Odette, The Presets Among 2019 Vanda & Young Competition Finalists

The shortlist for the 2019 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has been revealed today, with tracks from the likes of Ruel, Odette, The Presets, The Veronicas, CXLOE and Kaiit among the top 40 names announced.

This year’s competition saw 3,683 entires from 48 countries, and this year’s Top 40 includes 23 first-time entrants, with up-and-comers Françoistunes, NYNE and Hayley Mengel among the artists Vanda & Young have tipped as ones to watch.

Four winners will be announced this July, with cash prizes of up to $50,000 up for grabs, with judging to take place from songwriter Lior, Isabella Manfredi of The Preatures (a former first-place winner herself), Dave Ruby Howe from triple j Unearthed and producer Franc Tétaz. Former prize-winners have included singer-songwriter Amy Shark for ‘Adore’ last year, along with Gretta Ray (2016) and Megan Washington (2009).

Through the competition, songwriters have helped raise $184,150 for music therapy organisation Nordoff-Robins Music Therapy Australia. The competition’s $50 entry fee goes towards funding the organisation’s programs, which work with children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, autism, trauma, illness, dementia, behaviour disorders and learning difficulties.

“It means the world to our organisation and the children and adults we work with daily to have the support of over 3,600 songwriters from around the globe, whose competition entry fees go directly to providing much needed resources for a range of therapies and programs” commented Belinda Leonard, CEO of NRMTA.

“A heartfelt thank you to Alberts and APRA AMCOS for championing this initiative for the past decade and thank you to songwriting legends Harry Vanda and George Young who continue to inspire.”

Check out the full shortlist below. You can listen to a playlist of all the finalist songs on Spotify or Apple Music.