Australian Songwriters Association

Australian Songwriters Contest 2005

Songwriter of the Year:

Michael Maher (NT) - Congratulations to Michael Maher, the ASA 2005 Songwriter of the Year!

Michael is an experienced writer and performer and his work has been described as emotional and honest, portrayed in a distinctive and sensual style.

Now resident in the Northern Territory, Michael spent nine years traveling and touring extensively throughout Europe, and particularly Germany.

In 1998 Michael took up studies for his Diploma in Audio Engineering in Frankfurt. That same year he started building a recording studio in Heidelberg to assist in the development of his musical and production ideas.

Throughout the years Michael has collaborated with a number of different musicians from different countries, which he attributes to the distinctive sound and style of his music.

In 1999 after being involved in a number of different musical projects, Michael started performing under the name ‘worldfly’. This fulfilled his need to “perform under a name that embodied the idea of traveling, seeing how other people do things, being open to their way of life, and the elation and mystery that is part of being in other peoples worlds”

In 2000 he began a very successful tour of Germany, under the name ‘worldfly’, taking in a wide variety of venues, such as the hugely successful ‘Tent Music Festival’ which attracts tens of thousands fans each year.

In 2001 Michael returned with his music and life experiences to his home country of Australia, to continue building on his success.Some of Michael’s career highlights include the Tent Festival Freiburg Germany, supporting Pete Murray, Missy Higgins, The Living End and BASSINTHEGRASS 2004 alongside top Australian acts such as The dissociatives, Grinspoon, Jebediah, The Superjesus.

Michael has also had previous success in song contests, including state final winner, Jim Beam National Campus Band Competition, and winner of Open Master SCALA FOOM song competition 2004 with his song “Secret Plan”

Check out Michael’s website at www.worldfly.com.au or for further information email info@worldfly.com.au

Rudy Brandsma Award: 

K’crasher (NSW) - K’crasher’s crystal clear voice, excellent pitch, and ability to hold a note make her a singer of rare power. Add her sense of humour, warmth and conviction to complete the picture of her as an entertainer who can immediately establish a relationship, both friendly and intimate with her audience, and move them to tears one minute and laughter the rest. K’crasher says of herself “I’m a singer but only recently a songwriter. In the past, whenever I thought of writing a song, I coincidentally found someone else’s on the same topic and got distracted learning it. I enjoy presenting other peoples songs, giving them new emphasis and conviction, but there is something special about singing one’s own songs. I only sing songs that I believe in, I can’t sing what I don’t feel. I like material that hasn’t been commercialised. I like to make a real connection with the audience.”

Maintaining a balance in performances between the serious and the light hearted, K’crasher’s sources are wide and eclectic. Her sense of timing, expressive voice and her skills with tricky lyrics help her to tackle a wide range of material. At home with the blues or soul music, she can also sing traditional folk standards and comic parodies. She sings songs such as, Cheryl Wheelers ‘Act of Nature’ and the classic ‘Summertime’. Her sensitive and versatile accompaniments on guitar or piano support and enhance the mood of her lyrics. She balances songs such as Alastair Hewlett’s ‘Suicide Town’ with Tom Lehrer’s ‘Masochism Tango’. Satirical songs by Bernard Bolon, Eric Bogle, Tom Lehrer and Dorie Previn are all part of her repertoire, as are modern folk classics by Joni Mitchell, Loreena McKennett and Cat Stevens. A serious singer, K’crasher also enjoys a good laugh with her cat medley, ‘Somebody’s Moggy’, ‘Basingstoke’ and ‘Birth Control to Ginger Tom’. Her rapid-fire versions of ‘We Sell Everything’ and ‘The Pheasant Plucker’s Song’ never fail to provoke laughter.
Lately, K’crasher’s performances of her own compositions have received enthusiastic acclaim wherever she performs them. Powerful lyrics drawn from her own experiences connect with people at a profound level. K’crasher is capable of being both bitingly insightful and compassionate at the same time, not to mention “stark raving Mad”.

Her music has taken her to all the usual hangouts, bars, clubs, functions and concerts. She has added a touch of music and humour at many a wedding and performed at political and environmental rallies across Australia. K’crasher has played at many festivals including the National Folk Festival in Canberra where enthusiastic audiences packed the venues of her performances to capacity.

She has done session work with piano, guitar and vocals mostly around NSW and the ACT. “Her instinctive harmonies make her a joy to sing with. She is a keen judge of a good song. She bristles with good humour. Her smooth guitar work and perfect pitch combine to make her an impressive interpreter of modern song”, said Bruce Cameron, president of the Bathurst Folk Club, and a musician that has rarely missed a folk festival.

Up until recently K’crasher only released recording has been ‘Live on Friday the 13th’ recorded at the Merry Muse Folk Club in Canberra by Moonlight Records.

K’crasher has now established her own business: BristleHead Music, and has financed and produced her current CD ‘Towards the Light’. This CD contains a selection of songs written by artists such as Tim Buckley, Christine Laven and many others. Special treats are K’crasher’s own songs.

Winners in Categories

Top Ten: Blues / Rockabilly
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 My Own Two Feet Gerard O’Brien QLD
2 Man’s Woman Anni Piper / Allan Vander Linden NSW
3 Garage Sale Blues Luke Davies / Mark Griffiths VIC
4 He’s Mine Ronni Rae Rivers WA
5 Bitter Bones Adrian Miller / Malcolm McCallum SA
6 Cold Heart Peter Healy NSW
7 Come In My Kitchen Anni Piper / Allan Vander Linden NSW
8 Two’s Company Anni Piper NSW
9 J’s Blues Jules Makk QLD
10 Treat Me Right Kerry Burrows QLD

Top Ten: Contemporary Ballad
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Back To Me Julie O’Hara / Gary Deleo VIC
2 What’s The Forecast Mark Crocker / Paul Tan / Kelly Woodhams VIC
3 Paper Memories Samantha Mooney QLD
4 Victim Tania Netherway QLD
5 Something Real Samantha Mooney QLD
6 I Believe In You Danny Hooper SA
7 Wish You the Best Socrates Villaneueva WA
8 Clever Jo Elms NSW
9 Rather Than Love Alwyn Lewis / Laurie Lewis VIC
10 Intoxicated Natalie Howard / Rick Price / Rod McCormack QLD

Top Ten: Contemporary Pop
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Time Will Tell Lydia Davies VIC
2 So Unbelievable Scott Andrew Thomson / Suzanne Whitehead NSW
3 Tonight Guy Mutton / Scott Smith / Zane Carey / Hayden Whitworth QLD
4 Someone Special Michael Maher NT
5 Conspiracy (Of Love) Mark Crocker / Paul Tan / Kelly Woodhams VIC
6 Thru This Glass Scott Andrew Thomson / Suzanne Whitehead NSW
7 I’ll Be There Scott Andrew Thomson / Suzanne Whitehead NSW
8 Loved Guy Mutton / Scott Smith / Zane Carey / Hayden Whitworth QLD
8 Dance With Me Scott Andrew Thomson / Suzanne Whitehead NSW
9 I Got You Mark Fitzgerald / Ben Rogers VIC
10 Things Can Change In A Minute Julie Sursok NSW

Top Ten: Country
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Janine, Care Of The Stars Ronni Rae Rivers / Mark Donohoe WA
2 The Soldier With His Banjo Terry Bennetts WA
3 The Legacy Danny Hooper SA
4 Danced Like An Angel Doug Slater QLD
5 What The Hell Age McCann-Van Dokkum SA
6 Notice Me Ronni Rae Rivers / Mark Donohoe WA
7 Long Way Down Brenda-Lee Heathcote / Scott Lloyd Shelley QLD
8 He’s Goin’ Nowhere Ron Sinclair / Dave Proust NSW
9 Sleep Away Jesse Lubitz VIC
10 Heroe’s Of The Land Rodney Noll SA

Top Ten: Dance / Club / R&B / Rap / Hip-Hop
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Rosie Julie O’Hara / Colin Snape VIC
2 Looking For A Sign Shaun Gardener / Mercella Russo VIC
3 Unemployed James Cibej / Jeremy Craib / Ned Molesworth / Jake Stone / Stavros Yiannoukas NSW
4 Perfect Employee Amy Cutler / Andrei Maberley TAS
5 The Presinator Scott Andrew Thomson / Rick Petereit NSW
6 Scatterbox (Jersey Remix) Julie O’Hara / Ivan Khatchoyan VIC
7 Thru This Glass Scott Andrew Thomson / Suzanne Whitehead NSW
8 City Cruising Russell Bayne QLD
9 It’s A Shame Jo Elms NSW
10 Forbidden Love Daniel Christos NSW

Top Ten: Folk / Acoustic
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 On The Detour Paul White WA
2 You Weren’t Meant For Me Lou Bradley NSW
3 Start And Stop Socrates Villaneueva WA
4 Water To The Trenches Steve Barnes WA
5 It’s Crazy Baby Jessica Paige VIC
6 The End Emma Wilson / Anthony Egizii / David Musumeci NSW
7 Such is Life Kathie Renner SA
8 Charles And John Peter Miller-Robinson NSW
9 I Can’t Find My Car Rob Fairbairn VIC
10 Luxury Lullaby Esther Lamb SA

Top Ten: Instrumental
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Winds Of The Sun Matthew Rankin NSW
2 Sunrise Over Kaneohe Bay Cliff Bradley QLD
3 Spoonful Of Soul Al Hensley QLD
4 What Goes Around Simon Nield WA
5 Heaven Sent Gary Honor NSW
6 Watching The Wheels David Hyams WA
7 Kim’s Kitchen Simon Nield WA
8 The Key Linsey Pollak QLD
9 Celebration Of Life Wesley Taylor QLD
10 Rathvinden Christina Sonnemann TAS

Top Ten: Jazz
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 My Kylie Andrew Trudgian QLD
2 Let It Go Brian Fitzgerald VIC
3 Good Old-Fashioned Love Paul Somerville NSW
4 Lucky Me Alexander N. Tomlin SA
5 If I Could M Ferguson / A Ferguson SA
6 Better Late Than Never Russell Bayne QLD
7 Are You Dancing Too? Debra Blaquiere / Didi Mudigdo NSW
8 Just Can’t Stop Kelvin Roy NZ
9 It’s On Again Alwyn Lewis / Laurie Lewis VIC
9 Diamonds In My Pocket Lou Vanstone NSW
10 Jazzy Cat Cassandra Knox NSW

Top Ten: Lyrics
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Stolen Children Noel Gardner QLD
2 Flat Top Rocker Geoff Wright / Andrew Jarvis VIC
3 Ted Smout Dermot Dorgan QLD
4 Something Wicked Andy Black / Clare Heasley VIC
5 I’ll Be Back Tomorrow Robert McIntosh NSW
6 Imaginary Postcards Gary Luck ACT
7 Where Did Mozart and Co Go? Joy Davis WA
8 Nothing Prepared Me For You Adrian Miller SA
9 If I’d Been A Prophet Gary Luck ACT
10 Ladies Love A Gentleman Susanne Mouat SA

Top Ten: Open
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Someone Special Michael Maher NT
2 Chasing Rainbows Simon Curphey VIC
3 A Little Love John O’Shaughnessy NSW
4 Suicide Bomber Kiss Ian Williams QLD
5 So Long (Tsunami) Mario Gentil NSW
5 Noises In The Night Robert McIntosh VIC
6 Magic Hands Julie O’Hara / Ben Gillespie VIC
7 Janine, Care Of The Stars Ronni Rae Rivers / Mark Donohoe WA
8 Diamonds Shaun Gardener VIC
9 Start The Song Again Michael P. Ross QLD
10 Omar’s Adventure Lachlan Hurse / Sue Monk QLD

Top Ten: Rock / Metal / Indie
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Last Days Of Summer John Harley Weston QLD
2 Bent, Broke, Busted And Bored David O’Brien / Fiona Walsh VIC
3 Bring It On Rick Wilson QLD
4 Rain Or Shine Alistair Cooke / Cameron Cooper / Aaron Potter VIC
5 Slip Away Anthony Lee / Michael Chin NSW
6 Somewhere Steve Wade / Mark Grundman VIC
7 Hot On Ya Heels Lyn Hinds / David Hinds NSW
8 Close The Door Phoenyx Indigo-Jackson NSW
9 North Cameron Harding VIC
10 Soulicitation Ian Ahles VIC

Top Ten: Songs For Children
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Gulp Tony Williams NSW
2 Banjo the Bunyip Phil Splitter VIC
3 Toddler With Attitude Bruce Watson VIC
4 Job Song Shane Heatlie / Felix Riley SA
5 The Hospital Song Sharny Russell Van Herp NSW
6 See My Farm Stuart Cooper VIC
7 The Naughty Wall Brian Ralston NSW
8 Mr Ant Grant Tilbrook QLD
9 Are We There Yet? Bruce Watson VIC
10 I’m A Friendly Earthworm Ben Mackenzie NSW

Top Ten: Spirit Of Australia
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Dreamland (This is Australia) Danny Hooper SA
2 Top Of The World Tony Powers / Jarryl Wirth NSW
3 Ballad Of The Eureka Stockade Terry Bennetts / Jenny Bennetts / John Bennetts WA
4 Water To The Trenches Steve Barnes WA
5 Ballad Of Young Bobby Dale Brenda-Lee Heathcote QLD
6 Frankston – The City Paul Duncan VIC
7 Fishing Is Number One Brenton B. Manser VIC
8 The Afghan Steve Barnes WA
9 She’s My Country Jim Phelps NSW
10 Murphy’s Creek Jeff Blunt / Phil Buckley QLD

Top Ten: Spiritual / Sacred / Gospel
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Red Prickle Beard Tony Williams NSW
2 That’s Home To Me Simon Mills QLD
3 It’ll Be Michael Paynter VIC
4 The Key Sharny Russell Van Herp NSW
5 In Dark Places Phillip Whitman / Amber Mitchell / Andrei Lena ACT
6 Forever Yours Andrew Tuppen QLD
7 Supernaturally Amanda McGuire NSW
8 Skating Away Simon Nield WA
9 Nobody’s Watching Tania Netherway QLD
10 If I Was A Writer Adrian Kosky VIC

Top Ten: Youth
Rank Song Title Composer(s) State
1 Second Gear Katrina Burgoyne NSW
2 Is This Real Rebecca Lee Nye VIC
3 Box Of Kisses Lauren Brede WA
4 Time Will Tell Lydia Davies VIC
5 Live The Dream Ben Whiting / Billy Donaldson / Geoff Slingsby NSW
6 I Should Have Known Jaime Wells QLD
7 Unwanted Tegan Rogers / Renae Guducci NSW
8 Here I Fall Katrina Burgoyne NSW
9 Home Sweet Home Danielle Stefanetti WA
10 Somebody Loves You Lauren Brede WA