Local indie-pop performer and song-writing sensation Kristy Coote has been named amongst an elite list of international songwriters and named as a finalist in the 2017 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) based in the USA. Kristy’s song ‘Pretending’ has been selected as a finalist in the Children’s Music category.
The acknowledgement follows her recent success in Australia where two of her songs ‘Calling all our Guardian Angels’ and ‘Pretending’ both placed as finalists in the Australian Independent Music Awards.
The International Songwriting Competition is a prestigious music competition for both aspiring and established songwriters. ISC provides artists with the opportunity to be heard by the most influential decision-makers in the music industry internationally.
The 2017 judging panel includes 38 artists and 43 industry heavyweights such as Tom Waits, Lorde, Ziggy Marley, the President of Warner Bros Records, Dan Mccarroll and Managing Director of RCA UK, Colin Barlow.
Ms Coote said the irony of receiving the recognition in the States now – after living there for so many years, was extraordinary.
“I have been co-writing in America for over ten years with little recognition of my work, and just when I decide to resettle back home in Newcastle, it’s then that I receive international recognition” Kristy laughs.
Previous competition winners include Vance Joy, Gotye, Bastille, The Band Perry, Kimbra, Passenger, Kasey Chambers, Lindsey Stirling, Skrizzly Adams, Kate Miller-Heidke and Gin Wigmore.
Kristy co-wrote the song with 90’s pop star Clive Young after a two-day writing session in Melbourne. They had been working on another song for one and a half days, when with only two hours remaining to their session, the song ‘Pretending’ was penned and performed.
“The inspiration behind the song were my two beautiful nieces Maddy and Bronte (now 16 and 13) who are also Newcastle girls. However, when I wrote the song in 2014, they were at an age where they were so vulnerable. I was just so worried about them in this big bad world and just wanted to keep them wrapped up in cotton wool to protect them”. Kristy explains.
The song is also eligible in the “People’s Voice” category of the competition, with public voting ending on 13th April.
Winners of The 2017 International Songwriting Competition will be announced in April 2017.
To hear the song, click here
To view a full list of winners, click here
To view a full list of judges, click here
For more information or to arrange an interview with Kristy Coote, please contact:
Brooke Stevenson
Eclipse Communications
02 4929 5139
0407 240 211
brooke@eclipsecommunications.com.au
Released: 3/04/2017