Husky takes out $50K Vanda & Young Songwriting Comp

Husky Gawenda, of Melbourne band Husky has taken out top honours for the annual Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition, taking home $50,000 from APRA AMCOS and Alberts.

His April-recorded track, Saint Joan went up against 3,400 entries and adds to his mounting accolades. Last year Gawenda was awarded the bi-annual professional development prize from APRA and with Husky won the2011 Push OverUnearthed Band Competition and has opened for Neil Young, The Shins and Gotye.

The son of renowned Australian journalist Michael Gawenda AM joins previous winners Isabella Manfredi (2013), also a Mushroom signing, Kimbra Johnson (2011) and Megan Washington (2009).

Gawenda said: "I'm honoured to win the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition. That the competition supports Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, a great cause, makes it particularly rewarding. It is a big thrill for me for ‘Saint Joan’ to have been chosen from among so many great songs.”

Melbourne singer Meg Mac (Megan McInerney)received the second prize of $10,000 from AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association) for her track Roll Up Your Sleeves. The 2014 Unearthed Artist of the Year winner said she wrote the track in two weeks.

David Le’aupepe, was awarded the third prize of $5,000, provided by AEG Ogden, for his song, Poison Drum. The track was for his band Gang Of Youths, which he co-founded in 2012.

Last year's winners The Preatures donated $2000 for the encouragement award, which was awarded to Andy Bull for his trackBaby I Am Nobody Now.

The $170,000 raised through entry fees went to non-for-profit group Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy.

APRA AMCOS CEO, Brett Cottle, said, “Folk, pop, soul, rock, electro – our winners this year really showcase the diversity and quality of original music being created in Australia. Husky’s song Saint Joan,our grand prizewinner, is everything a good song should be. In second place, Meg Mac’s Roll Up Your Sleevescontinues on an impressive trajectory, while David and Andy’s winning songs resonate with fans across Australia and the world.

"I’m confident each of these songwriters will make the most of this opportunity and inspire others to keep creating. This year the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition raised $170,000.00. This is an incredible achievement and I want to thank every songwriter that donated $50 to this cause by entering their song.”

The complete winners’ details are:

1st Place – AU$50,000: Saint Joan
Husky Gawenda (Mushroom)

2nd Place – AU$10,000: Roll Up Your Sleeves
Meg Mac (Unpublished)

3rd Place – AU$5,000: Poison Drum
David Le’aupepe (Published by Universal Music Publishing)

Encouragement Award – AU$2,000 and production package: Baby I Am Nobody Now
Andy Bull (Unpublished)