Songwriter winner shows future of music in good hands

Winner Jamie Moana performing at the Songwriter of the Year 2013 Grand Final Awards Evening.

Songwriter winner shows future of music in good hands
Popular Music student Jamie Moana was named the University of Auckland Songwriter of the Year 2013 at a sell-out event held at the Maidment Theatre on Thursday night.

Moana, who is in his final-year of studies towards a Bachelor of Music degree at the University, performed two songs, Coney Island and Harold Time, before being named the winner from amongst five talented finalists.

His win comes with a bundle of prizes including a professionally recorded single courtesy of Roundhead Studio, produced by Godfrey de Grut and mastered by Kog Studio. Kiwi FM will provide a promotional package for the single’s release. Moana will also receive $1,000 worth of vouchers courtesy of MusicWorks.

"It was surreal to win when up against so much talent. Songwriting can be a daunting task when you reflect on yourself, so it is fantastic to have affirmation for it" says 25 year-old Moana, who shifted home to Auckland in 2010 after living for many years in Sydney.

Finalist Shana Llorando from Pakuranga won the APRA Best Arranger Award with her song Maria and also the NZ On Air Best Song Award for Dodging Bullets

The six-member judging panel made up of external music industry representatives were unified in their praise for all the finalists with songwriter Julia Deans commenting that "if the depth and breadth of the talent on display here is anything to go by, the future of the music is in good hands.”

Judge Paul McLaney, from Mushroom Music Publishing said the event was “a superb evening of passionate music in an environment of mutual support and that congratulations had to go to Jamie Moana for taking out the Songwriter of the Year category in what was a tough decision.”

Campbell Smith, from CRS Music Management, who also took part in the judging said "it was a terrific night and there are some extremely talented songwriters and performers at the School of Music. It was a very tough task, picking a winner, as any one of the five finalists would have been a worthy victor. I think all five will go a long way in their careers."

Moana, whose music combines an uncompromising sixties influence with garage delta blues,
plans to write as many songs as he can to form a more distinctive palate and also intends to move on to recording to keep up his momentum.

The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the Elam School of Fine Arts, School of Architecture and Planning, the Centre for Art Studies, the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.

ENDS

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