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The Australian Songwriter

Issue 99, December 2013

First published 1979

The Magazine of The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.

In this edition:

Chairman’s Message

Editor’s Message

2013 National Songwriting Awards Night

Jacques Mario Gentil: 2013 Australian Songwriter of the Year

Dani Karis: 2013 Winner of The Rudy Brandsma Award For Songwriting

Excellence

2013 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees

2013 Top 30 Category Places in The Australian Songwriting Contest

James Linderman: Song Tessellation

2013 In Memoriam

Songwriter Profile: Ruth O’Brien

Members News and Information

The Load Out

Official Sponsors of the Australian Songwriting Contest

About Us:

o Aims of the ASA

o History of the Association

o Contact Us

o Patron

o Life Members

o Directors

o Regional Co-Ordinators

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Chairman’s Message Hi All Members,

WOW!

That’s the only way I can describe the ASA National

Songwriting Awards 2013 held at Wests Ashfield

Leagues Club on Wednesday 4 December.

It was an awesome night, with huge presentations

from all Category Winners, plus the most amazing

performance from Hall Of Fame Inductee Garth

Porter, along with Daryl Braithwaite, Tony Mitchell

and Alan Sandow, all of Sherbet fame. They got

together after all these years to belt out ‘Howzat’. It

was truly a show stopping moment. ‘Boys From The

Bush’, Lee Kernaghan’s tribute to Garth’s writing

prowess, just about brought the house down as well.

It seems that every year the Awards get bigger and better. Jacques Mario Gentil was

crowned APRA/ASA Songwriter Of The Year by Jo Musso from APRA, and Dani Karis

took out the Rudy Brandsma Award. Little Pattie brought a tear to my eye when she

spoke about her cousin Chrissy Amphlett, who died earlier this year. Mike Cardy from

Perth was also awarded the ASA Regional Coordinator Of The Year, and dynamic up

and coming Singer/Songwriter Lucy B was interviewed by renowned author Bernie

Howitt.

All in all, it was a night to send shivers down the spine. A Special Event indeed. If

you weren’t able to get there, please have a look at the DVD of all the highlights

when it comes out. I’m sure you will love it.

The next day the ASA Regional Coordinators Conference was held. It was a huge

success, with reps from WA, QLD, NSW, SA, TAS and Regional Australia discussing

how the ASA is progressing in each of their areas, and how our Wax Lyricals are

advancing the ASA name all over the country. From that Conference, it can be

garnered that the Australian Songwriters Association is in good hands and is going

from strength to strength.

Our latest missive from Vice-Chairman Alan Gilmour is once again packed with

information. He works extremely hard to keep Members up-to-date with everything

that is happening at the ASA, and his output is incredible. Along with Russell Smith

from Wests Ashfield Leagues, Alan also interviewed all the Category Winners on

Awards Night. That was a huge undertaking, and we salute both of them for their

efforts.

Have a wonderful Christmas Season, and when everybody returns after the break,

we can look towards the biggest year yet for the ASA. Meanwhile, see you at the

Wax Lyricals.

Denny Burgess

Chairman

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Editor’s Message

Welcome to the final edition of The Australian Songwriter for 2013. In this edition

we feature the full list of winners in the 2013 Australian Songwriting Contest plus a

list of the Rudy Brandsma Award nominees.

Congratulations to Jacques Mario Gentil, 2013 Australian Songwriter of the Year, and

to Dani Karis, winner of 2013 Rudy Brandsma Award for Songwriting Excellence.

Congratulations also to this year’s category winners and to everyone who entered.

There was some truly amazing music once again this year.

Congratulations to Garth Porter for his induction into The Australia Songwriters Hall

of Fame. Thanks to Glenn A Baker for inducting Garth, to Lee Kernaghan and

Sherbet members, Daryl Braithwaite, Tony Mitchell, Alan Sandow, and of course

Garth himself for their great performances of some of Garth’s best known original

songs on the night.

A big thank you to James Linderman for his many informative articles during the

year, which I know so many ASA members have enjoyed.

Many thanks also to ASA Regional Co-Ordinators, Mike Cardy and Matt Sertori, for

their contributions to the magazine during the year, and to Carole Beck for her

assistance with the promotion of this year’s songwriting contest, for her magazine

ideas and contributions, for arranging some great interviews which will be featured in

the magazine next year, and for just being a very helpful person.

Thanks also to Chris Walters for her many suggestions and for introducing me to the

delightful Ruth O’Brien, a disabled songwriter from Canberra, who is featured in this

edition of the magazine.

The ASA team is now off on a well deserved break and we look forward to catching

up with you all in the New Year.

The Australian Songwriter welcomes written contributions from ASA members and

readers of the magazine. If you have anything that you would like to say about

yourself, other songwriters/musicians/artists/new releases or upcoming events,

simply send your contribution via email to the Editor at alang@asai.org.au.

Cheers,

Alan Gilmour

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2013 National Songwriting Awards

Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Photos from the induction of Garth Porter into The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Top Left: Lee Kernaghan and Top Right: members of Sherbet performing some of Garth’s best known songs. Bottom Left: Sherbet members Garth Porter, Tony Mitchell, Alan Sandow, and Daryl Braithwaite together again, and Bottom Right the same line up with Glenn A Baker.

We will have a full report on the 2013 National Songwriting Awards Night, plus

interviews with some of the winners, in the next edition of The Australian Songwriter.

In the meantime, we have posted some photos taken on the night, of the

performances by Lee Kernaghan and Sherbet, following the induction of Garth Porter

into The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Garth on his induction and congratulations to all of you who

entered the 2013 Australian Songwriting Contest. Whether you were a winner or

not, we thank you for your participation and support for Australia’s largest and most

prestigious songwriting contest for independent songwriters.

We’ll feature the official photos of the night in the next edition of The Australian

Songwriter.

The Awards Night was recorded, and a one hour edit will be broadcast on TVS44 in

the New Year, and we will let members know once the broadcast date is set.

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Jacques Mario Gentil: 2013 Australian Songwriter Of The Year

Photo: Jacques Mario Gentil,

Melbourne VIC.

Dani Karis: 2013 Winner of The Rudy Brandsma Award For Songwriting Excellence

Photo: Dani Karis, Bundeena NSW.

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2013 Rudy Brandsma Award Nominees

Stacy Tierney Cardiff NSW

Greg J Bryant Sunshine Coast QLD

Kelly Griffith Central Coast NSW Samantha Mooney Gold Coast QLD

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Lynn Hazelton Boulder WA

Dani Karis Bundeena NSW

Steve Montgomery Sydney NSW

The Keytar Kids Melbourne VIC

The Rudy Brandsma Award is presented annually by the Directors of the ASA in

recognition of songwriting excellence by an ASA member during the course of that

year’s Australian Songwriting Contest. The award honours the memory of the late

Rudy Brandsma, one of the co-founders of the ASA in 1979. 2013 marked the 28th

presentation of the award.

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Top 30 Category Winners in the 2013 Australian Songwriting Contest

Australia Category

1. The Mighty Dollar Luke Vassella

2. Ankle Deep Dani Karis

3. The Gold Luke Vassella

4. Wattarka Aubrey Beggs

5. Eleven Long Years Eden Parris

6. Rose Matilda Matt Zarb

7. River Luke Vassella

8. Speargrass Loren Steenkamp

9. Casino Luke Vassella

10. If I Were A Swagman Matt Zarb

11-30 in alphabetical order:

100 Aprils Ago Vince Brophy

A Five O'Clock Shadow Glen Naylor

A Very Fine Day Stephen Sarre

Aussie Kid Kathy Possum

Aussie Neighbourhood Heidi Loveland, Toby Loveland, Peter

Schravemade and Natasha Koch

Dazza Susie and Phil

Dreamtime Cathedrals Manfred Vijars and Shaza Leigh

Glory Days Ken Wong

Home for the Weekend David Hyams

How Beautiful is our Country Terry Bennetts and Jenny Bennetts

Lest We Forget Rhonda Macken

Maffra U10s Michael Waugh

Mr Bennelong: Bob Brown

Ochre Man: Justin Standley

One Thing Left: Sami Cooke

Stain of Red: Lynn Hazelton

Straight From The Heart: Chris Orchard

Sydney Morning: Chris Orchard

The Southern Cross: John Greenwood

Tubby Little Trooper: Jake Roff and Rupert McCall

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Ballad Category

1. Boys Cry Too Karen Guymer and Jacques Mario Gentil

2. Little Irish Mother Terry Bennetts and Keith Lethbridge

3. A Family Emergency Magdalena MacDonald

4. My Dream Chris Orchard

5. Don’t Doubt My Words Bill Gray

6. Free Daniel Leelarthaepin

7. Will It Ever Come Back To Me Madeline

8. For You Jade Leonard

9. Different On The Outside Marie Georgiou

10. From Now On Paul Gioia

11-30 in alphabetical order

A Better Day Dave Power

And I Know Greg J Bryant and Nel Tronnelone

Daddy's Girl Katie Hardyman

Desire Francesca de Valence

Drifting Away from the Sun Samantha Mooney

How Am I? Sophie May

If The World Would Only Dani Karis

Little Piece of Love Karen Guymer

Love of My Life Samantha Mooney

Lucid Dreams Jade Diary

Memories Marie Georgiou

One Little Drop Kathy Possum

Redemption John Walsh, Kate Ceberano and Paul Cecchinelli

Sand George Begbie

So Beautiful Katie Hardyman

Stay Out Of The Way Darren Sugars

Still In Love With You Steve Montgomery

The Real Me Jade Leonard

Until There Was You Anita Paul

Vixen Stubble

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Contemporary Pop/Dance Category

1. Romeo Skii Harvey

2. What You Were Waiting For Kate Vigo

3. Radiate Sami Tauber

4. Smile Jesse Marantz

5. She Don’t Need To Know China Doll

6. Real Love Alexandra Valmorbida

6. Where Are You Now? Gino Campagnaro and Simon McRitchie

8. Lights Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Payntor and

Michael De Lorenzis

9. Like A Razor Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Payntor and

Michael De Lorenzis

10. Fashion James Hampton and The Keytar Kids

11-30 in alphabetical order:

1 teaser d&m

A Love Song Katie Hardyman

Can We Do It Now? Anirban Banerjee

Cold Hearted (Radio Edit) Jade Diary

déjà vu John Greenwood and Jason Greenwood

Dream Brigade Frank Dixon

Feeling Good Michelle Hullet

I Learned A Lot From You Kerrie Garside

Lets Get This Party Started Lindsay Hamminga

Light Breaks Lindsay Hamminga

Light It Up Lindsay Hamminga

Like A Theme Park Stacy Tierney

Playtime Michelle Hullet

Running Back To You Lori Greco

So Beautiful Katie Hardyman

So Confused Karen Guymer

Take Me Michelle Hullet

Tear Me Away George Begbie

Think That You Love Me Jourdain

Welcome to Vegas Jade Diary

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Country Category

1. Synchronised Jason Greenwood

2. Brand New Life Samantha Mooney

3. If This Guitar Could Talk Bill Wade and

Wade Finnagin

4. The Rodeo Justine Camilleri and

Chris Gale

5. Words In Your Goodbye Vanessa

Faynes, R. Faynes and D. Rogerson

6. My Place In The World Sally-Anne

Whitten and Allison Forbes

7. Field Of Flowers Dani Karis

8. Pretty Big Mess Rebecca Moore

9. Casino Luke Vassella

10. Hot Off The Line Kate Parry

11-30 in alphabetical order:

A Father's Love Justin Standley

Alone In A Highway Bar Lola Brinton

Banjo Picking Cowgirl Taylor Pfeiffer

Black Dog Cooper West

Carry Me Warren Freeman

Country Song Danny Hooper

God Bless the Beer Sabrina Alison and Roger Corbett

Heart Like A Truck Rick Hart

I'm Gonna Love You Kathleen Coleman

Is It Me Your Lookin For Brock Mathers

Let the Music Ring Out Brothers3

Lonely Nothing Tahlia McGahey

Lucky Country Craig Pinkney

On A Saturday Night In The Hall Matt Zarb

Rosalie Amber Joy Poulton

Still In Love With You Steve Montgomery

Suck It Up Tootie Hiles

What's Happened To Us? Lindsay Hamminga

Wishful Drinking Paul Owen

You Ain’t Worth The Rain Natalie Howard and Matt Scullion

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Folk/Acoustic Category

1. Empty Spaces Andy Mac

1. Master Plan Troy White

3. Echo Laura Zarb

4. The Drowning Man Chris Griffiths

and Warwick Fear

5. Always Joseph Proia and

Gary Roberts

6. The Longest Road Chris Griffiths and Warwick Fear

7. Boys Cry Too Karen Guymer and Jacques Mario Gentil

8. Sleepyhead Dave McEldowney

9. All That Jazz Marky D

10. The Path Of Least Resistance Nick Charles

11-30 in alphabetical order:

Black Words Matthew Ellis and the Ellis Collective

Different The Same AKOVA

Good Lovin Alison Jeeves

Harp of the Land Brothers3

Heartland Lynn Hazelton

How Love Can Feel Karen Guymer

In and Out of Time Andy Lacy

Inside/Outside Peta Evans-Taylor

Me and My Big Mouth Paul Owen and Roger Corbett

Paul Michael Waugh

Pennyweight Anthony English

Sand George Begbie

Sausalito Slowdown Neil Wise

Still In Love With You Steve Montgomery

The Roses Were Few Rebecca Moore

The Waiting Game Nicola Milan

Think That You Love Me Jourdain

Until There Was You Anita Paul

Vixen Stubble

Well Of Love Andrea Barnett

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Instrumental Category

1. Sunset Blues Nick Charles

2. I’m On Your Side Paul Gioia

3. Lullaby For Monty Vanessa Craven

4. Jo’s Tune Sandy Pollard

5. Raven’s Flight Amelia Coffey

6. Sombrero Stan Lenz

7. Brumby Terry Bennetts

8. The Battle Of Hank B Gilmour: Calvin

Sycamore

9. Maryanne’s Paris Galliano Sommavilla

10. Water And Life (Suite 2) Manjia Luo

11-30 in alphabetical order:

Allegory 9 Peter Smith

Desire Barbara Whitnell

East Meets West Chris Rowell

Eliane Mark Kassel

Flight of the Eagle Paul Ingerman

Freewheelin Feelin Mick Kidd and David Blight

Funkarama Heidi Loveland and Toby Loveland

Im Just A Child-Instrumental Katie Hardyman

Impulse No1 for Clarinet & Electronica Brian Fitzgerald

Loving Mother Jim Ottaway

Mountain Mists... Paul Ingerman

My Darling Joel Mark Kassel

Paradise Tyrolin

Renewal Gregory Lawson

Rimfire Toni Pollard

Russian Sad Ballad From The East

Meets Hot Jazz Blues Fusion From

The West And They Fall In Love

And Take Acid Peter Hawkes

StreptoManiac Calvin Sycamore

The Talented Ones Rebecca Achkar

White Water Marcela

Will You Be There RL Clarke

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International Category

1. Last Call Alex Tobin (AUS) and Neil Devereaux (CAN)

2. Those Were The Days/Sooner

Or Later Goodnight Argent (USA)

3. Love Storm Dr Teddy De Love (IRE)

4. Ride the Dragon Neutron Lightning (CAN)

5. Once Mayu Wakisaka (JAP)

6. Higher Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Payntor and

Michael De Lorenzis (AUS)

7. Light Up Ravi Persaud (CAN)

8. That's So Me David VonderBurg (USA)

9. Think That You Love Me Jourdain (AUS)

10. I Don't Even Play Guitar: Glenn Valles (INDIA)

10. It Feels Alright: Johan Lotand (SWE)

11-30 in alphabetical order:

Can't Put You Down Michael McGee

Closer To The Truth Dave Newington

Cold Blood Mark Stepakoff

Echo Devlin Miles

Ghost Of The Mockingbird Nitanee Paris

Hits The Ground Wake Up Paradise

Inside Melissa Bandura

Left My Heart Debra Gussin and Kyle Vincent

Like They Do It In The Movies Nitanee Paris

Pass It Along Scott Cook

Peace Kate Lush and The Wild Captain Radio Tour

Riding A Bicycle Lou DeAdder

Speak Elaine Loebenstein and Jude Kohn

Take My Breath Away Mario Puntillo

The Flame Lola Brinton and Roldan/Watts/Barringer/Drew

The Rest Of My Love Michael McGee

Time The Bullbuckers

What I See In Love Mayu Wakisaka

Wrapping Up My Love Vanessa Faynes, D. Rogerson and R.Faynes

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Lyrics Category

1. The Black Comes Like A Thief Jim Fahey

2. Troubled Troubador Paul Dillon

3. Shoulder To Shoulder Simon Berger

4. The Truth Hurts John Walsh

5. Dreamer Renay Broad

6. Afghanistan David Glazier

7. One For The Road Simon Berger

8. See You Later Ron Robert McIntosh

9. Spirit Of Australia Bunty Bisharah

10. Why Should We Be Faithful Clem Gorman

11-30 in alphabetical order:

(A Day In The Life Of) Cool Bennie Steve Montgomery

Alone With You Joseph Proia

Arrest Me Tonight Glen Naylor

At Times Phil Cose

Banker In New England Robert McIntosh and Paul Mcintosh

Burning Desire: Joe Ciangura

Chasing Rainbows Wendy Barnes

Fashionista Elizabeth Cornwall

Get Out Of My Way Simon Berger

Girl Of The Garden Richard Williams

Imperfect Me Katherine Cochrane

It's Un-Astrayan Steve Montgomery

Never Forgotten Rebecca Achkar

Nobody Knows Me Like You: Steve Montgomery

Secret Of Life Merri Joy Mountstephen

The Good News And The Bad Terry Bennetts

The Jury Di McAlister

The List Robert McIntosh

The Time For Me To Go Paul Dillon

The Truth Hurts John Walsh

Untrue Emma Lucas

Want Me Now I'm Gone Merri Joy Mountstephen

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Open Category

1. Beautiful Night Francesca de Valence

2. Lonely Life Keri McInerney

3. Here With You Dave Power

4. Livin’ On Borrowed Time John Greenwood and Jason Greenwood

5. Joan of Arc Jade Leonard

6. Smile Jesse Marantz

7. Sheba Lane Lynn Hazelton

8. Tear Me Away George Begbie

9. Side By Side Lindsay Hamminga

10. I Am Not I Cathy Dobson

11-30 in alphabetical order

All About You Alexandra Valmorbida, Michael Paynter and

Michael De Lorenzis

Been Down Danny Hooper

Don't Bother Me Paul White

Don't Die Wond'rin' Jacki Cooper

Dreaming of Better Days John Delaney

Forget Madeline

I Didn't Mean Viv Edwards

I Wonder What Heavens Like Greg J Bryant

If I Had Wings Kylie Stephens

I'm Only Sleeping Katie Hardyman

Joined At the Hip Paul Gioia

Love Me More Nicola Milan

Sad Eyes Parissa Bouas and Carl Cleves

So Confused Karen Guymer

The Karaoke Book Song Jacques Mario Gentil

The Real Treasure Kathy Possum

The Scent Of Her Perfume Nicola Milan

Trust Me Kylie Stephens

Well Of Love Andrea Barnett

Wrapping Up My Love Vanessa Faynes and R.Faynes and D.Rogerson

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Rock/Indie Category

1. Great Divide Darryl Barba, John Coulehan, Brian McLeod

and Fletcher Bowman (Roy Mackonkey).

2. Last Call Alex Tobin and Neil Devereaux

3. Everywhere Monique Lisbon and Adrian Hannan

4. Spider Jason Maynard

5. Black Dog Cooper West

6. You Only Lose The Things You Cling To: Adam Finlay and David O'Brien

7. Get Back To Funk David Watson

8. Singing Your Favourite Songs Dave Power

9. Eternally Danny Hooper

9. Midnight Slave Bill Woodford

9. Why Don't We Just Start Adam Finlay and David O'Brien

11-30 in alphabetical order

All Butterflies: Scott Toner

All I Want: Jade Leonard

Anyone But You John De Laurence

Balancing Act Jacques Mario Gentil

Beautiful Guitar Thing Peta Evans-Taylor

Better Than You Lindsay Hamminga

Big Blue Sky Paul Gioia

Black Market Man Rick Hart

Coming Home Michelle Hullet

Crash Like A Butterfly John Trager

Edge Of The World Cooper West

Fire in the House Kelly Griffith

Hot Off The Line Kate Parry

Let it Go Justin Linkins

Noise Machine Stephen Kermode

Put in the Work Jay Lisle

Shadow Paul Gioia

This Is War (Ban Fracking) Stephen Kermode

When You're Free Adrian Elton

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Songs For Children Category

1. Aussie Kid Kathy Possum

2. Skunk on the Bunk David Jennings

3. That's Me! Ray Saunders and JR

Marshall

4. Teddy Bear Joseph Proia

5. Fashionista Elizabeth Cornwall

and Nathan Eshman

6. Brave Forever Cassi Hilbers and

Joel Walkenhorst

7. Give Me Some Crayons: Ren's Song Mark

Ferris

8. Mr Ducky is A-Driftin' By Carol Pearce

9. Veggie Patch Rock Stacy Tierney

10. Follow Your Nose Leo Kahans

10. The Story of You Know Who Michael Mills

11-30 in alphabetical order:

12345 Plant a Tree Stacy Tierney

5 Little Sailors Kathy Possum

Aussie Neighbourhood Heidi Loveland, Toby Loveland, Peter

Schravemade and Natasha Koch

Beat Street! Susie and Phil

Cheep Cheep Cheep Rachel Parkinson

Crocodile Joseph Proia and Kevin Adams

Dad's Tool Box Magdalena Macdonald and Paul Gibbs

Dingle Dangle Little Elves Stacy Tierney

Dinosaur Stampede Michael Mills

Edna the Elephant Susie and Phil

Enter The Seal Kathy Possum

Fun Fun Fun Cassi Hilbers and Joel Walkenhorst

Gibson the Gorilla Jake Roff and Pam Briggs

Going to the Pool John Littrich, Neil McCann and Paul McGee

I've Got a Butterfly on My Toe Rachel Parkinson

Johnny the Pirate-Oh! Ray Saunders and JR Marshall

Maraca Mambo Carol Pearce

One Little Drop Kathy Possum

The Marching Band John Littrich, Neil McCann and Paul McGee

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Spiritual Category

1. When He Comes Jacques Mario Gentil

2. No Other Name Rob Nightingale

3. Free At Last Jacques Mario Gentil

4. Time To Be Moving On Lola Brinton and Trisha Roldan

5. I Wonder What Heavens Like? Greg J Bryant

6. Everything But Love Jacques Mario Gentil

7. Old Friend Loren Steenkamp

8. Lion and the Lamb Craig Bowen

9. I'm Only Sleeping Katie Hardyman

10. Messiah Greg J Bryant

11-30 in alphabetical order:

Falling Kam

Gamblin Cill Van Der Velden and Bob Sutor

Guess It Wasn't My Time Leon Bobako

Heaven (To Be With You) Daniel Leelarthaepin

Highway To Heaven Ted Roberts

Human Stain Andrea Barnett

I Want To Tell You Now Mike Williams

Jess's Song Greg J Bryant

Let Justice Roll Paul Somerville

Looking for Grace Eden Parris

Mia's Song Ann Leung

Rivers Jade Diary

Run To You Stephanie Unger

Send Down The Angels Alan Lucas

The Other Side Vanessa Faynes, R.Faynes and J.Bromell

Well Of Love Andrea Barnett

When I Pray Stephanie Unger Unger

When the City Chose to Sing Michael Wagner and Keith Smith

You Hold the Key Mark Ferris

You're Inspirational Sami Cooke

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Youth Category

1. Believe In You Kaitlyn Thomas

2. I Won’t Throw Fire Kim Gamaroff

3. Fashionista Josephine Cornwall and Tess Cornwall

4. Dandelion Frank Dixon

5. Lost And Found Kelly Griffith

6. Give Up On You Frank Dixon

7. Rush Jake Davey

8. You're So Good Looking Josephine Cornwall and Tess Cornwall

9. Autumn Song Fionn Richards

10. Still Searchin’ Sami Cooke

11-30 in alphabetical order

All I Need Tania D'Agostino

Backed Up Against A Wall Ray-Lee Russell

Dream Brigade Frank Dixon

Far Away Casey Wilkinson

Feel That Way Abbey Gardner

Fire in the House Kelly Griffith

Kick Drum Jade Ingvarson-Favretto

Let It Out Kim Gamaroff

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie Taylor Pfeiffer

Little Red Hannah Leah Hotker

Love Sick Vertigo Frank Dixon

Missing Puzzle Piece Meg Sampson

My Boy Taylor Amy

Put Your Hands Up Kelly Griffith

Skywriter Josephine Cornwall and Tess Cornwall

Sonny Frank Dixon

Turn Around Abbey Gardner

Unstoppable Two Robin Johnson

Wish Upon A Star Cassi Hilbers

You See Me Elizabeth Cornwall

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James Linderman: Song Tessellation (or How Midwestern American

Farm Girls Reinvented Imitative Composition)

At the start of the industrial revolution in North America there were a few

developments that converged to popularize a particular form of academic

composition.

One of the factors was the mass production of the parlour piano that would be called

an apartment size or studio size today.

This pianos short stature allowed the player to look over the top of it to lead

singalongs, a popular past time with the urban aristocracy in Europe and with the

new urban wealthy in America.

The other development was the invention of the catalogue store, usually the general

store in rural America. Companies like Sears would sell items from a catalogue in the

rural general store that could be shipped to remote areas that would not otherwise

have access to those items.

The last piece of the puzzle was the availability of farm equipment that could allow

farmers to harvest much larger yields with much less manpower and in a fraction of

the time. This created a new class of rural wealthy that aspired to use, at least some

of that wealth to appear cultured and urban.

These converging developments combined to place a parlour piano in the front

rooms of farm houses all across North America, but there remained one last decisive

factor.

Piano music, and “cultured” music in general had been, to this point, a European art

form, powered by male composers and dominated by male virtuoso performers. Men,

in North America’s rural mid-west, however were still primarily labourers despite the

modernization of farming and did not have the time or inclination to learn the piano.

Grown women as well were not usual candidates to take up this newly purchased

instrument as much of a woman’s work in that setting, in that era, was also still

primarily manual and not yet automated. The preparation of a chicken dinner started

with a live chicken.

Young boys did not fare well with this instrument either, as they often helped with

farm chores after school and looked at the piano as more of an extension of a school

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day. The work and play that pulled them outdoors also made the piano a less than

ideal addition to their day.

That, of course, left young farm girls as the natural choice for this instrument. Their

chores were mostly indoors where the piano was located, and they were encouraged

to become cultured ladies and the pianos reputation made it the ideal instrument

from a sociological standpoint.

This also saw the inception of the itinerant piano teacher who would travel from farm

to farm and village to village teaching these young farm girls how to play the music

in their piano bench. One obstacle, however, was the shortage of mass print sheet

music and so many of these fledgling musicians had only one or two sheets of music

to play, as the printing industry lagged behind the demand for more accessible

music.

The solution for this for many of these developing musicians was compositional

tessellation.

Tessellation is the art of taking smaller patterned items and making a larger pattern

out of them. A quilt is a tessellation and so is the picture I have seen of a runner

made up of thousands of small photos of runners.

Farm girls would take a random bar of melody from say, “New World Symphony” and

combine it with an equally random bar of melody from “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

and compositional tessellation would be born…. Not so much born because they did

not invent this practice but more adopted and certainly mastered. Bar after bar

would be brought into the composition and adapted through editorial shifts of pitches

and rhythmic placements.

Lots of this early North American music is not archived since blank staff paper was

also not readily available and many of these composers would have not considered

this so much composing but more just recreating on their instrument.

As mentioned, once the melodic motifs are stuck together there is often an editorial

adjustment that is required to seamlessly join them into a single musical statement

and then there is the work of re harmonizing them into a more full musical

expression.

To my estimation, that is every bit as much an act of composing as we songwriter

would do today, either knowingly or merely intuitively as we attempt to create new

original music from our collection of past musical experiences and present abilities.

In other words, the resources available.

Tessellation is a great way to take some “target practice” at writing melodies and

since the source materials are from already existing and at least somewhat popular

songs, there is a good chance that your tessellated melody will be very likely to be

very likeable. It is a great way to get practice at setting chords to a melodic pattern

as well and a terrific way to test drive your ability to solve the various kinds of

problems that melodic motifs can cause when trying to create our new work.

If we find we like what we are creating with a tessellation and want to turn it into a

commercially available original work, there is often more work to edit it to not sound

like you just stuck a bar of Katrina and the Waves “Walking on sunshine” on the

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front end of a bar of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”. But if you edit and then play it for a

few close friends and associates and they cannot trace your song back to it’s original

source materials then the original composers (and their legal team) will not be able

to either and your song will be no more plagiarism than anything else we write from

the collection of other peoples musical ideas we have floating around our sub

conscience.

James Linderman is a guitar, piano and songwriting teacher in Ontario Canada and

teaches in studio and over Skype to students all over the world. James is an

Berkleemusic Ambassador and a music journalist and presenter at music conferences

and workshops. Contact James at jlinderman@berkleemusic.com.

2013 In Memoriam

People from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are advised that the

following tributes may contain photos of deceased persons.

Mandawuy Yunupingu (1956 -2013)

Mandawuy Yunupingu passed

away on 2 June 2013 at the age

of 56. From 1986, he was the

frontman, singer, songwriter and

guitarist for the indigenous

rock group Yothu Yindi.

The band achieved national

recognition with their single

“Treaty” which was co-written

with Paul Kelly and other Yothu

Yindi members. The song

highlighted the lack of progress

in Australian indigenous affairs

and became an anthem for

aboriginal and non-aboriginal social activists. Treaty peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA

singles charts in 1991 and stayed in the Top 50 for a total of 20 weeks.

24

Yunupingu was appointed Australian of the Year for 1992 by the National Australia

Day Council. In April 1998, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by

the Queensland University of Technology. In December 2012, Yothu Yindi was

inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Editor’s note: Yunupingu’s family has given permission for this image to be

published.

Chrissy Amphlett (1959 – 2013)

Divinyls frontwoman, singer and

songwriter, Chrissy Amphlett,

passed away on 21 April 2013

at the age of 53.

The Geelong-born Amphlett, the

cousin of the 1960s pop icon

''Little Pattie'' Amphlett, rose to

fame as the feisty lead singer of

the Divinyls.

The band became famous for

Amphlett's sexy schoolgirl

outfits, torn fishnet stockings

and wild on-stage antics. The Divinyls had their first hits, “Boys in Town” and “Only

Lonely”, after Amphlett’s appearance in the 1982 film “Monkey Grip”.

Amphlett had met her artistic collaborator and fellow band member, Mark

McEntee, at a concert at the Sydney Opera House in 1980, and with Jeremy Paul

from Air Supply, formed The Divinyls that year. They had four Top 10 albums in

Australia and one in the US. Their biggest-selling single, “I Touch Myself” in 1991,

was a No.1 hit in Australia, and made the Top 10 in the US and Britain.

In May 2001, The Divinyls' "Science Fiction", written by Amphlett and McEntee, was

selected by APRA as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. They were

inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006.

Chris Bailey (1950 – 2013)

The Angels and GANGgajang

bass player, Chris Bailey,

passed away on 2013 at the

age of 62.

The Angels formed in Adelaide

in 1974. The band later moved

to Sydney and enjoyed huge

success, clocking up hit singles

across four decades, including

"No Secrets", "Marseilles",

"Take a Long Line" and "Am I

Ever Gonna See Your Face Again".

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Bailey left The Angels and in 1984 formed the band GANGgajang, along with fellow

former Angel Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup and ex-Riptides guitarist Mark “Cal” Callaghan.

The band went on to have the 1985 hit “Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia)”.

Tommy Tycho (1928 – 2013)

Pianist, conductor, composer

and arranger, Tommy Tycho,

passed away on 4 April 2013 at

the age of 84.

Tycho emigrated to Australia in

1951 from Hungary and

became Musical Director for the

Seven Network from 1956 to

1971. He was involved in nine

Royal Command Performances,

and conducted all of

the ABC symphony orchestras.

His work was an important

element of many official

openings including the Sydney

Opera House, the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the Sydney Football Stadium, the

Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth

Games, World Expo 88, Darling Harbour in Sydney and major sporting grand finals.

Gary Shearston (1939 – 2013)

Singer and songwriter, Gary

Shearston, passed away on 1

July 2013 at the age of 74.

He was a leading figure in

the folk music revival of the

1960s and was notable as a

performer of Australian

traditional folk songs in an

authentic style.

In March 1965, his single

"Sydney Town" hit the Top 10

in his home city of Sydney.

In 1966 and 1967, he became

Australia's biggest record seller

of folk music. He had his own national television show called “Just Folk”.

US folk singers, Peter Paul and Mary, recorded a cover of his song "Sometime

Lovin'". They also invited him to go to the United States where he spent four years.

Farewell to all of these songwriters.

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Songwriter Profile: Ruth O’Brien

Canberra singer, songwriter and composer, Ruth O’Brien, has never let physical

disability stand in the way of success. Born with a rare congenital condition called

Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii Syndrome, Ruth has gone on to become a great

performer in her own right.

Ruth O’Brien is an independent singer, songwriter and composer. For the last 2½

years she has been studying an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance at the

Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), which she will complete at the end of 2013.

Born and raised in Canberra, Ruth has made many connections within the music

industry both in the nation’s capital and interstate. In 2009, she studied at the

Australian National University and received tutelage from some nationally recognised

musicians including the acclaimed jazz singer, Vince Jones.

Whilst studying at the CIT, Ruth has played an active role within the student

community. She has helped to bring together student-run events, lead different

ensembles including the CIT touring band in 2012 and has organised music industry

talks for the student body. At the end of 2012, she was awarded The Ginette Smith

Music Industry Award for leadership and contribution to the culture of the CIT Music

Industry Centre.

Ruth’s writing style infuses the sounds of blues, jazz and cabaret with pop. Lyrically,

many of her songs hint at themes of love & heartbreak, which she illustrates through

descriptive and colourful language. She loves to sing old jazz standards and hopes to

compose music that emulates the timelessness that this genre of music portrays.

While this style comes most naturally to Ruth, she wants to write in many different

styles and experiment with different sounds and recording techniques.

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Ruth tries to play an active role in

the Canberra music community

both face-to-face and through

social media. Since 2010, she has

run a Facebook group called

“Music Industry Canberra”. This is

used primarily as an online space

to help connect the Canberra

music community and share

information about funding

opportunities, workshops, talks,

networking meetings, advertise for

band members and ask other for

advice. Currently there are over

400 members within this group,

with a face-to-face member meet

up happening in mid-September,

2013. Ruth is very passionate

about the music and arts scene in

Canberra and hopes to always play

an active role in its growth and

sustainability.

While her disability is never the

focus for Ruth, she intends to

venture into creating more

opportunities in the arts for those

with disabilities by her active

engagement in the Australian music industry.

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Members News and Information

1. Wax Lyrical has a New Home in Western Australia

Mike Cardy, WA ASA Coordinator, is

proud and excited to announce that

there is a new venue for Wax Lyrical in

Western Australia. Wax Lyricals will

now occur on the first Thursday of each

month at the Elephant and

Wheelbarrow Hotel, corner of Lake

Street and Francis Street, Northbridge.

“This is a huge coup for ASA members

and other songwriters in Western

Australia”, Mike said. The Elephant and

Wheelbarrow is a vibrant live music

venue in a great location. It is in the

middle of Perth’s music scene in

Northbridge, has a fantastic stage set-up and has a great vibe. WA songwriters will

have a wonderful opportunity to play their original music is a great venue”.

WA Wax Lyrical will also be very lucky to have John “Yak” Sherrit doing the sound

each night. “Yak is a legend in the music scene here in WA, and a really good sound

man to boot,” Mike said. “He is the regular soundman at the Elephant and

Wheelbarrow and his expertise and experience, and the feedback he will be able to

give to performers, will certainly help our members develop their stage craft”.

Wax Lyrical nights will start at 7.15pm on the first Thursday

of each month. Songwriters wishing to play should contact

Mike or his colleagues Makk or Bob to arrange a spot.

“We also keep a few spots open for drop-ins.” Mike said.

“One of the things we hope to get from the Elephant and

Wheelbarrow’s location is people passing by hearing our

members and dropping in for a listen. Hopefully some of

them will be songwriters who are also looking to perform. We

have a house guitar available and always encourage people

to get up.”

Mike is also is keen to thank Legends Bar. “It is very important to also acknowledge

the people who have supported us in the past.” Mike Said. “So as we move on from

Legends Bar in Attadale, we send out a big, big thank you to the team at Legends

Bar. It was only through their support in providing a venue for the past couple of

years that we were able to get Wax Lyricals up and running again in Western

Australia.”

Contacts:

Mike Cardy: mikecardymusic@iprimus.com.au, 0413 677 084

Makk Eenhoorn: tunesmithscafe@iinet.net.au, 0412 096 435

Bob Grigoroff: montyg1@optusnet.com.au

Elephant and Wheelbarrow, Northbridge

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2. The 10th Anniversary of ASA Wax Lyricals in Tasmania

On 11 December 2013, the ASA will celebrate 10 years

of Wax Lyrical (open mic) gigs in Tasmania.

Matt Sertori, ASA Regional Co-Ordinator in Hobart has

filed the following report:

“We are inviting all the original people that played at

our first gig in 2003 to play. However to keep things

fresh we have invited 8 young songwriters, each of

whom will be playing their first gig, the idea being that

experienced performers will naturally gravitate to

mentoring the younger artists.

While the nostalgia thing is wonderful, we believe the

ASA plays an important role providing developmental

opportunities for younger writers. Not many Wax

Lyrical events could boast performers ranging in age from 18 to 82, which is what we

have at this event. Sadly since we started, three of those original performers have

passed away: Josephine Fry, Clive Brooks and Kristy Marks, the latter a young

mother in her early twenties. So it will be quiet a poignant night as we take a

moment to remember those performers who had given so much to our team.

Recently, as I was going through my old archives I found 6 hours of high quality

video footage I had completely forgotten existed. So on the night, as people

perform, we have a projector playing footage from some of those early Tasmania

gigs.

In all, we have 37 performances to show and the footage which have never been

broadcast before. I can say with certainly that myself and the filmmaker are the only

ones who have seen it. We will also be filming our anniversary gig and I will forward

a copy of the DVD highlights to the board, I won't forget to get everyone to sign

those waiver forms!

The venue we have chosen for the ten year anniversary is also having its formal

opening on the same night and I think it's fantastic the venue is called The Night

Owl, as that is also the name of a song by ASA Hall of Famers, Little River Band. Also

on the night, we will be displaying every poster from every single Wax Lyrical, we

have run in Tasmania in the past ten years. I counted up the number of performers

we have had in that time, and the number was nearly 250.

Photos (below): A collection of Wax Lyrical posters from the last 10 years and photos (from left to right, top to bottom): Mathias Thompson, Josh Durno, Charlene Rollins, Emily Wolfe and the late Clive Brooks, Crystal Campbell, Group photo ( when one of the members, Kirsty Marks, passed away from breast cancer aged 23, there was an impromptu performance of her favourite song, Fall At Your Feet by Crowded House, by Michaela Young, Crystal Campbell, Matt Sertori, Ian Murtagh, Jo and Paul Volta and Josh Durno), Johnny Cigar, Adrian Beith, Tony Brennan, Ian Murtagh and Rod Fritz.

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3. Songwriters Meeting Point

We receive a lot of requests from songwriters seeking co-writers, collaborators,

vocalists, musicians etc. to help them with their craft.

If you are one of these, simply send your details to the Editor at alang@asai.org.au

and we’ll publish them in this section.

This is a free service to ASA members but the ASA accepts no responsibility for

outcomes (except of course if you produce a great song, then we’ll gladly take some

of the credit!).

Fran Walker writes “I was wondering if you can recommend someone in the ASA

who can put music and vocals to one of my Lyrics? It is a song about a heroin addict

getting punished in a high security prison. I have a large collection and I am more a

Poet. I recorded my poetry with classical music at the Conservatorium of Brisbane,

just reciting, so if you would help me I will be grateful. Love from Brisbane. Fran.”

If you would like to help Fran, please contact her on fran.cat@bigpond.com.

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4. ASA Regional Co-Ordinators Meeting

Photo (Left to Right, Top to Bottom): Alan Gilmour, Matt Sertori, Mark Ellis, Angelo Pash, Mike Cardy, Melinda J Wells, Denny Burgess, Clare Burgess, Lola Brinton, Kerrie Garside, Hugh Brown and Ben Patis.

With many of the ASA’s Regional Co-Ordinators in Sydney for the National

Songwriting Awards Night, a Regional Co-Ordinators Meeting was held the next day

to discuss members’ issues around Australia. A photo of the attendees is above.

5. House Concerts Australia

Former ASA Director, Gary Luck, has drawn our attention to House Concerts

Australia as a means of helping up-and-coming artists gain performance exposure.

If you are an artist looking for exposure, or if you want to host a concert, contact

House Concerts Australia at http://houseconcertsaustralia.ning.com/.

Hosts can invite family and friends, and for a small donation of say $20 per head (to

the artist), you and your guests can experience the music of new artists that you

may never otherwise get to hear, in the comfort of your own home.

Gary will be hosting a concert himself in the New Year for a visiting overseas artist.

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6. Debra Gussin and Stacy Hogan win another Award!

Photos: Debra Gussin (left) and Stacy Hogan (right with his wife, Melissa) won the Best Adult Contemporary/AAA Song at the Hollywood Music In Media Awards last month with their song “Do U Miss The Heat”. The song was previously the winner of the 2012 Australian Songwriting Contest International Category.

We knew it was a great song, but here’s further proof. Debra Gussin and Stacy

Hogan, last year’s winners of the International Category in The Australian

Songwriting Contest, won the Best Adult Contemporary/AAA Song at the Hollywood

Music In Media Awards last month with their song, “Do U Miss The Heat”.

Debra says: “I'm so proud and excited. I walked the red carpet with all the lightbulbs

flashing at me, it was like the Oscars! The best part of the evening was meeting and

hanging with my insanely talented collaborator, Stacy Hogan, and his wonderful wife

Melissa. I've been working with Stacy for over 4 years, yet we've never met until just

before we won our award!”

“I was busy trying to take a picture of the big screen with the nominees’ names...21

nominees! And suddenly they called our names and our song was playing before a

sold out/standing room only crowd at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. I just

remember screaming, and Stacy was sitting there, all kinds of Nashville chill. We

were both so shocked, they had to tell us to come up and make a speech!”

“I nearly fell off the podium, I was shaking. Neither of us had planned anything to

say, we were just excited to be there having fun. I managed to thank my parents

and my incredible mentor Marty Panzer for their support.”

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The Load Out

The ASA team would like to wish its members, sponsors, volunteers, and just about

everyone in fact, a happy festive season and a great new year.

We look forward to doing it all again in 2014 and hope that you can come along with

us on the journey.

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Official Sponsors of the Australian Songwriting Contest

The ASA would like to acknowledge the assistance of all of its sponsors for

supporting us in our activities throughout the year. The ASA is a not-for-profit

association and could not undertake its activities without the assistance of its valued

sponsors.

We would encourage ASA Members to use the services of our sponsors wherever

possible.

Dynamic Music

Bachelor of Popular Music

CMC Productions

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MMS Retail

KG International

38

About Us

The Australian Songwriters Association Inc. is a national, not-for-profit,

member organisation dedicated to the support of songwriters and their

art, by providing avenues for encouragement and education of developing

Australian songwriters, and recognition and promotion of our

accomplished members.

Aims of the Association

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 on 22 July 1979 by the late Tom Louch

(1932-1998) and the late Rudy Brandsma (1944-1983), 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.

Contact Us

Mail: Locked Bag 18/178 Newtown NSW 2042 Australia

Phone/Fax: (02) 9516 4960

Email: asanationaloffice@asai.org.au

Website: www.asai.org.au

39

Facebook: www.facebook.com/asamusicians

www.facebook.com/australiansongwritersassociation

Youtube: www.youtube.com/austsongwriters

Patron: Glenn A Baker

Life Members: Tom Louch, Rudy Brandsma, Marie Murphy, Russell Zimmer, Alex Bialocki, Colleen

Zulian, Brian Henderson Ward, Kieran Roberts

Directors: Denny Burgess Chairman

Alan Gilmour Vice Chairman, Public Officer, Financial Officer, Online Content

Editor and Editor of The Australian Songwriter magazine

Clare Burgess Director and Secretary

Ben Patis Director and Manager of Regional Co-Ordinators

Regional Co-Ordinators Trevor Shard Melbourne Vic trevors@asai.org.au

Pete Sheen Ballarat Vic petes@asai.org.au

Matt Sertori Hobart Tas matts@asai.org.au

Mark Ellis Sydney NSW marke@asai.org.au

Chris Whitington Newcastle NSW chrisw@asai.org.au

Mike Cardy Western Australia (Perth) mikec@asai.org.au

Melinda J Wells Rural & Regional QLD melindajw@asai.org.au

Hugh Brown Brisbane QLD hughb@asai.org.au

Johnny Dee Bribie Island QLD johnnyd@asai.org.au

Details of Wax Lyrical (Open Mic.) nights run by our Regional Co-Ordinators can be

found on the ASA website.

This publication is © 2013 by The Australian Songwriters Association Inc.

ABN 12 140 838 710 and may not be re-used without permission. The views

expressed in this magazine are the views of the writers and may not

necessarily reflect the views of the ASA. The ASA acknowledges and thanks

all sources from which information for this magazine was obtained.