FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Candace Avery
International Songwriting Competition
615.251.4441
cavery@songwritingcompetition.com
www.songwritingcompetition.com
International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Awards Grand Prize To UK Songwriter King Charles For His Song "Love Lust"
UK and Irish Songwriters Shine In US-Based Competition
April 28, 2010 - The prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC) bestows its highest honor, the ISC Grand Prize, to King Charles of London, England for his song "Love Lust," a brilliantly unique song that stretches the boundaries of contemporary rock with a sonic roller coaster ride of head-rushing, multi-layered instrumentation and vocals. Beating out 15,000 entries from almost 100 countries around the world, King Charles takes home $25,000 in cash (US) and over $20,000 (US) in prizes - the largest Grand Prize of any songwriting competition.
This is the first time the US-based ISC has ever awarded its Grand Prize to a UK songwriter. With judges ranging from Tom Waits, Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck, Robbie Williams, McCoy Tyner, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Robert Smith (The Cure) and many more (as well as seven record label presidents), winning the ISC Grand Prize is an accomplishment that recognizes excellence in the craft of songwriting. In its eighth year, ISC is the world's leading global songwriting competition and bestows prizes on 65 winners, awarding more than $150,000 US in cash and prizes.
The song "Love Lust" was a unanimous selection by the ISC judges. The song, entered into the Rock category, was praised by the ISC judges for its originality, ambitious and innovative arrangement, hooky melody, and poetic lyrics.
Candace Avery, the founder and director of ISC, states, "The song ‘Love Lust' is one of the most inventive songs I've ever heard. It is rare that an artist comes along who is so creative, interesting, and most importantly, authentic. There is such a depth to his artistry that it seems as if the creativity just pours out of him. I am confident he has a hugely successful career ahead of him."
King Charles only began making music seriously in 2005. Earlier as a boy, he learned the cello, sang in the school choir, and took up guitar, listening to Dylan who he says "made the world bigger for me." After a year at University, he returned to London, without a degree, but with a new moniker, King Charles. He formed a band, Adventure Playground, and soon they were touring with artists such as Laura Marling, Noah and the Whale, and Mumford and Sons. The song, "Love Lust" is his latest single and demonstrates his keenly original artistry.
In addition to the Grand Prize winner, many other deserving UK and Irish songwriters also share in the prestige and kudos of winning their respective categories in ISC 2009. Winning their respective categories are the following:
First Place Winners
First Place in the R&B/Hip-Hop category goes to Ray Clayton (Ray) of London, England for his song "My Life." Ray is an artist with a message readily understood by those with a willing ear for change. Born in Japan to British and Japanese parents, he writes, composes, produces and performs his own material. Graduating from Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts with a BA (Hons) in Sound Technology, he self-produced his EP entitled Rebel With A Cause. In his music Ray has found a lifeline, and it is his dream to be able to share that lifeline with others to support, awaken, and shake people of all ages, races and creeds.
First Place in the Performance category is awarded to Simon Fagan (Dublin, Ireland) for his song "Never Really Cried." Currently putting the finishing touches to his debut album, Ireland's Simon Fagan has been performing since he was five years old. Singing in his local choir and playing cornet in the local brass band, he went on to study orchestral trumpet in university, while also performing with a number of bands. Since turning solo in 2007, Simon has toured throughout Ireland, the UK, Egypt and LA. He's also guested with renowned names such as Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Laura Izibor. Although yet to be released, "Never Really Cried" was named Song Of the Week in the Huffington Post.
Third Place Winners
Third Place in the popular Folk-Singer/Songwriter category is awarded to Keith Forde of Limerick, Ireland for his ultra-catchy song "Pop Them Pills." Keith started his musical career playing lead guitar in an alternative rock band which toured all over Ireland, the UK, and North America, opening for the likes of Editors, The Frames, Bellx1, and Ocean Colour Scene. Keith has co-written two Top 30 and two Top 40 hits in Ireland. He has also co-written four songs that have been licensed to the American network CBS-TV. He co-wrote the Hotpress song of the year, which listeners of Ireland's biggest radio station voted as their #1 choice. He has recently started to focus on his solo career and is currently recording his debut album.
Third Place in the Music Video category is awarded to Moray McLaren for his video, "We Got Time," directed by David Wilson. Moray McLaren is an unsigned Scottish singer-songwriter, born in Edinburgh and now living in London. When a disk of Moray's rough recordings fell into the hands of producer Jonathan Shakhovskoy (Patrick Wolf, Crowded House, U2), he suggested the pair record together. The first single, "We Got Time," received international airplay including BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show (the UK's most popular radio show) while the head-spinningly brilliant video (directed by David Wilson) won a 2009 UK Music Video Award. Moray is currently in the studio recording a collection of songs due for self-release as an EP this spring.
Honorable Mention
"Time Has Come" Daniel Akio Sherwood, Aubrey Nunn, Alex Von Soos (Dan Akio) -
London, England - Adult Contemporary (AC)
"Richmond" Liam Grundy - Twickenham, England - Americana
"Sausage" George Christopher Wilson (Lazyhand) - Edinburgh, Scotland -
Comedy/Novelty
"Dreams And Country Lanes" Russell Joslin - London, England -
Folk-Singer/Songwriter
"Ivory Road" King Charles - London, England - Follk-Singer/Songwriter
"Rough Diamonds" Tobias ben Jacob - London, England - Folk-Singer/Songwriter
"Fantasia" Eamonn McElevey - Belfast, Northern Ireland - Instrumental
"From Dusk ‘Til Dawn" Abram Wilson - London, England -
Jazz
"Demons In My Head" Bryan Tess - Kerry, Ireland - Lyrics Only
"Song Out Of Time" Paul Harper - London, England - Lyrics Only
"Time Of Eternity" King Charles - London, England
- Performance
Applauded for its high caliber of judges, ISC compiled a stellar panel of judges for the 2009 competition, including:
Recording Artists: Kings of Leon; Tom Waits; Journey; Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20); Timbaland; Wynonna; Jeff Beck; Loretta Lynn; McCoy Tyner; Steve Winwood; Michael W. Smith; Alejandro Sanz; Robbie Williams; Black Francis (The Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Adele; James Mercer (The Shins); Jerry Lee Lewis; Jeremy Camp; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); John Mayall; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); Youssou N'Dour; John Scofield; Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol); Ray Wylie Hubbard; Matt Thiessen (Relient K); James Cotton; Sasha; John Digweed; Robert Earl Keen; Jeffrey Steele; Mario; Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); Craig Morgan; DJ Tiesto; Baaba Maal; "Weird Al" Yankovic; Sandra Bernhard
Industry Executives: Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records); Seymour Stein (Chairman/CEO, Sire Records); Amanda Ghost (President, Epic Records); Ric Arboit (President, Nettwerk Music Group); James Diener (President, A&M/Octone Records); Amy Doyle (Sr. VP Music & Talent, MTV); Brian Malouf (VP A&R, Walt Disney Records); Mitchell Cohen (VP A&R, Verve Music Group); Kim Buie (VP A&R, Lost Highway); Rick Krim (Executive VP Talent & Music Programming, VH1); Dan Storper (President, Putamayo World Music); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Lisa Ramsey Perkins (Sr. Director A&R, Sony Nashville); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America Sony/BMG); Cory Robbins (President, Robbins Entertainment); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Dr. Demento (Radio Host, The Dr. Demento Show)
Sponsors included: Gibson, ASCAP, Berklee College Of Music, Disc Makers, D'Addario, Shure, JamHub, Thayers, FanCue, M-Audio, Onlinegigs, SongU.com, The Music Business Registry, Tanager AudioWorks, Shari's Berries, Independent Mastering, Indie Venue Bible, George Stein, Esq., Sonicbids, Taxi, music Submit, CelebrityAccess, and Alphabet Arm Design
ISC is now accepting entries for 2010. Go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for more information and an entry form.
For a complete list of 2009 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm
To download photos of King Charles, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/GrandPrize.htm
Contact information for Grand Prize winner:
King Charles
Attn: Mitch Amachi
Phone:+44 020887406060
Email: mitch@mi7records.com
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