| (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Australian songwriters and artists dominate the 2007 International Songwriting Competition (ISC), with a staggering 34 finalists and 32 semi-finalists. Selected from more than 15,000 entries from 100 countries worldwide, this is the first time in ISC history that a country outside of North America has produced so many semi-finalists and finalists in any one competition.
ISC is recognized as one of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the world. Renowned for its high caliber of judges and prizes, ISC has been called "the songwriting competition to take note of" by the The New York Times. Judges include iconic celebrities such as Tom Waits, Nelly Furtado, Robert Smith (The Cure), Black Francis (Pixies), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Loretta Lynn, and many more. Also included on the judging panel are many record label executives, including the Presidents of Epic and Universal Records.
Australians have also set another record for ISC - for having the first artist ever to become a finalist for three different songs. This honor goes to rock group Eskimo Joe for their songs "London Bombs," "New York" and "Black Fingernails Red Wine." Other Australian finalists include both up-and-coming and established artists, such as: Clare Bowditch (Peccadilloes); Lior Attar (This Old Love); Gotye, winner of the 2007 Australian Music Awards best male artist, (Hearts A Mess),Abby Dobson (formerly of "Leonardo's Bride"), and Ian Houston Shadwell (Horses).
Candace Avery, Founder and Director of ISC, applauds the depth and diversity of music coming from Australian songwriters. "Australian songwriters are making a huge impact on ISC this year, from unknown artists to Triple J darlings. Covering the spectrum of contemporary genres, they reflect the wealth of talent that exists across Australia, and ISC is very excited to be providing the opportunity for their songs to be heard in an international arena."
See below for complete list of finalists and semi-finalists.
Finalists in all 19 categories will be judged by a prestigious list of music celebrities and music industry leaders with winners announced in early April, 2008. The general public may also listen to, and vote for, their favorite song in ISC's "People's Voice" through the ISC website.
Votes can be cast by going to: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/PVWelcome.htm
Judges for ISC 2007 include: Nelly Furtado; Jerry Lee Lewis; Loretta Lynn; Ray Davies (The Kinks); Hinder; Julian Casablancas (The Strokes); Tom Waits; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Ornette Coleman; Youssou N'Dour; Sean Paul; "Weird Al" Yankovic; Frank Black (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; David Cross (FOX-TV's Arrested Development); Craig Morgan; John Mayall; Joe Satriani; Toby Mac; Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; Peter Hook (New Order); Paulina Rubio; and Tiesto
Also judging will be music industry executives Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Peter Gabriel, and more); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Nancy Wolpert (VP Home Entertainment and Nick Records, Nickelodeon/BMG); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); and Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music).
To enter ISC or for more information, please visit http://www.songwritingcompetition.com
The complete list of Australian finalists and semi-finalists includes:
Australian Finalists
Abby Dobson / Ian Houston Shadwell - Sydney, NSW - "Horses"- AAA (Adult Album Alternative) Category
Alex Qasabian / Kevin Fouche / Mark Fouche / Greg Byrne (Stone Parade) - Sydney, NSW - "Somebody Will Miss You" - Rock Category
Andrew Samuel Winton - Scarborough, WA - "Number's Down" - Blues Category
Brent Lillie /Paul Harris - Burleigh Heads, QLD - "I've Done It" - Comedy/Novelty Category
Brett Winterford (Peregrine) - Sydney, NSW - "Dear John Letter" - Rock Category
Carmel McCallum / Steve Montgomery - Sydney, NSW - "Kerry's Lament" - Lyrics Only Category
Clare Bowditch (Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set) - Melbourne, VIC - "Peccadilloes" - Folk/Singer-Songwriter Category
Clint Crighton / Dale Allison / James Sarzotti - Sydney, NSW - "Unborn" - Rock Category
Harmony James - Tennant Creek, NT - "Somebody Stole My Horse" - Country Category
Jackie Bristow - Sydney, NSW - "World Is Turning" - AAA (Adult Album Alternative) Category
Jane E. Robertson - Tamworth, NSW - "Rainbow (Inside Of You)" - Children's Music Category
Jay Collie / Jasper Somerville-Collie / Tim Dutton (Jonah's Road) - Sydney, NSW - "Thank God" - Country Category
Jo Cinquina / Abe van Hatch/Daniel Const / Stuart Henry / Joshua Heglund / Joel Seneque (Stadium) - Perth, WA - "Our Anthem" - Gospel / Christian Category
Julian Abrahams / Kane Watters / Nick Keeling / Pat Lillicrap / Muchtar Johnson /Dan Bray / Yen Nguyen / Munro Melano (Casual Projects) - Canberra, ACT - "Move Along" - Pop/Top 40 Category
Kara Grainger / David Kalish / SLIM - Sydney, NSW - "On My Way" - AAA (Adult Album Alternative) Category
Kav Temperley / Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe) - Perth, WA - "London Bombs" - Performance Category
Kav Temperley / Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe) - Perth, WA - "Black Fingernails Red Wine" - Rock Category
Kav Temperley / Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe) - Perth, WA - "New York" - Rock Category
Lior Attar (Lior) - Sydney, NSW - "This Old Love" - Folk/Singer-Songwriter Category
Michael Paynter / Gary Clark - Melbourne, VIC - "Closer" - Pop / Top 40 Category
Michael Paynter / Peter Gordeno - Melbourne, VIC - "Soul" - Performance Category
Natalie Howard / James Dean Hicks - Nerang, QLD - "Paint Me Blue" - Country Category
Natalie Howard / James Dean Hicks - Nerang, QLD - "Paint Me Blue" - Performance Category
Paul Hicks - Melbourne, VIC - "Making My Way Back Home" - Performance Category
Peter David Harper (Harper) - Perth, WA - "Just What You're Looking For" - Blues Category
Raj-Kumar Siva-Rajah (The Sunpilots) - Sydney, New South Wales - "Metric System" - Rock Category
Rebecca Jane Quade / Andrew John Maclean (The Millers Tale) - Fitzroy, VIC - "Union Square" - Folk / Singer-Songwriter Category
Robin Waters - Brisbane, QLD- "Unsettle My Heart" (The Boat People) - Pop/Top 40 Category
Roma Waterman - Melbourne, VIC - "Where Love Is King" - Gospel / Christian Category
Sean Lowry / Robert Taylor / Bowden Campbell / Paul Bianco - Sydney, NSW - "Getting Better" - Pop/Top 40 Category
Wade Iedema (Lifetone) - Lismore Heights, NSW - "Wildflower" - Gospel / Christian Category
Wally De Backer (Gotye) - Merricks Beach, VIC - "Hearts A Mess" - Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Australian Semi-Finalists:
Alex Qasabian / Kevin Fouche / Mark Fouche / Greg Byrne (Stone Parade) - Sydney, NSW - "My Generation" - Rock Category
Andy James Court - Perth, WA - "Supernatural" - Gospel / Christian Category
Angelee Contini - Sydney, NSW - "The Highway Song" - Jazz Category
Anthony Snape / Lindsay Rimes - Gunnedah, NSW - "Little Piece Of Love" - Pop/Top 40 Category
Cameron Goold / Scott Kingman / Theiry Fernandez / Quinn Gardener-Kane - Melbourne, VIC - "What Da Live!?" - Rock Category
Christy Kilpatrick - Brisbane, QLD - "Wishing You Were Here" - Country Category
Clare Reynolds /Simon Watson - Brisbane, QLD - "Time for Love" - AAA Category
Collard - Brunswick, VIC -"No Lovin" - Blues Category
Craig Vautin / Jolene Vautin - Palmwoods, QLD - "Showtime" - Dance/Electronica Category
Damian Black - Brisbane, QLD - "Until The End" - Blues Category
Danny Hooper - Clare, SA - "She's The One" - Country Category
Danny Widdicombe - Brisbane, QLD - "Cold River" - Americana Category
David Atkins / Bradford Ellis / Andrew Garvie / Nick Eziefula - Brisbane, QLD - "Fine Mess" - R&B/Hip-Hop Category
Diana Gosper - Sydney, NSW - "Cheatin On Me" - Pop/Top 40 Category
Doc Span / Matthew Cang - Diamond Valley, QLD - "No Time" - Performance Category
Georgia Germein - Stirling, SA - "Someone Out There" - Teen Category
James Hazelden / Chris Tomkins / Mark Woodward - Kooyong, VIC - "Europop 3000" - Comedy/Novelty Category
Jason Kemp - Brisbane, QLD - "Hello America" - Country Category
Jen Cloher - Melbourne, VIC - "Better Off Dancing" - AAA Category
Jen Cloher - Melbourne, VIC - "Longing Song" - - Americana Category
Jordie William Lane - Melbourne, VIC - "Sweet Somebody" - Folk/Singer-Songwriter Category
Julia Messenger - Melbourne, VIC - "And We Danced" - AAA Category
Julia Messenger - Melbourne, VIC - "So Complicated" - Performance Category
Keren Alexander / Simone Collins - Rose Bay, NSW - "Barnyard Twist" - Children's Music Category
Laura Knight - Richmond, VIC - "To Be Thin" - Lyrics Only Category
Meatbee - Canberra, ACT - "In Bed Asleep" - Performance Category
Michael Paynter / Julian Hamilton - Melbourne, VIC - "Superhero" - Rock Category
Natalie Howard / James Dean Hicks - Nerang, QLD - "Emotional Day" - Country Category
Raj-Kumar Siva-Rajah / Andrew John Maitland - Sydney, NSW - "Spotlight In The Sun" - Rock Category
Rodney Auld / Jay Collie / John Kater / Jasper Somerville-Collie - Sydney, NSW - "Always" - Pop/Top 40 Category
Samantha Olditch / Chris Buckridge / Paul Olditch - Brisbane, QLD - "2 X 2" - Dance/Electronica Category
Shaun Thomson - Kiama, NSW - "Playa" - Pop/Top 40 Category
Shaun Thomson - Kiama, NSW - "Starry Eyes" - AAA Category
Sophie Aboud - Robina, QLD - "Waiting For You" - Teen Category
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