Song contest preparations in full swing

PREPARATIONS are ramping up for the 2023 Surf Coast Song Contest following the announcement of this year’s theme and the official opening of entries.

Art of the Minds president and founder Jules Haddock said this year’s theme of “nature” is a great opportunity for artists and songwriters to use the Surf Coast’s environment as inspiration for this year’s contest on October 10.

“Nearly everyone has been touched by mental illness whether it’s themselves or other people they know,” Ms Haddock said.

“So we thought it would be a great idea to have submissions use nature as a source of creativity this year.

“We get people who want to talk about their journeys through mental health, and we hope this year’s theme helps build those songs of hope and well-being to be submitted.

“I would also add, even though we live in a beautiful backyard, it doesn’t mean Surf Coast residents can’t be impacted by mental health issues; people still take their lives on our coast.”

Song submissions to the 2023 Surf Coast Song Contest close at midnight on September 10.

Ten songs will then be selected to be performed live on performance night.

The contest has also been financed for the next three years following a $12,500 donation from the Torquay Lions Club last month, who are now major sponsors for the contest.

Contest co-ordinator and local musician Lukey Luke said song submissions have already started coming through.

“Every year this contest gets bigger, and I can’t wait for this year’s event,” Mr Luke said.

“This year we have a number of awesome prizes as well including a full day in the professional Medici Studio with professional producer Michael Stangel, to record the winning song and eight hours studio time at Don’t Poke The Bear with an audio engineer included provided by Oxygen College.

“We encourage all artists to submit songs no matter the experience, as long as a song resonates with people and the story it tells, that is what we are looking at when selecting finalists to perform at Torquay Bowls Club.”

The winning song and artist will be featured in the 2024 Art of the Minds Festival to help create awareness of mental health and wellbeing.

The winning artist will also feature at the 2024 Festival Launch and Song Contest.

To make a song submission, head to artoftheminds.org.au/event/songcontest and follow the directions.