Brother-Sister Duo Take Out Sydney Festival Soundtrack Competition

Sydney-based brother-sister duo Gnome have been declared the winners of the Sydney Festival soundtrack competition. The pair’s original composition will be the sonic setting for Sydney Festival in videos, online and on the air for the 2013 instalment.

A panel of judges consisting of Sydney Festival Director Lieven Bertels, with Zan Rowe (triple j), Dan Zilber (FBi Radio), Ralph van Dijk (Eardrum Australia), and Sydney Festival 2012 alumni, singer/songwriter Megan Washington oversaw the comp, which clocked up around 70 different entries before declaring Gnome’s delightfully blissful Picnic! as the festival theme song, as it perfectly resonates with the events motto ‘This Is Our City in Summer’.

Comprised of Freya and Elias Berkhout, the pair commented on the inspiration behind the release, explaining, “we often travel, but always look forward to coming home to Sydney: our photogenic harbour, the fantastic food, concerts at Sydney Opera House and walks over the bridge. Sydney Festival makes us look forward to this time of year, and our song reflects the heat, happiness and excitement of summer in Sydney.”

Gnome have found themselves in good company, with Sufjan Stevens, Reggie Watts, Beach House, The Middle East and Kaki King all receiving the same honour over the years.

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