Genesis Owusu Wins First Place In Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has today announced its winners, with first place going to Canberra's Genesis Owusu for his stunning Gold Chains.

The track was co-written alongside Andrew Klippel, Kieran J Callinan, Michael Di Francesco and Julian Sudek.

Courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and Sony Music Publishing, Owusu and his collaborators will receive a $50,000 cash prize, the largest first place prize for any songwriting competition in the world.

Owusu said the song was “inspired by life, the music industry and the reality of certain situations compared to outside misconceptions of them".

Second place went to Melbourne artist and songwriter Jerome Farah for his track Mikey Might, which addresses racial identity and displacement. He received $10,000 courtesy of Banki Haddock Fiora. 

“Just want to say thank you to the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition for picking Mikey Might. Being recognised and appreciated for the art I create is an experience and makes the countless hours and effort feel worth it. Couldn’t feel more grateful!” Farah said.

MAY-A took out third place for her indie pop record, Time I Love To Waste, written alongside Robby De Sa and Christian Lo Russo.

“Feeling very blessed to win third place. I didn’t think I was very good so it’s nice to be told otherwise (haha),” MAY-A said.

You can check out all the winners and results from the awards HERE.