A SONG of hope has emerged as the winning act following nine performances at this year’s Surf Coast Song Contest.<\/p>\n
The Express Empire performed its song Hold On in front of a sold-out event at the Torquay Bowls Club on January 25, involving an acoustic guitar sound and dual vocal harmonies that complemented a driving, evolving bass line and steady ballad beat.<\/p>\n
The Express Empire were grateful to be named winners after a day filled with positive messages and informative songs putting an emphasis on mental health.<\/p>\n
“It’s about our efforts to care for each other and our environment against the uncertainty of the modern world and future,” vocalist Gavin Clifford from the Express Empire said.<\/p>\n
“We sometimes move forward with trepidation, but by supporting each other and ‘holding on’.”<\/p>\n
The Express Empire’s four members hail from Melbourne and Geelong and are all vocalists who collaborate to produce harmonies and stories in an exquisite aural tapestry.<\/p>\n
All songs performed at the Surf Coast Song Contest related to hope and wellbeing, as part of the original submission phase of the event.<\/p>\n
Thanks to its performance, the band won a recording and studio time at Oxygen Music based in Geelong valued at $1000, as well as $150 Music Workshop store voucher.<\/p>\n
President of Art of the Minds Jules Haddock said the event was a major success with all tickets being sold and then some.<\/p>\n
“It was fantastic,” Ms Haddock said.<\/p>\n
“We sold all 120 tickets and in the end we had around 150 people in attendance, which was all the Bowls Club could take in the end.”<\/p>\n
Participation from the crowd and the musicians was awesome according to Ms Haddock, stating it was indicative of the growing attention the event garners each year.<\/p>\n
“The Song Contest is definitely growing in strength, we have now triple the entries than last year’s event and it has become a real headline event for Art of the Minds too,” she said.<\/p>\n
“For next year’s event we are already looking at acquiring more major sponsors which will allow this event to continue to grow.”<\/p>\n
A recording of the winning band’s 2022 Surf Coast Song Contest performance can be viewed on The Express Empire’s YouTube channel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A SONG of hope has emerged as the winning act following nine performances at this year’s Surf Coast Song Contest. The Express Empire performed its song Hold On in front of a sold-out event at the Torquay Bowls Club on January 25, involving an acoustic guitar sound and dual vocal harmonies that complemented a driving, […]<\/p>\n