Get to know the SAYS21 finalists in the 13-18 year old International category
This year’s Song Academy Young Songwriter competition attracted over 1,000 entries from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-18 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song. The judges were extremely impressed with the originality, creativity & musical bravery of the songs. We interviewed each of the finalists to get to know them and learn more about how they write songs.
Faye Nicole – Walk Again
What inspired you to write your finalist song? ‘Walk Again’ is written about my experience with scoliosis, which was a very traumatic and personal aspect of my life. When I was 9, I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine that can cause a lot of issues, depending on the severity and what stage it’s at. The plan was for me to undergo 2 rounds of surgery over a 3-week period in order to correct the curve. When I was 11, I had my first operation. I was in hospital for the following 2 weeks, and I was confined to a bed or a wheelchair as I couldn’t walk or do anything independently. During this period, I was preparing for the final round of surgery, which unfortunately didn’t go as planned. The operation had to be aborted due to potential nerve damage in my left leg. Waking up, I remember faintly hearing doctors around me talking about a ‘3rd operation’ and saying that they ‘couldn’t finish it’. At that point, the thought of going through it all over again was almost unbearable. I was kept in the intensive care unit for around 4 days so that they could increase the blood flow to my spine. I wasn’t allowed out of bed, I barely ate anything, and I was so mentally and physically drained. All I could think was ‘will I be able to walk’? The shape of my spine didn’t matter to me anymore, as long as my legs still worked. The final round of surgery was thankfully successful. I still had to re-learn how to walk, and the recovery was long and frustrating. But it wasn’t until about three years later that I realised I had such a unique story that deserved to be shared, and what better way to do that than to channel my creativity and put it into a song?
What got you into writing songs? I started writing songs as a way to express what I had been through. Not only my experience with scoliosis, but the events that have shaped me throughout high school and the impact that had been left on me after facing challenges that I never thought I’d face. I got such a good feeling from turning my personal struggles into something that other people could listen and relate to, so song writing became a necessity for me.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? Definitely lyric writing. Creating unique ways of expressing my thoughts and finding interesting metaphors and interpretations of a concept has to be the part of the process where I feel like I have the best opportunity to really deliver a powerful message.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? When I was writing ‘Walk Again’, it was pretty much just me, my pen, my song book, and my piano. I wanted to write it in a stripped back, authentic environment, so that I could get the rawest emotions out and focus my energy on powerful, passionate lyrics.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I usually start with messing around on the piano to find a chord progression, and then I try to visualise an emotion that matches the music. After that, I’ll try to find a part of me that personally connects to that emotion based off experience, or I’ll put myself in the shoes of someone else. Once I have the rough feel of the song, I’ll start humming along until I find a decent melody and I kind of sing whatever words come to mind. If the words fit, I keep them. Otherwise, I change it around until it sounds and feels right.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? If I could choose one, it would have to be Boy in Space. Something about his music is so captivating and it inspires me to incorporate different sounds and concepts into my own originals.
What made you enter #SAYS21? How did you hear about it? I heard about The Young Songwriter Competition back in 2019, and I started entering it since then. Especially this year, since I’ve been experimenting with different song writing styles, I saw it as an opportunity to put some different stuff out there and just see what happens!
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? I would say to just give it a shot! There’s no reason to hold back on putting yourself out there, and the worst that could happen is that you don’t progress, but continue to work on your craft, only to improve and give it another go next year. The first step to getting ahead in anything is to just try. If you don’t try, you’ve already set yourself back. So definitely don’t be afraid to enter, you’ve got nothing to lose!
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I love how it gives a supportive space for young songwriters like me from all over the world, the opportunity to put our music out there and see what happens! I also really like how we can listen to each other’s entries to hear the diversity and uniqueness of each individual song writer.
Joa – Golden Years
What inspired you to write your finalist song? I got the inspiration to write this song after a conversation I had with my friend. We were talking about the covid-situation, and how we felt that we had to sacrifice a lot. “the old people live while the young once, we die, is this supposed to be the time of our lives” concludes our conversation. I couldn’t stop thinking about what we talked about and had to write something about it.
What got you into writing songs? I started writing when I was about 14. I’ve always loved music but never really liked my voice specifically, so when I started writing I finally found something that I felt comfortable singing. I write songs when I feel like my head is about to explode and I’m overwhelmed by thoughts and questions.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? My favourite part of writing a song is when the pieces fit together. Going from a few melodies and lines to a complete story. I also love when I come up with a chorus and the rest of the song comes naturally.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? I wrote the song at my keyboard in my room and wrote it down of my phone. I also recorded it at my room in Garage band.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I usually start with a melody. I’ll sit down and the feeling I have at that moment will often reflect the melody. When I come up with a melody is often a chorus, and I will try different chords on the piano to find a verse and pre chorus. I find the spark when I often have a lot on my mind, and writing becomes a way of clearing my mind.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? I have listened a lot to Empire of the sun lately and it would be a dream to write with them. I think they have a unique way of writing and interesting, magical melodies. I also love Ryan tedders songs and what he has written, so it would have been super interesting working with him.
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? Go for it!
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? It’s an easy way of getting in touch with young songwriter all around the world.
Jo Mackenzie – Lost Myself
What inspired you to write your finalist song? I wrote my finalist song “Lost Myself” about feeling disillusioned about the person you’ve become after years of trying to fit into a mold that isn’t you.
What got you into writing songs? I started writing songs when I was seven years old and was inspired by songwriters Elton John, Taylor Swift, and Billy Joel.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? My favorite part of the songwriting process is when parts click together. For example, when I figure out the right way to transition from the verse to the chorus or how to spice up the second verse in a fun way.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? The whole process is like a puzzle and finishing it and getting to see the whole picture is super fun and satisfying. I wrote “Lost Myself” in my bedroom studio.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I first started out by recording myself playing a drum loop. I then used Ableton Live to chop it up and add other elements. I started to freestyle over the loop and from there I built up the rest of the song. This is exemplary of one of the ways I start songs. Sometimes, I will get an instrumental loop going to write over. Other times, I just like to sit by the piano and think about my day and what I’m feeling. I will then usually play chords and start to sing whatever comes to me at the moment.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? My dream collaborators are Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, Elton John, Grace Vanderwaal, Conan Gray, and Lorde.
What made you enter #SAYS21? How did you hear about it? I entered #SAYS21 this year because I also participated last year (my song “Suicide Season” made it to the top 3!), and it was a great experience. If someone was wondering if they should enter SAYS, I would tell them that it’s a great way to showcase their art and listen to other young artists’ songs.
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I think my favorite thing about SAYS is that it’s a platform for young artists to be heard by successful and talented judges and artists.
Julie Kuhl – Where Seabirds Scream
What inspired you to write your finalist song? Last year I started a stay abroad in England but after a couple of months I had to go back to Germany because of the corona pandemic. It was very painful for me because it has always been my dream to live in England. I wanted to come back as soon as possible. My plan was to return in 2021 but I got a rejection from the school I wanted to go to, because of the Brexit. Out of my frustration I wrote that song.
What got you into writing songs? In a way I have been inventing music since I was a little child. I always made up stories in my head and chanted them to myself. Mostly in fantasy languages – there are some really funny pieces my parents secretly recorded. Later I tried out different instruments and started writing songs on my guitar. When I was 13 I went to an Ed Sheeran concert which inspired me a lot. In the following weeks I wrote many songs and making music became a very, very important part of my life.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? My favourite part in the song writing process is expressing myself through music. When harmonies and lyrical words reflect the way I feel it’s very healing for me. I love processing my feelings through music.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? I wrote that song lying in my bed without any purpose. When I played it to my guitar teacher he really liked it. We recorded it in the next lesson, it was actually just a kind of sketch but I realized, I liked it that way. So I didn’t change anything and the final song ended up very pure.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? There is not one way how I start to write a song. Usually I need to be alone in my room. But I find a lot of my song ideas and small lyrical pieces when I’m somewhere outside for example when I’m going for a walk. But the important thing is I have to be on my own so I can let my thoughts flow.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? There are many! It’s hard to decide. The first two musicians who come into my mind are Phoebe Bridgers and Arlo Parks. They inspire me a lot. It would be also great to work with the Giant Rooks. Not to be forgotten: Ed Sheeran. He really inspired me when I was younger.
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them?
I can just say believe in yourself and enter with a song you are happy with, eventually that’s the most important thing. Don’t be afraid to express your feelings because that doesn’t make you weak. It is brave!
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I love that you support us young musicians. I feel very seriously taken as a musician and such a competition is a big motivation. It is great that everyone has the opportunity to take part. It’s all very well and easily organized. Thank you so much for giving me the feeling to get a step closer to my dream.
Kelty Parker – Stardust
What inspired you to write your finalist song? This song was inspired by a boy I went to school with who committed suicide shortly after I met him. When I attended his funeral, it felt clear to me that he died largely unknown and misunderstood. The funeral did not represent any part of him correctly and left me haunted for weeks afterward. I didn’t quite understand why I felt the loss so deeply but as I processed it, I realized that it was because I felt the same way I think he did. I felt like a cosmic beam stuck in a reality in which I would never truly be seen or understood. I think many people resonate with this hopeless feeling of unfulfillment with the realities of everyday life; it seems to be a cloud that never quite lifts. This song tells the story of what it feels like to be burdened with something unique to offer the world but also the heaviness of that burden — “our seeds so magnificent they were treacherous to sow.” These lyrics are some of the dearests to me I have written, because they tell the story of me, my friend from Chemistry, and all those who feel unseen in their brilliance as they live in a dull world.
What got you into writing songs? We always had a guitar in the house and once I started learning how to play it was impossible for me not to create songs, and I fell in love with writing. Throughout my life, songs have been a place where I can explain how I’m feeling to myself through rhythms and melodies. Once I start a song, where it is meant to go feels natural to me and always comes from a raw place of struggle, anger, or pain.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? My favorite part of the songwriting process is when while writing I come across a lyric that completely explains to myself how I am feeling. Oftentimes, accidentally I will be playing guitar and find a perfect line that rhymes, and this rythme just so happens to be a truth I hadn’t even yet known until after I had written it down.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? I wrote Stardust in my basement shortly after my friend’s funeral in my writing journal. After writing it and editing it, our family friend who is an incredible musician, David Zach, helped me further produce it and diversify the melody.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I often get a sick feeling in my stomach when I feel I need to write something and am not writing it. I usually write my first draft of a song in 10-20 minutes and often write when I feel as though no one or nothing will be able to settle me except for words on paper. I start my songs with an idea- it is usually based on feelings of injustice, anger, depression, or the feeling of being deeply misunderstood.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? Matt Maeson is my favorite artist. I feel deeply connected to each one of his songs and I have never felt so understood by any artist. My dream would be to create music as honest and raw as his that has such a powerful effect on people.
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? I would push anyone considering entering this competition to do it. For the longest time, I was terrified to even share my songs with my friends or family because to me my songs are somewhat of a diary. All the things I can’t find words for I can somehow find rhythms for, and it is in my songs where I am maybe the most vulnerable and true version of me. There is something so courageous about being willing to share your work but also something so gratifying. Art was meant to be shared. A tip I would give would be just to be as honest and genuine with your lyrics as possible. The more vulnerable lyrics are the more powerful they affect and connect with others.
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I love that the Song Academy Young Songwriter Competition is an international competition. I also love that since it is an amateur competition it feels like the youth’s talent is more applauded, seen, and not looked over. It is a community in which I feel encouraged to continue writing, creating, and sharing.
Lily Welch – Grey
What inspired you to write your finalist song? Quarantine. It was so hard being isolated from all of my friends and family and even doing simple things like going to the movie theaters and traveling. The more and more I sat with myself I felt empty, alone and grey. In any situation when I don’t know what to do, I write a song. The words flowed out of me so easily because I had so much I wanted to share about the experience.
What got you into writing songs? In 3rd grade I would keep numbers of journals with lyrics in them. I would bring them everywhere with me and I would write about things I didn’t even know much about. Once I started to really learn to play many instruments my dad bought me a loop pedal and an amo which I would use everyday. It was like the possibilities of what I could make with my words and music was infinitive. I fell in love with songwriting then and still to this day it is my biggest passion.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? Definitely the lyrics. I love this part; I could sit in my room for hours and write about so many things. Another fun part is putting the lyrics and music together. Once it all clicks together, that’s it. It’s one of the best feelings in the world.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? My bedroom is my sanctuary, my studio. I always use pen and paper to write a song. Occasionally if I have an idea in the middle of nowhere I will write it down in my phone, but I really prefer to write it down, get it in my brain, and have that hard copy forever. Every song I write starts with me and guitar. Even if it ends up being on piano or ukulele it always starts with a piece of paper and guitar for me.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? Often, I will have days or a moment where I just FEEL like writing a song. It will come easily to me and I can knock out a rough draft within an hour. Other times, I’m stumped on what to write about and nothing comes to me. So it really just depends on the day or the experiences I’ve had.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? People always ask me this question and it is a hard one to answer. I have so many artists I look up to and would love to collaborate with them. My number one will always be Taylor Swift. The way her words resonate with me is really a cool thing. I can relate to so many of her songs, she’s incredible. Other artists I would absolutely love to work with are Bon Iver, Noah Kahan, Billie Eilish, and Matt Maeson and Khalid.
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? You just have to go for it. One’s music can really affect someone more than you think!
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I like how it gives young people an opportunity to share their talent and songs with everyone.
Malvina Kavita – Ghosts In Our Hometown
What inspired you to write your finalist song? Due to the pandemic, my plans to move out for college were pushed back and I found myself still at my parents’ house in my hometown. I felt like I was in this strange place in between childhood and adulthood grieving the life I had imagined for myself. No matter how much I wanted to move on, I couldn’t. I realized I felt like a ghost stuck between two worlds unable to fully let go of the past.
What got you into writing songs? I became fascinated with songwriting after learning that my favorite musicians wrote their own music, but I never considered it was something I could do myself. I spent so much time watching interviews of my favorite musicians talking about their writing process that, when I got an idea for a song, I somewhat knew how to proceed. Once I wrote my first song, I was able to get over the mental block that I couldn’t write songs, and I kept practicing and honing my skills every chance I got.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? My favorite part of the songwriting process is that it’s different every time. I have never written two songs exactly the same way, and I think a lot of the excitement comes from seeing how it all comes together.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? I wrote this song out on pen and paper sitting on my bedroom floor with a guitar. I have experimented with lots of different ways of writing, but I think starting with something simple allows you to really focus on lyrics and melody.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I start songs in a lot of different ways. Usually, I have a general idea of the topic I want to write about in mind. From there, I will either pick up and instrument and try to find a chord progression that matches the tone I’m looking for, or I brainstorm words, phrases, and feelings that correspond to that topic.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? I would love to collaborate with Taylor Swift, because she is one of the people who inspired me to try writing songs and I still learn so much from analyzing her work and work ethic. I would also love to work with Brandi Carlile, Bon Iver, and HAIM, who all inspire me greatly.
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? I would just go for it and try not to overthink it. Having others hear and judge your work can be a vulnerable experience, but it is so worth it and will make you a better songwriter in the long run.
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I like that it focuses on young writers and that it’s open internationally!
Michael Abimanyu Kaeng – Astronaut’s song
What inspired you to write your finalist song? I love reading about space exploration, planets, and what happened beyond our solar system. One day I watched a video about the Challenger explosion in 1986 and the 73-seconds tragedy stuck in my mind. I imagined myself being an astronaut when the space shuttle was about to launch. There would be hundreds of feelings in that very moment. Love, fear, courage, hope, pride, and what else?
What got you into writing songs? I write songs to express my thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. Music and words complement each other. There are some feelings that words cannot describe as distinctly as music does.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? I love the early stage of the song writing process which is finding the soul of the song in one or two lines of melody. This is my favourite part as well as the most challenging. Once we got the soul of the song the next parts would effortlessly flow.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? It was Yamaha PSR 970 and myself. I use the piano sound to make the outline of the song. After that I added various tracks such as flute, string and percussion.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I start with understanding my thoughts or emotions. As in my No, 3 anser, the next step is finding the spark in one or two lines of main melody. For me the main melody is usually in the chorus or in the beginning of the song.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? Keyboard master Cory Henry
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the SAYS competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? I would say how SAYS competition unites the world. I am a student in Jakarta but immediately connect to hundreds/thousands fellow young songwriters from other countries. No doubt. Join it. My tips would be “Be true to yourself in writing your music!”.
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter Competition? I really appreciate the fact that SAYS Competition publishes all the song from the contestants. We can learn and have fun with the songs.
Morietnez Azra Mashuri – Best Friend
What inspired you to write your finalist song? I felt really sorry for him because a simple thing could change the way we feel about others, especially close friends. So I decided to write this song and let you know that communication is an important thing in any sort of relationship.
What got you into writing songs? Well I was in junior high at that time and my music teacher gave the whole class an assignment to make their own song. The idea I had was from my friend’s love story which she felt friendzoned by her “boy friend”. I wasn’t that confident and was very shy to listen to my own song. 2 years passed by and there was this talent event called Bintang SMA who are looking for a senior high student around Indonesia to star in Pocari Sweat commercial. I decided to sign up because I felt it was a very good opportunity. I thought it would be great to show something different. I wanna show that I am not just a singer but I also write songs. Then I wrote the song Prince Charming, inspired by some high school love story issues and gladly I made it to the top 10 Bintang SMA Pocari Sweat. I am so proud of myself seeing that now I am not just a singer but I can write my own song.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? Definitely the idea and the story plot. I grew up watching Disney movies and fantasizing in my room. When I was little I used to write stories on my laptop and imagine what would happen to my stories if they were in real life. Now the idea that I imagined for years could be poured to my songs.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? It’s basically my pencil, my songwriting book, then I grab my guitar, and strum the chords that suits with the idea of my song. The final process is to record it in my home recording studio.
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? I was inspired by a story or something that I felt, saw or heard about which can come from me, my friends, my family and even the world’s situation. So it basically came from something inspiring then I took my time to focus on it and the idea just pops up.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? I would really love to collaborate with BTS, Amen! I’ve followed them since the early 2020, and I fell in love from the moment I heard their newest single. I’m not only loving their appearance or their style, but their personality and songs really touched me. At first I wasn’t into them because I thought they were just some Korean boy band group who sing and dance just like the others. But when I listened to their songs, it was just a whole new thing. They aren’t just artists, they actually care about other people especially their fans and motivates people to love themselves. They made a campaign about their Love Yourself album and spoke in UNICEF. That made me inspired and I wish I could collaborate with them someday.
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? I am a singer who always sings for a song cover. It’s good, I learn lots of genre music but at some point I felt something was missing. I need to show who I really am. That is when you sing your own song. So I would absolutely recommend them to be confident and enjoy songwriting from a young age. This environment is making us creative, build more confidence and definitely be proud of your own song. Being the winner is not the key to it, but to always make your own creation because no one knows someday it would be a masterpiece. Keep making your own song!! Don’t be shy to express how you feel, let the world hear you and always be inspired by little things in your life!
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? What I like about this competition is it has a good and conducive environment that can gain our creativity, brave enough to express our feelings, build confidence and the most important thing is being ourselves.
Pip Lewis – People like you
What inspired you to write your finalist song? “People Like You” was written during the height of the pandemic and lockdown, and I found that many people were growing despondent about both the situation of the world and towards themselves. I have faith in the good of humans, so the underlying message of the song is “if there are good people like you, then everything’s going to turn out fine”.
What got you into writing songs? A combination of my love of listening to music, and personal struggles I was going through at the time. I started to write about a year after I moved from the UK to the US; it was a difficult time for me and it was a useful outlet of negative emotion.
What is your favourite part of the song writing process? I absolutely love finishing songs because I get to hear what I was formulating in my head. My songs often look kind of weird when they’re written down, so hearing them as a tangible finished product – as they were intended – is so rewarding.
Describe your setup that you used to write your #SAYS21 entry, was it just a pen and paper or a fully kitted out studio? I sat down and wrote “People Like You” in twenty minutes in a Logic Pro session, and then built the arrangement around the lyrics. The following day, I recorded the top vocal and harmonies with the mic and interface I have in my bedroom. Then I sent my demo to my producer, Mylo Bard!
How do you usually start a song? How do you find that spark? Honestly, I don’t find the spark. I just wait for it to come to me, and that can take a while! It’s frustrating to hear professional songwriters say “you should write songs even when you don’t feel like it”. Personally, I’ve written my worst songs when I don’t feel like writing them. “People Like You” was created because a spark came to me, and it turned out to be my most successful song to date.
Who would be your dream artist/writer/band to collaborate with? Gosh, there’s so many. I’d love to collaborate with Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) or Phoebe Bridgers. Then again, there are people like Mavis Staples, FINNEAS, Tom Odell, Madness, Maggie Rogers, and MARINA, too. Can you tell how indecisive I am?!
What made you enter #SAYS21? How did you hear about it? I entered in 2020 and made it to the Top 10 with my song, “Missing in Action”. I wanted to enter for the last time before I turn 19!
What would you say to someone aged 8-18 who is thinking about entering the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition next year? Do you have any tips for them? Go for it! Music changes lives, and it could be your song that does so. My only tip would be don’t overthink it! If you have something you love and want to share with the world; do it!
What do you like about the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition? I love the support that it provides young artists. It’s such a one of a kind experience and an awesome opportunity. I’m so grateful to be amongst such amazing songwriters.
