How the National Songwriting Competition Launched an International Music Career
When Melbourne-born singer-songwriter and cellist Alice Hurwood looks back at 2020, she remembers a year that looked vastly different from what she had imagined.
“Going into Year 12, I was excited for 18th birthday parties, formal, graduation, spending time with friends,” Alice reflects. “But it turned out to be a year of online school and hanging out with my parents and dog at home.”
Isolated from her peers during the global pandemic, Alice turned to her music as a sanctuary, using songwriting to process the uncertainty of the world around her. It was during this lockdown period that she decided to enter the Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) National Songwriting Competition.
Having studied classical cello intensively throughout high school, Alice loved the challenge of classical music but craved a medium for personal expression.
“I didn’t have the time to take up the guitar, so I just figured out how to do the singer-songwriter thing on the instrument I already had!” she says. “It was a great way to decompress after my daily classical cello practice. I’d put the music stand away and just sit for a little while with my thoughts until they turned into musical ideas on the cello.”
A Creative Spark and Friendly Rivalry
Music was already in Alice’s DNA. She grew up watching her mother play folk-rock cello in acclaimed Australian bands like My Friend The Chocolate Cake, which expanded her view of what the instrument could do. However, the final push to actually submit her music to the ACMF came from a classic dose of sibling rivalry.
“I started entering the ACMF competition after my older brother won the Year 7/8 category years before,” Alice laughs. “When I began writing songs in my early teens, they felt very private, and I didn’t let other people hear them.”
By Year 12, Alice realized that the NSC wasn’t looking for a specific type of genre or a glossy production. “It was always something unique, and I just needed to submit what I enjoyed making and hope that it would resonate with people.”
That instinct proved correct. Alice was named the 2020 ACMF-APRA AMCOS Young Songwriter of the Year.
“Winning the ACMF competition meant a great deal to my confidence,” Alice says. “With so many opportunities taken away due to COVID-19, it became something really meaningful to celebrate and hold onto. More than that, it reminded me of the power of music to create connection.”
The competition also provided a vital, practical learning curve. Preparing her entry forced her to figure out how to record and demo her songs on GarageBand from a young age. “I’m grateful I started learning how to use DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) early, so I now have more confidence going into a studio setting – especially as a woman, as we are often underrepresented in music production.”
The Impact of True Mentorship
Beyond the accolade, the ACMF opened doors to the professional music industry. Alice fondly recalls a heartwarming encounter with ACMF Founder Don Spencer OAM at a charity event.
“I will never forget his kindness,” Alice says. “As I was leaving the event, he walked me out to the taxi to make sure I got there safely and told me that if I ever got contacted by a music label, I could send him the contract to make sure they weren’t trying to take advantage of me! Knowing that there are people looking out for you can make a big difference in an industry that can feel quite overwhelming.”
Leaping into the Dark
Today, the school-aged girl writing songs on her cello in lockdown is an independent artist performing on global stages. Now based in Germany, Alice recently performed at TEDxBerlin and has officially released her debut album, beautifully titled Can We Talk Sometime.
When asked what advice she would give to the younger students entering the National Songwriting Competition this year, Alice encourages them to take risks.
“Don’t be afraid to go somewhere without a plan, and join communities that inspire you,” she says. “Coming from a classical music background, I always had clear goals and ideas about what I would be doing and when, but my move to Berlin was a bit of a jump into the dark. I’ve met so many wonderful people by keeping an open mind, and the world has really opened up to me.”
And a final, practical piece of advice for the next generation? “I would also tell young Alice to stretch before practicing, and maybe she wouldn’t get so sore after playing cello!”
