The top prize for the 2020 Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition has gone to Australian artist Thelma Plum for ‘Better in Blak,’ a song that brings together frank and honest lyrics with soaring melodies.
Plum wins a $50,000 cash prize, the largest first place prize for any songwriting competition in the world.
The Gamilaraay singer-songwriter was a runner-up in the 2013 competition for her song ‘Breathe In Breathe Out.’
“I am so honoured that ‘Better in Blak’ has won the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, I can’t even really describe it,“ Thelma said.
“My heartfelt thanks to Alex Burnett and Oli Horton for their creativity and to everyone who connected to a song that is deeply personal, written when I was feeling very alone.
“I don’t feel alone today.
“Vanda and Young was kind to me early in my career when I received a runner-up prize for ‘Breathe In Breathe Out,’ I could never have imagined then that one day I would win.“
Plum collaborated with Australian songwriter-producer Alexander Burnett and London-based Oli Horton on the song, which is the title track to Plum’s acclaimed debut album. Released in 2019, ‘Better In Blak’ was a top five finalist in the 2020 Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year and came in at Number Nine in the Triple J Hottest 100.
The competition’s $10,000 second place prize, courtesy of Banki Haddock Fiora, goes to hip-hop artist Baker Boy aka Danzal Baker for his powerful track ‘Meditjin,’ with lyrics both in English and the Yolngu Matha language.
“I was blown away that I even made the shortlist so to come second for the Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition is just crazy. It feels really special that my Yolngu Matha lyrics are getting this kind of recognition,“ Baker Boy said.
“Couldn’t have done it without my co-writers: JessB, Jerome Farah, Dallas Woods and Dion Brownfield.“
In third place and the winner of $5,000 courtesy of Aon is Sydney performer and songwriter Ruel for ‘Painkiller.’ Since emerging on the scene in 2017, the teenager has built a global fanbase through his soulful pop songs.
“I feel so honoured to make it to the top three in this year’s Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition,“ Rule said.
“I’ve been working hard to improve my songwriting every day, so it feels amazing to be recognised at this level and be mentioned alongside incredible artists like Thelma Plum and Baker Boy.“
