, and the way they go about their craft had me (and the audience) in raptures. I was particularly impressed by the fact that they sound-checked for over an hour to get the three songs they were going to play perfect, and it showed up big-time in their performance on the night. They were simply AWESOME! Our newest Award for ‘Lifetime Achievement’ was also a big success, with the lovely Christine Anu being the inaugural choice for her work as a Songwriter in the music industry working with and for First Nation people. She has a superb voice, and as an added bonus, the honor was bestowed on her by friend and exquisite singer Casey Donovan. Thanks to all who contributed to the most incredible ‘Awards’ ever, and also a fabulous 2017, including Vice Chairman and your Editor Alan Gilmour, Directors Clare Burgess and Gary Luck, all our fantastic Regional Coordinators, and all of the folk who make the ASA the great organization that it is. To all our Sponsors, including Major Champions Wests Ashfield and APRA, a big debt of gratitude for all your help and support. It is much appreciated. And so, one and all, have a Christmas to beat the band, and please peruse this missive prepared by your Editor Alan Gilmour over the silly season. See you in 2018. Regards Denny Burgess Chairman Editor’s Message Welcome to the December 2017 edition of The Australian Songwriter. With the 2017 Australian Songwriting Contest and the 2017 National Songwriting Awards now in our rear vision mirrors, your ASA Directors are about to take a well- earned break, and re-charge our batteries for the upcoming 2018 ASA year. I’d like to thank my fellow directors, Denny Burgess, Clare Burgess and Gary Luck for their wonderful contributions to the ASA during the year. Also, my thanks to ASA volunteer, Carole Beck, for her contributions to the ASA magazine, and for her suggestions and ideas 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 [email protected]. Alan Gilmour, Editor and Vice Chairman 2017 APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year and 2017 Rudy Brandsma Award Winner The 2017 APRA/ASA Songwriter of the Year is Steve Montgomery. Steve was also the winner of the 2017 Contemporary Pop/Dance Category, with his song, Santa I Can Explain, and the winner of the 2017 Lyrics Category with his song, Jack Keagan’s Pub. Steve is a singer/songwriter from Sydney NSW. We’ll have an interview with Steve in an upcoming edition of the magazine. The 2017 Rudy Brandsma Award winner is Samantha Mooney. Samantha lives on the Gold Coast QLD, and we’ll have an interview with her in an upcoming edition of the magazine. Samantha came 4th in the Open Category with her song, Free and Fearless, and 2nd in the Spiritual Category with her song, The Touch of your Wings. Photos: Top: Steve Montgomery with Jessica McDonald from APRA/AMCOS and ASA Chairman, Denny Burgess. Bottom: Samantha Mooney with Adrian Ayre from Maton Guitars and ASA Vice-Chairman, Alan Gilmour. 2017 National Songwriting Awards Photos Until the official photographs are available, we’ve appropriated a few photos of the 2017 National Songwriting Awards from social media. More to come. 2017 Category Winners in the Australian Songwriting Contest Australia Category Photo: 2017 Australia Category winner, Melvyn Moll Title Songwriters State 1 Rain Melvyn Moll NSW 2 Windale Lloyd Back QLD 3 The Green And Gold Susie Davies-Splitter/Phil Splitter VIC 4 A Thousand Different Pictures Sharon Heaslip QLD 5 Smell Of Rain Chris Fisher NSW 6 Memoirs Of Vietnam Carmelo Cacciola QLD 7 Australian Dream Tony Stephens/Andy Court WA The Cattlemen Of The 8 Lighthorse Maria Harkins VIC 9 Every Man's Lament Eleanor Tucker TAS 10 Burrumbuttock Hay Runners Brendan Smoother NSW 10 Only A Boy Donna Dyson/Damien Leith QLD Ballad Category Photo: 2017 Ballad Category winner, Jason Greenwood. Title Songwriters State 1 Broken Jason Greenwood VIC 2 Sigh Hannah May Bartle/Matt Boden TAS 3 The First And The Last Time Abbey Slattery VIC 4 Malala Tony King NSW 5 Dancin' With The Bottle Kristy James NSW 5 Superman Alex Tobin NSW 7 I Feel Connected Dexter Moore NSW 8 One Love, Many Names Brian Ward VIC 9 Coffee And Trains Frank Dixon VIC 10 Secret Love Vince Dale NSW 10 Slow Phil Riggio VIC Contemporary Pop/Dance Category Photos: 2017 Contemporary Pop/Dance Category winners, Steve Montgomery and Tyller Fischer. Title Songwriters State 1 The Battle Inside (Fight) Tyller Fischer VIC 1 Santa, I Can Explain Steve Montgomery NSW 3 Fight From The Inside Andrew Bertola NSW 4 Reset Robert Bostock/Rachael Bostock QLD Paloma Rush-Drive (Rush Hour Catherine Duc/Paloma Ramos/Lars 5 Remix) Deutsch VIC 6 Real Eleanor Wilcher ACT 7 Utopia Donna Dyson/Tyrone Noonan QLD 8 Deep Down Anirban Banerjee ACT 9 Falling Back Frank Dixon VIC 10 The Moment Abbey Gardner NSW 10 Time Won't Let Me Go Greg Tomkins SA Country Category Photos: 2017 Country Category winners, Kristy James and Chris Murphy. Title Songwriters State 1 Kid From The Country At Heart Chris Murphy WA 1 Take Me Down Kristy James NSW 3 Not Counting The Days Go By Scott Douglas/Emily Joy QLD 4 Road To Nowhere Anthony Quinsee QLD 5 Pay It Forward Emma Dykes/Drew McAlister NSW 6 I Wrote This One For You Becci Nethery QLD 7 Shine On Me Sophia Chesworth NSW 8 Slow Me Down Kylie Ryan NSW 9 Tell Me When John Williams NSW 10 Grandma Days Spencer Kelly WA Folk/Acoustic Category Photo: 2017 Folk/Acoustic Category winner, Abbey Slattery Title Songwriters State 1 The First And The Last Time Abbey Slattery VIC 2 Something I Know Anirban Banerjee ACT 3 Legacy Miriam Lieberman NSW 4 Moving Breeze Dexter Moore NSW 5 Jericho Rose Catherine Dobson VIC 6 Beer And Wine Daniel Maguire ACT 7 Hooks Anna Wright VIC 8 Close Behind Dave Power QLD 9 Dad Joke Blues Hugh Brown QLD 10 Snowflake Katie Hardyman NSW Instrumental Category Photo: 2017 Instrumental Category winners, Calvin Welch, Robert Shannon, Veren Grigorov & Thomas Wade (Arabesk). Title Songwriters State Calvin Welch/Robert Shannon/Veren 1 Waltz Ala Bra Grigorov/Thomas Wade NSW 2 Mess About John Delaney NSW 3 Lilly Pilly Rag Tom Anderson NSW Calvin Welch/Robert Shannon/Veren 4 Big Bamboo Grigorov/Thomas Wade NSW 5 Top Tapper Philip Gardner VIC 6 Ya Dig Jared Gibson VIC 7 L'automne Prelude Ray Tresider VIC 8 Rainbow Warrior Dexter Moore NSW 9 Reminisce Revelution Joel Baligod SA 10 Day Trip To Lamma Steve Montgomery NSW International Category Photo: 2017 International Category winner, Anirban Banerjee Title Songwriters Country 1 Deep Down Anirban Banerjee AUS U So Mean Nothing 2 2 Me Debra Gussin/Ryan Martinez/Mike Westbrock USA 3 Little Things John Blok/Mike Lusk AUS 3 The Best That I Can't Do Rolf Schnyder/Ryan Martinez/Mike Westbrock CH 5 Nothing Town Michael McGee/Angel Pontier/Natalia Vercesi Kraft USA 6 Type One Civilisation Dexter Moore AUS 7 Just Down The Hall Lola Brinton/Kevin Bennett AUS 8 The Lie Michael McGee/Rolf Schnyder USA 9 My Stupidity Lola Brinton/Kerrie Garside AUS Nitanee Paris Lawson/Jean Pierre 10 Coal Dust Williams/Clarence Ellwood Lawson USA 10 Rolling Over Anirban Banerjee AUS Lyrics Category Photos (Left to Right): 2017 Lyrics Category winners, Steven Montgomery, Colin Roberts, Tim Montgomery, Tony Montgomery and Mike Montgomery.