Wellington's Songstar Finalists Masseurs & Powell

Songstar Finalists Andrew Masseurs & Mathew Powell

Some brief background:

Andrew Masseurs and I (Mathew Powell) have been selected as one of the top 5 from over 650 entries. We are the only Wellington based songwriting duo in the competition. We've been writing our own songs for 15 years (since our college days) and wrote our song "all I wanted" back in 1994! Since making the top five it's been pretty out of it!

Mike Chunn from Play It Strange trust which supports NZ music - flew us up to Auckland and we spent a week in a professional studio recording having the song recorded by professionals musicians. Wayne Bell (Drummer with Dave Dobbyn, Greg Johnson, Bic Runga) laid down the drums, the current bass player with Jordon Luck - Maria, Sean Sturm guitarist from eyeTV / Nixons and vocals by Jason Kerrison (Op Shop). Andrew Buckton (Studio 203) produced our song.

It's a fantastic initiative from TVNZ and Play It Strange. They've given us a musical experience of a lifetime. There's some great songs out there sitting in shoeboxes under people's beds. Andy and I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to let our song shine. We're looking forward to Saturday night. We hope our song "All I wanted" which is about finding that special someone will strike a chord with viewers.

We hope they like and vote for us. Whatever happens we'll continue writing songs - because we love it.

- Mathew Powell

Quoting from the TVNZ website.....

"We have the five new songs to be judged in the TV2 Song Star competition right here.

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/tv2_story_skin/474366%3fformat=html

Be watching TV2 on May 21 from 7.30pm for live performances of each song followed by the chance for you to text in your vote for your favourite song.The winner receives $10,000 from the Play It Strange Trust.

About the Show

Over the last two months, Carly Binding, Jordan Luck and Mike Chunn have listened to over 600 songs from hopeful Kiwis looking to become the next Neil Finn or Kirsten Morelle. The three esteemed judges have been charged with finding New Zealand's best song-writers for TV2 SONG STAR.

Now the competition has been reduced to five. Each song has been put in the hands of an experienced music industry producer, who has rearranged and reproduced the songs to a professional standard. The five songs have been released on ZM nationwide to coincide with New Zealand Music Month.

TV2 SONG STAR will follow the competition from all perspectives. Carly Binding, Jordan Luck and Mike Chunn will reveal the decision-making processes behind the competition. Each of the song-writers will discuss the motivations and the aspirations for their songs. The documentary will also explore the recording process and the final release of the singles.

In the final half hour of TV2 SONG STAR, the five songs will be performed live on national television. Viewers will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite song-writer. The winner/s, who will be announced at the conclusion of the show, will receive $10,000 from the Play It Strange Trust and the finalists will own the recording of their own song.

The finalists in TV2 SONG STAR come from all corners of New Zealand. 'Stupid Nothing Song' is written by Christchurch native Amy Bowie. Andrew Masseurs and Matthew Powell live in Upper Hutt and composed 'All I Wanted'. Lachlan (L.O. double.C) hails from Gisborne and wrote 'I'll Keep On Rapping'. Peter Martin (from Wellington) and Florence Hartigan (from Auckland) penned 'Green'. Aucklander Peter (Topper) Dowling wrote 'Officially Battleship Penny'.

Play It Strange CEO Mike Chunn has enjoyed his role as a judge of TV2 SONG STAR. "The Song Star songs are written by people outside the music industry," he says. "They write music as a release, as a celebration, as a catharsis and as escape. To feel the emotions and to hear the stories that go into these songs - all the songs - is a great experience."

While Mike has relished the opportunity to put aspiring song-writers on the musical map, the task hasn't been easy. "The greatest challenge is maintaining a consistent approach to judging in light of the huge number of entries. But I worked very hard at it and feel confident we gave every entry an equal shot."

Cast your vote for your favourite song-writer on TV2 SONG STAR, Saturday 21 May at 7.30pm on TV2.

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