The top 40 finalists for the 2018 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition have been revealed today, which again features a stack of emerging and buzz Australian artists.
Leading the charge is Sydney heavyweights Gang Of Youths with four songs shortlisted, while Amy Shark, Gordi, Alice Ivy and Georgi Kay have scored two songs each in the top 40.
Of the finalists list, 25 are making their first time appearance, while 22 are female or female-fronted.
Four winners will be announced next month, with a $50,000 cash prize and additional $5,000 travel package for first place, $10,000 in cash for second place and $5,000 for third.
The top 40 will be judged by an impressive panel that includes Daniel Johns, KLP, Montaigne and The Bamboos' Lance Ferguson.
The 2018 competition also marks the most successful result since its inception in 2009, pushing all-time funds raised past $1 million.
"Our organisation is beyond grateful to all the songwriters who have entered the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition over the years," Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia CEO, Belinda Leonard, said.
"Their entry fees have made a profound impact on the lives of the children and adults we work with daily. Thank you to Alberts and APRA AMCOS for their ongoing support and to the great Harry Vanda and George Young for a musical legacy that has made reaching $1 million possible."
Check out the top 40 below.
Abbey Gardner — Weight Of Feeling
Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont — Train Wreck
Ainslie Wills — Running Second
Alex Lahey — I Love You Like A Brother
Alfie Arcuri — Same
Alice Ivy — Get Me A Drink
Alice Ivy — Chasing Stars
Amy Shark — Weekends
Amy Shark — Adore
Angie McMahon — Slow Mover
Asha Jefferies — Chaos
Bri Clark — Giving Up
Cookin' On 3 Burners — Real Life Baby
CXLOE — Monster
Dean Lewis — Be Alright
Florian — Star Crossed Lover
G Flip — About You
Gang of Youths — Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane
Gang of Youths — Let Me Down Easy
Gang of Youths — The Heart Is A Muscle
Gang of Youths — What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?
Georgi Kay — Guilty Pleasures
Georgi Kay — Special
Gordi — Heaven I Know
Gordi — On My Side
Hatchie — Sure
Holly Arrowsmith — Love Together
Holy Holy — True Lovers
Dennis Dowlut & Maxwell Bidstrup — Paper Planes
Jack Carty — Hospital Hill
King IV — Bump
Mallrat — Better
Maya Jupiter — Inshallah
Middle Kids — Mistake
Oh Pep! — Parallel
Ruby Fields — I Want
Ruel — Don't Tell Me
Tia Gostelow — That's What You Get
Tim Hansen — Don't Be A Dick
Timothy Bowen — Anchor
