Play It Unusual is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Junior Songwriting Competitors for highschool college students in 12 months Sept. 11. This yr’s competitors attracted a record-breaking 180 entries, reflecting the depth of creativity and musical expertise amongst Aotearoa’s subsequent technology of songwriters.
Every track was reviewed by our panel of 4 revered judges: Louis Baker, CHAII, Georgia Traces, and Mike Chunn. We’re proud to share that from these entries; 45 excellent songs had been chosen as winners.
All 45 winners obtain a day in an expert recording studio of their option to document their track, granting them the unimaginable 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 and Bandcamp.
First place goes to Sienna Fitzgerald (pictured) (12 months 10) along with her track Sweetness. Sienna was a two-time finalist in final yr’s competitions and continues to reveal exceptional songwriting capacity with this shifting observe.
Visitor decide, Louis Baker states:
“The profitable track Sweetness is an distinctive track and efficiency. In Ten Years and Ballad of a Damaged Poet are a robust second and third. I’m blown away by the songwriting expertise of all of the rangatahi this yr – the longer term seems vivid for the subsequent technology of artists and songwriters popping out of Aotearoa.”
Visitor decide, Georgia Traces states:
“It’s been so pretty listening by way of all of the songs entered. I’ve liked all of them! They’re full of lovely, highly effective, emotive tales. I’m so proud of the highest 3 chosen!”
Sienna will even obtain:
- A one-on-one mentoring session with Louis Baker
- A $500 Rockshop voucher
- An interview on 95bFM and their track aired on the radio
- A efficiency alternative on the Play It Unusual Annual Awards, together with a full day of music business mentoring.
Second place has been awarded to Isabella Bedoya (12 months 10) for her track In Ten Years, who receives a $300 Rockshop voucher. Third place goes to Lucy Hassan (12 months 10) for her track The Ballad of a Damaged Poet, who receives a $200 Rockshop voucher.
All 45 finalists will develop 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!
Mike Chunn, Play It Unusual founder and competitors decide, says:
“The entries within the 2025 Junior Songwriting Competitors have been a very spectacular array. We’re discovering the lyrics extra refined and the music extra entwined with these phrases yearly. Listening to them as they roll by is a very great expertise.”
Play It Unusual CEO, Stephanie Brown provides:
“Yearly we obtain gorgeous songs on this competitors that surpass our expectations, and 2025 was no totally different. These songwriters are at such a pivotal level of their lives, and it has been a privilege to take heed to how they categorical themselves. The honesty, vulnerability, and creativity has blown us away.
Whether or not you’re in Whangārei, Wellington or Timaru, you may write a track in your bed room and have it heard by and commented on by musical legends like Mike Chunn, Georgia Traces, CHAII and Louis Baker. Moments like that may change a younger artist’s life.”
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 listing 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.
