The Australian Songwriters Association has a lot to offer people who create original music in Australia, from the grass roots amateur to experienced and published songwriters.
The ASA's annual Australian Songwriting Contest is the largest competition in the country, providing great prizes and industry exposure to all finalists.
Our services extend from personal assistance, to professional feedback on new material, and live performance opportunities for all original performers across Australia, via our network of Wax Lyrical events.
AIMS OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The aims of the association are:
• 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 Awards Night.
HISTORY OF THE ASA:
The Association was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1979 by businessman Tom Louch and recording engineer Rudy Brandsma, 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.
THE AUSTRALIAN SONGWRITING CONTEST:
The ASA's Australian Songwriting Contest began in 1979, and is Australia’s longest running national songwriting contest for professional and amateur songwriters. Songs are submitted on CD or via Sonicbids (more ecomonical option), and are judged by Music Industry experts on originality and craftsmanship. The song does not have to be performed by the songwriter, but it must be original and unpublished at the time of entry (i.e. the song must not be signed to a publishing company). The recording quality of material is not relevant to the judging process.
The 29th annual Australian Songwriting Contest 2009 contest is now open for entries. Go to www.asai.org.au for more information.
ASA MEMBERSHIP:
Membership must be in the name of an individual person. Membership available to Australian citizens and permanent Australian residents.
The Australian Songwriters Association is a national, not-for-profit, member organisation dedicated to the support of songwriters and their art, through providing avenues for encouragement and education of developing Australian songwriters, and recognition and promotion of our accomplished members.
EVENTS:
Wax Lyrical open mic. nights are currently held in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. For further details, see the ASA website www.asai.org.au.
Wax Lyrical events provide a stage for the performance of original works by songwriters and poets, both developing and professional. All styles and genres are welcomed.
By appearing at Wax Lyrical, many songwriters are chosen for further opportunities such as gigs and ASA showcases. Audience feedback sheets allow audience members to write comments about each performance - these are then forwarded to the artist.
The ASA is working towards building a national Wax Lyrical network across every state and major regional centre in Australia. For further details, please check under the ASA website Contact Us tab for the contact details of your local Regional Coordinator.
At Wax Lyricals, artists can register on arrival, but it is preferred if you prebook with your Regional Coordinator. Original material only is to be played, in an allocated fifteen minutes of performance time (or 3 songs). The event is professionally hosted, and attention is paid to achieving quality audio and encouragement of audience response.
ASA SONGWRITERS AWARDS NIGHT 2008 photos are below.
Songwriter of the Year was Jason Campbell-Smith (ACT), the Rudy Brandsma Award winner was Jo Kelly Stephenson (VIC) and the ASA Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees were Doc Neeson, Rick Brewster and John Brewster (The Angels). If you have any Awards Night photos (either 2008 or earlier) that you would like placed on the site, please email these to us at australiansongwritersassoc@gmail.com or send them in hard copy or CD format to the ASA National Office at Locked Bag 18/178 Newtown NSW 2042 Australia.
The 2008 Australian Songwriting Contest winners are SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Jason Campbell-Smith (ACT), RUDY BRANDSMA AWARD WINNER: Jo-Kelly Stephenson (Vic).
AUSTRALIA CATEGORY:
1st Townsville (Graham Hobson),
2nd Say G'day (Susie and Phil Splitter),
3rd Bundy Barramundi (Brent Lillie),
4th Rat Race (Jay Hoad Band),
5th Side By Side (Wilbur Klein),
6th Footprints In The Sand (Alec Raymer & Johnny Kaye),
7th Where Has My Australia Gone (Terry Bennetts),
8th The Granville Train (Mark Cryle),
9th Aussie Alphabet Stew (Brent Lillie),
10th The Long Hot Days (Tony Varcoe),
BALLAD CATEGORY:
1st Just Thought You'd Like To Know (Danny Hooper),
2nd Talking To Ghosts (Brenda-Lee Heathcote),
3rd Something About A Child (Big Sky),
4th Just In Time (Rod Christian),
5th City Talks (Simon Shapiro),
6th For You (Rob Stanier),
7th Garden Of Your Dreams (Geoff McArthur),
8th Love of My Life (Samantha Mooney),
9th What A Day (Simon Shapiro),
10th Waiting On Lonely (Ronni Rae Rivers),
CONTEMPORARY POP/DANCE CATEGORY:
1st You Should Know (Vanessa Kelly, Lindsay Rimes & Simon Shapiro)
2nd Groove With U (Colin George),
3rd Wish I Was A Girl (Stephen Kiely),
4th Out Of Control (Bruce Paroissien),
5th A To The B (Amy B),
6th If I'm Not Mistaken (Happenstance),
7th Second Gear (Katrina Burgoyne),
8th Show Me The Way (Mitch Robertson),
9th Fire In My Mind (Andrea Barnett),
10th Take It In Your Stride (Mitch Robertson),
COUNTRY CATEGORY:
1st Open Road (David Carter & Merelyn Carter),
2nd Old Post Card (Katrina Burgoyne),
3rd Perfect Chance (Jo Kelly Stephenson),
4th Choices (Camille Te Nahu/Stuie French),
5th Hold On (Danny Hooper),
6th Share Crop Gone (Bob Corbett),
7th Loose Ends (Andrea Barnett),
8th Perfect (Katrina Burgoyne),
9th Hold Me In Your Arms Tonight (Brad Cole),
10th My Little Girl (David Carter & Merelyn Carter),
FOLK/ACOUSTIC CATEGORY:
1st Brilliant Life (Bruce Paroissien),
2nd Our Last Goodbye (Karen Guymer),
3rd Too Damn Hard (Miranda Barber),
4th Tempt The Rain (Sal Kimber),
5th Shine On (David Hyams),
Equal 6th Two Lucky Stars (Mike Elrington),
Equal 6th Sweetheart's Embrace (Miranda Barber),
8th Can't Stop The Rain (Anthony Snape),
9th The Granville Train (Mark Cryle),
10th Desire (Tom Woodward),
INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY:
1st In My Father's Footsteps (Damian Coen),
2nd Georgetown (Nick Charles),
3rd Move On (Marcela Taylor),
4th Capri (Nina Sofo & James Bough),
5th City Up On High (Nick Charles),
6th Flat Out Like A Lizard Drinking (David Hyams),
7th Last Drinks In Derry (Alan Banks),
8th Freight Train Boogie (Terry Bennetts),
9th Flames Across The Water (John C Hollywood),
10th Tuesdays Grace (Shaun Gardener),
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORY:
1st Tamahana (Opetaia Foai & Malcolm Smith) NZ,
2nd Inside View (Ginger Mackenzie) GER,
3rd Perfect Chance (Jo Kelly Stephenson) VIC AUS,
4th Bad Review (No Dice) NSW AUS,
5th Live For The Line (Jim Vilandre) MN USA,
6th Missing You (Mama's Blues Joint) DEN,
7th Easy Way Out (Kym Simon) AB CAN,
8th Stranded (Ronni Rae Rivers) WA AUS,
9th Afraid Like Me (Jagger Cook) ON CAN,
10th Call This Home (Edwin Booth) CA USA,
LYRICS CATEGORY:
Equal 1st Mist On The Macintyre (Alec Raymer),
Equal 1st Badge Of Courage (Douglas Dorahy),
3rd The Pride Of The Stockman (Alec Raymer),
4th Ruby Mears (John Lynch),
5th Thundering Ore -Pilbara Song (Manny),
6th Park Upon The Hill (Charles Taylor),
7th So Long (Allan West),
8th Whatever Trip You're On (Neville K),
9th At The Woolshed Friday Night (Alec Raymer),
Equal 10th This Great Land (Cill Van Der Velden),
Equal 10th Where Does A Wombat Live? (Glen Naylor),
OPEN CATEGORY:
1st Little Piece Of Love (Anthony Snape & Lindsay Rimes),
2nd She Believes (Sarah Jane),
3rd Dumped (Katrina Burgoyne),
4th Stranded (Ronni Rae Rivers),
5th Someone To Love (Robert McIntosh & Stewart Peters),
6th For You (Rob Stanier),
7th Pomeranian (Yvonne Rabowsky),
8th Back There From Here (Big Sky),
9th In The Wind (Marni Sheehan),
10th Undercover At Rednine (Clare Heasly & Duncan Kinnell),
ROCK/INDIE CATEGORY:
1st Tightrope (Jason Campbell-Smith),
2nd Stranded (Ronni Rae Rivers),
3rd When The Carnival Begins (Jason Campbell-Smith),
4th Do You Wanna? (Happenstance),
5th Let Love Live (Mario Gentil & Karen Guymer),
6th Ten Paces Away (The Gin Club),
7th One Of These Days (The Brute Squad),
8th What A Day (Simon Shapiro),
9th Don't You Listen (Andrew Winton),
10th The March Of Misery (WEAPON HEAD),
SONGS FOR CHILDREN CATEGORY:
1st Shake It! (Sharon Saul, Michelle New & Eddy Saul),
2nd You'll Be Alright (Sharon Saul, Michelle New & Eddy Saul),
3rd Mr Rain (Sharon Saul, Michelle New & Eddy Saul),
4th Feelings (Sharon Saul, Michelle New & Eddy Saul),
5th Every Body Gets Things Wrong (Ann Austin),
6th Friends (Go Seek),
7th Warm Up Song (Go Seek),
8th Jesus Party (Citikidz),
Equal 9th It's Christmas In Australia (Anthony Frizzell),
Equal 9th Yowie Song (Bradley Wynd),
SPIRITUAL CATEGORY:
1st Your Will Be Done (Christopher Hoyne),
2nd Beauty For Ashes (Jade Ambroze,
3rd Things I Want (Ronni Rae Rivers),
4th Wonder (Brian Henderson Ward),
5th Meeting Of Hearts (Niall Fenix),
6th Sweet Inspiration (Robert Kleine),
7th The Peace Of Jerusalem (Robyn Payne),
8th When God Takes A Photograph (David Carter & Merelyn Carter),
9th Let Love Live (Mario Gentil & Karen Guymer),
Equal 10th Hey Martin (Joe Lynch),
Equal 10th In A Manger He Lay (Christopher Hoyne),
Equal 10th No Matter (Kelly Hope),
YOUTH CATEGORY:
1st This Could Be Love (Jackie Ward),
2nd Missing You (Madeline Perrone),
3rd There Are Days (Lucinda Franco & Dominique Franco),
4th Echo (Lucinda Franco & Dominique Franco),
5th Enough To See Me Through (Jackie Ward),
6th Back To Daydreaming (Codie Browne),
7th Deep Breath In (Talia Pallant),
8th Everything To Me (Matt Larsen),
9th Waiting (Sarah Krust),
10th The Memories, Oh The Memories! (Sakthi Ravitharan).
Thanks to all of this year's contestants for some truly inspiring songs.
ASA SONGWRITERS AWARDS NIGHT 2007 photos are below. Songwriter of the Year was Simon Shapiro (NSW), the Rudy Brandsma Award winner was Brenda-Lee Heathcote (QLD) and the ASA Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was Brian Cadd.
ASA SONGWRITERS AWARDS NIGHT 2006 photos are below.
Songwriter of the Year was Emma Joleen (QLD), the Rudy Brandsma Award winner was Daniel Arvidson (NSW) and the ASA Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees were Glenn Shorrock, Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble (The Little River Band).
ASA SONGWRITERS AWARDS NIGHT 2005 photos are below.
Songwriter of the Year was Michael Maher (NT), the Rudy Brandsma Award winner was K'Crasher (NSW) and the ASA Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was Russell Morris.
ASA SONGWRITERS AWARDS NIGHT 2003/2004 photos are below. Songwriter of the Year was Trish Delaney-Brown, the Rudy Brandsma Award winner was Callee Mann and the ASA Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees were Harry Vanda, George Young and Stevie Wright (The Easybeats).
ASA SONGWRITERS AWARDS NIGHT 2002 photos are below. Songwriter of the Year was Kylie Burtland and the Rudy Brandsma Award winner was Sara Downs.
The ASA SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME was established in 2004 to honour the lifetime achievements of some of Australia's greatest songwriters. Songwriters to have accepted the award are Harry Vanda, George Young and Stevie Wright (The Easybeats) in 2004, Russell Morris in 2005, Glenn Shorrock, Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble (The Little River Band) in 2006, Brian Cadd in 2007 and Doc Neeson, Rick Brewster and John Brewster (The Angels) in 2008. Photos of the inductions of these songwriters and their performances at the annual ASA Awards Nights are shown on the slide viewer below.
SONGWRITERS OF THE YEAR: 2008 Jason Campbell-Smith, 2007 Simon Shapiro, 2006 Emma Joleen, 2005 Michael Maher, 2003/04 Trish Delaney-Brown, 2002 Kylie Burtland, 2001 Helen Mottee, 2000 Andrew Horabin, 1999 Alf Tuohy. RUDY BRANDSMA AWARD WINNERS: 2008 Jo Kelly Stephenson, 2007 Brenda-Lee Heathcote, 2006 Daniel Arvidson, 2005 K'Crasher, 2003/04 Callee Mann, 2002 Sara Downs, 2001 Keith Armitage, 2000 Tonino Speciale, 1999 Mike Kidd. Photos of these award winners are being gradually added to the slideshow below. The Songwriter of the Year is chosen by the ASA Board from the category winners in each year's Australian Songwriting Contest. The Rudy Brandsma Award is presented each year by the ASA Board in recognition of songwriting excellence by an ASA member in the annual Australian Songwriting Contest. The Award honours the memory of the late ASA co-founder Rudy Brandsma.
WAX LYRICAL PHOTOS:
The ASA conducts Open Mic. nights (known as Wax Lyrical nights) at venues across Australia. Photos of these events are being added to the slide show below. Wax Lyrical is a Registered Trade Mark of the ASA.
MYSPACE FRIENDS PHOTOS: Are you an ASA Myspace friend and do you have any photos that you would like us to display? Please send your contributions to australiansongwritersassoc@gmail.com
Australian Songwriters Association Inc.'s Friend Space (Randomized)
Australian Songwriters Association Inc. has 7013 friends.
Monsieur Camembert & The Woohoo Revue at the Red Rattler
In
what promises to be the finest combination since cheese and vegemite,
Monsieur Camembert are teaming up with The Woohoo Revue to put on a
spectacular gypsy dance show at the Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville
on Thursday 30th July. Doors at 8:00pm, Tickets $30.
Hope you can come along.
Woohoo
As a special deal for members of our myspace ministry we have put together 2 amazing sale packages in conjunction with Ebay.
Package 1: Buy a copy of our latest album "Get Somewhere" and we'll throw in a copy of our "No One" EP + a copy of our "Self Titled" EP + a "T-Shirt" all for the low price of $25 (plus postage).
Package 2: For those who already have a copy of our latest album "Get Somewhere" but want to hear more of our music just follow the link below to get a copy of our "No One" EP + a copy of our "Self Titled" EP + a "T-Shirt" all for the low price of $15 (plus postage).
Just click on the link below to be taken to our Ebay store to purchase either of these great packages.
G'day from the tropics! Hope your week is great! Thanks so much for the add....please check out my music page and add to it as well..... www.myspace.com/caznamusicpage3 Kind regards....
Gday guys thanks for adding me I am trying to learn how to record a bit better at the moment and hope to get a cd out next year, look forward to next years competition
Just wanted to let you know I have some samples from my latest album on myspace and would love to here what you think. I had a blast recording it with some of the best in the industry, Like James Burton (Elvis Presley's lead Guitarist) along with many more. Please stop by and have a listen. Blessings Darin Warner
