Oceanic tune wins Surf Coast Song Contest

ISABELLA KHALIFE has been judged the winner of the 2022 edition of the Surf Coast Song Contest.

The 26-year-old singer songwriter from Geelong stunned her audience during a night filled with raw and compassionate tunes and lyrics at the event, part of the annual Art of the Minds Festival.

Alongside nine other shortlisted finalists, Khalife performed her song “Ocean” to a captivated crowd that was treated to honest performances about hope and wellbeing as part of this year’s mental health and wellbeing festival.

“Our mental health can often feel like an ocean, the vastness, the beauty but also the fear and the unknown, its ability to change from calm to chaos at a moment’s notice,” Khalife said.

“This song is about the times when darkness comes to visit, when we find ourselves fighting to keep our heads above water. When singing feels inevitable, and all that’s left is to plead for help.”

Art of the Minds president Jules Haddock said the winning song was “Raw, real and so very relevant to mental health conversations” and “captured our hearts”.

“We are thrilled to see Isabella, another talented local musician, join our growing list of ambassadors for our annual festival.”

The Surf Coast Song Contest is set to return in 2023.

Anyone interested in joining the contest next year is encouraged to sign up to the Art of the Minds newsletter to find out when registrations open.

For more information, head to artoftheminds.org.au