Thelma Plum Takes Out The Prestigious Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition

Thelma Plum has won the 2020 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition.

The Brisbane artist has been awarded $50,000 for her track Better In Blak, taking out the world's largest first place prize for a songwriting competition. 

“I am so honoured that Better In Blak has won the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, I can’t even really describe it," said Plum.

"My heartfelt thanks to Alex Burnett and Oli Horton for their creativity and to everyone who connected to a song that is deeply personal, written when I was feeling very alone.

"I don't feel alone today. 

"Vanda & Young was kind to me early in my career when I received a runner-up prize for Breathe In Breathe Out, I could never have imagined then that one day I would win!"

Baker Boy has taken out second place for his track Meditjin, winning $10,000, while Ruel has been awarded third place and $5,000 for Painkiller.

“I was blown away that I even made the shortlist so to come 2nd for the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is just crazy," said Baker Boy. "It feels really special that my Yolngu Matha lyrics are getting this kind of recognition!

“Couldn't have done it without my co-writers: JessB, Jerome Farah, Dallas Woods and Dion Brownfield."

"I feel so honoured to make it to the top three in this year's Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition!" shared Ruel. 

"I've been working hard to improve my songwriting every day, so it feels amazing to be recognised at this level and be mentioned alongside incredible artists like Thelma Plum and Baker Boy."

WA artist Carla Geneve has been awarded $5,000 for the AMPAL Emerging Songwriter Prize for her song The Right Reasons. 

“I can't say how excited I am to be even considered for the competition, let alone taking home a prize," said Geneve. "I see myself as primarily a songwriter over anything else, so this means a lot to me. I'm excited to keep writing!"

Ten artists have also been awarded $1,000 runner-up prizes for the first time. 

Annie Hamilton's Panic, Azure Ryder's Dizzy, Gordi's Extraordinary Life and Volcanic, Lime Cordiale's Robbery, Shannen James' Arrows, The Teskey Brothers' Rain, Thelma Plum's Homecoming Queen, Vera Blue's Lie To Me and Washington's Batflowers have all been named as recipients.