RECORDING MY SONG

If you are a finalist in one of our competitions, you now have the opportunity to have your song professionally recorded. Play It Strange will fund your recording session to the value of $750 (+GST) and that will allow you to record your song to a high standard at a professional recording studio in New Zealand .

Once you have booked your date for your session please email with your name and song title and the name of the studio you have chosen to record at, along with the date you have booked. Please copy in (cc) the studio on your email so that we can connect with them.

If you would like some feedback about the song you are recording (it must be the one you entered) and any suggestions we might have regarding arrangements, keys etc, please feel free to communicate with us directly at mikechunn@playitstrange.org.nz and copy in . We can’t assist with the lyric content or the melody, chord structure and other original creative aspects.
The studio will tell you what you need to bring and may ask for you to send in your entry track prior to your session. Play It Strange advises that your submission of the recording grants us permission to distribute the song onto bandcamp and other digital platforms including Spotify.

We emphasise that you own the rights to the music and sound recording of your song. Please email if you have any queries.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE


BILLING INFORMATION


LYRIC BOOK

The Play It Strange Lyric Books were started in 2016. Coupled with student’s lyrics are ‘inspirations’ that lie behind the lyrics, each written by the songwriter themselves. These are all available as a digital book to share. As you scroll through the lyrics and read about each song, you may also 'click' on the song title to be transported to each track, professionally recorded and mastered.

95BFM

Since 2020 Play It Strange has been offered a monthly placing of a Play It Strange artist on the Friday Morning Glory, Fancy New Band slot at 10.30am. It’s awesome – a chat to the host about songs and life and live performance. With thanks to the cool bfm team and NZ On Air.

THE DAWNS

may 2022

listen

ROSETTA STONE

march 2022

listen

BETH TORRANCE-HETHERINGTON

JUNE 2021

listen

bailey lindsey

may 2021

listen

katie-lee webster

april 2021

listen

bailey larkin

march 2021

listen

caught inside

november 2020

listen

SAM CHARLESWORTH

OCTOBER 202o

listen

bailey VINSon

july 2020

listen

morgan costello & GRACE CAMERON

JAN 2020

listen

BANDCAMP

View all past Play It Strange albums.

View Bandcamp

ROVA

Listen to Play It Strange radio on the ROVA app.

Listen to ROVA

SONGWRITING

Songwriting — The Why & How

A song is a unique construction. We have the lyrics - the words - that speak to us and we each in our individual response learn from them. And then we have music - which is so mysterious that we don’t try to understand it. Music is magical. What we do is weave the lyrics and music together in such a way that the seamless end result finds us taken on a journey - from when the song starts to when it finishes - and we are better for it. 

Where does this place us? What is the impact of songs in our lives?

The appreciation of song is universal. Every single person enjoys songs every day of their lives. In fact, it happens so regularly and in such a way that we don't think about it. But if they were to disappear from our lives, we would soon sense something was very wrong.

The performance and writing of songs, as a natural consequence, can provide huge benefits to many, many people. To witness a young student conquering their adversities through the craft of songwriting is a celebration. To hear a class of disadvantaged children playing a song they wrote in a ukelele orchestra is no less so. There is empowerment. There is a beautiful distillation where a young person’s value is realised.

Play It Strange believes in songwriting which will reflect New Zealand’s unique characteristics, thereby encouraging creativity and innovation in our music tradition.

PAUSES......

Hey Jude
The Beatles
LISTEN

EVOCATIVE lyrics

Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell
LISTEN

ASK QUESTIONS

When will I see you again?
Three Degrees
LISTEN

ASK QUESTIONS

How many roads must a man walk down?
Bob Dylan
LISTEN

ASK QUESTIONS

Do you believe in magic? In a young girls eyes?
Lovin’ Spoonful
LISTEN

A GOOD TITLE

Stuff & Nonsense
Split Enz
LISTEN

ELEVATED CHORUS

I want to hold your hands
The Beatles
LISTEN

A COOL RIFF

Team
Lorde
LISTEN

A COOL RIFF

Royals
Lorde
LISTEN

DAVE DOBBYN

Why
Songs are Important

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