Talented young singer-songwriter wins first prize in project twin streams song quest

The winner of Saturday night’s Project Twin Streams Song Quest, 17 year-old Abootu, is described as “a young Bic Runga in the making”.

“She’s a name to watch out for, a brilliant singer-songwriter,” said organiser Mandy Patmore, Arts Coordinator for Project Twin Streams.

Abootu won a $2000 voucher and a professional recording of her song, ‘Rebuild the Paradise’, about restoring Waitakere’s streams to how they once were. Supported by her boyfriend, brother, sister and a friend, all on backing vocals, Abootu borrowed her brother’s guitar for Saturday night’s performance and plans to use the voucher to buy a guitar of her own.

Thirteen performers aged 18 and under took to the stage on Saturday night to perform the songs they had written about Project Twin Streams, a council-community initiative which is working to clean up Waitakere’s streams. Entrants were asked to create a song which would inspire people to make a positive change and create a better future for the environment.

Mandy Patmore, a performing singer-songwriter herself, said all the acts “totally got” what Project Twin Streams is about.

Musically and lyrically, the judges were impressed with the high standard of entries.

“The standard was great,” said judge Andrew Fagan, former Mocker and icon of the New Zealand music industry. “It was very eclectic, very diverse and very hard to judge subjectively a winner because all the acts were so different.

“It was great to see everyone going for it.”

Second place went to Lemon Pie, a female duet “with great harmonies” and third place to Victoria Vigenser, a “very, very professional” singer-songwriter. The Judges’ Merit Award went to an “innovative” young dub band, The Velociraptors for their catchy song; and the PTS Encouragement Award to Mysterious Roadkill, an SKA band of 10 year-olds with a full horn section.

Fagan says the ultimate winner was the event itself. “It was a really slick production, a credit to the people who organised it.”

Mandy estimates over 400 people attended the event, which was held at Zeal, Waitakere’s all-ages venue in Alderman Drive. “It was brilliant; I loved every minute of it and hope we can do it again next year.”

Abootu, who taught herself guitar only 18 months ago, wants to become a professional musician and is “really excited” about recording her winning song.

The 13 finalists were Abootu, Mysterious Roadkill, Lloyd Thomason, Andrea Reid, Victoria Vigenser, Danya Pavlovich, Nitrous Oxide, Lemon Pie, Tie My Shoe, the Streamettes, the Velociraptors, As Colour Fades and Room 9 from Henderson Primary.

www.projecttwinstreams.org.nz