Play It Unusual is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Nationwide Songwriting Competitors for highschool college students in Yr 9-13, sponsored by The Lion Basis. This 12 months’s competitors attracted a record-breaking 474 entries, a testomony to the array of ardour, creativity and expertise amongst Aotearoa’s subsequent era of songwriters.
Play It Unusual CEO, Stephanie Brown states:
“Understanding that 474 younger songwriters and bands throughout the motu have written songs, completed songs, and had the arrogance to submit them to a contest is actually mindblowing. It’s a privilege for us to see contained in the hearts and minds of rangatahi throughout Aotearoa. The standard of entries was actually excellent, which is why we’re recording 74 finalists this 12 months: probably the most recordings out of any of our competitions, ever, since we began in 2003”.
Every tune was reviewed by their panel of 9 revered judges: Troy Kingi, Mike Chunn, PAIGE, Elliette Roslin (Founding father of Elliette’s Music Academy), Laughton Kora, Kings, Matt Kidd (Co-Managing Director at Common Music NZ), Josh Fountain and Insurgent Reid, who may even go on to mentor the winner. They’re proud to share that from these entries; 74 excellent songs have been chosen as winners.
All 74 winners obtain a $50 Rockshop present card and a day in knowledgeable recording studio of their option to document their tune, granting them the unbelievable alternative to work alongside a few of New Zealand’s most recognised producers and engineers. The recorded songs get launched onto digital albums through Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
First place goes to Salem Māhia Randall (pictured beneath) from Gisborne Boys Excessive College along with his beautiful tune A Lady Named Abigail.
At simply 16 years of age, Salem Māhia is a 3-time Play It Unusual finalist (in 2023, 2024 and 2025), in 2023 gained Rockquest Solo-Duo and in 2022 gained Whakaata Māori TV’s singing sequence 5 Minutes of Fame. You could find his music on Spotify here.
Salem may even obtain:
– A $10,000 music promotional bundle from NZ On Air
– $1,500 Rockshop present card
– A mentor session with musician and Play It Unusual alumni Insurgent Reid
– A full day in a recording studio of your selection
– An interview with 95bFM and the completed monitor performed on the radio
– A efficiency at our Annual Awards later this 12 months and a full day of workshops
– A 1:1 Artist Improvement On-line Session with Sacha Vee, Platinum Award Successful Artist and Founding father of SOLE Music Academy
Competitors Decide and Play It Unusual Advertising Supervisor at Play It Unusual, Paige states:
“It’s been so superb listening to the quantity of expertise popping out of Aotearoa. It’s laborious to consider that the majority of those songs have been written and produced by highschool college students. We’re feeling actually enthusiastic about the way forward for the music business right here in NZ.”
The energy in expertise meant that second and third place have been determined solely by a few factors distinction. Second place has been awarded to Anamika Jones from Trinity Catholic School for her tune Testing My Endurance who receives a $500 Rockshop present card. Third place goes to Shakira Lui from Southern Cross Campus for her tune Bluebird, who receives a $200 Rockshop present card.
All 74 finalists will change into a part of the Play It Unusual alumni group, having access to efficiency alternatives, mentoring, ticket giveaways, backstage experiences, and plenty extra all year long!
About their sponsorship of the competitors, Lion Basis CEO Tony Goldfinch says:
“The Lion Basis are extremely proud to help the Play it Unusual Secondary Faculties Songwriting Competitors, which continues to draw extra younger, gifted songwriters from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand yearly. Congratulations to Salem Māhia Randall for taking first place – Salem has already achieved so many targets in his songwriting journey, and this displays true ardour and by no means giving up on what he loves. Congratulations too to all songwriting entrants – is actually superb to witness the distinctive artistry and innovation that emerge from these younger musicians”.
About Play It Strange:
Established in 2003, Play it Unusual runs annual nationwide songwriting competitions for highschool college students, with finalists awarded a day in a recording studio to professionally document their songs. Play it Unusual releases these songs onto digital albums and offers mentorship and efficiency alternatives to additional develop younger artists in Aotearoa. Their alumni checklist consists of Kimbra, Georgia Nott of Broods, Liz Stokes of The Beths, Frankie Venter, Annah Mac, Louis Baker, CHAII, Luca George, Ratbag and so many extra.
Photograph Credit score: Taylor Vincent
