CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE

In the April issue of actv8, we talked to Mike Chunn about Play It Strange, which was set up to provide outside-the-classroom music programmes to high schools. We wanted to find out what has happened since then and meet one of Play It Strange's most dazzling discoveries.

A major songwriting competition is the flagship project of Play It Strange, which gets much of its funding from Hamilton's Perry Foundation, a gaming trust that provides grants to charitable organisations. But since we last spoke to Play It Strange's chief executive Mike Chunn in March, something pretty exciting has happened.

Play It Strange has struck a deal with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority that enables students entering the songwriting competition or performing at its Band of Strangers concerts to earn NCEA credits - even if they don't take music as a curriculum subject.

This is a major success for the trust and now, on top of that, Mike hopes to expand the Play It Strange Band of Strangers concept - where students get to play with famous musicians such as Jon Toogood, Don McGlashan (see page 38) or Tyson Kennedy from Steriogram.

New Zealand music has reached maturity over the past few years; the days of cultural cringe have gone, just as the global opportunities have increased. But Mike emphasises that true musicians never place business and music on an equal footing.

"Music is a world not an industry. The exponential growth in writing, performance and celebration of music means that more and more New Zealanders will enjoy music as an integral part of their life. It won't be wallpaper. It won't be product of the USA and the UK. It will be an active, stimulating environment."

He thinks his own musical career - which included being bassist with Split Enz and Citizen Band - would have been radically different if an initiative like Play It Strange had existed when he started out.

The Band of Strangers programme, part of Play It Strange, helps young songwriters and musicians to work in a hands-on way with professionals. It's run as an annual event involving secondary school students and is based on Neil Finn's idea of giving musicians a chance to be part of an iconic band. There aren't many professions that give young people the opportunity to interact with people at the top of their game, so this can't merely be dismissed as a public relations exercise. And it's evolving while you're reading this - the next step is a series of podcasts, says Mike.

"It allows us to focus on songwriting as a craft and a vital means of expression, and talk to those at school and those who have carved out successful reputations. We hope to have the podcasts - to be called ‘Playing It Strange' - up online very soon."

Mike's advice to songwriters who'd like to enter the Play It Strange songwriting competition in the future is apply yourself equally to the lyrics and music. "And believe in yourself - it's amazing how insecurity can leak into the fabric of the song you're writing."

While still at St Hilda's Collegiate School, Dunedin, singer-songwriter Annah Mac placed third in the Play It Strange competition in 2007 with her song ‘Home'. Then, the following year, she placed fifth with ‘Miss Munroe'. But she had already won the competition in 2006, with her song ‘Blue Butterfly', written when she was just 14 years old.

These days, musicians have a lot more opportunities at their disposal when it comes to composing, practising and recording music. But this do-it-yourself approach doesn't mean that all the good stuff is happening in basement studios nowadays. Mike is upbeat about the future of live performance - hardly surprising when you consider he used to protect musicians' performance rights for a living, at APRA (the Australasian Performing Rights Association).

"Live music is crucial. It means the songwriter or performer looks into the whites of the audience's eyes. That is very important. I guess I can say that as I've looked into quite a few eyes in my time."

RAPID RISE OF A MUSICAL ENTITY

Annah Mac says her career in music is the direct result of her involvement in Play It Strange and she cites Mike Chunn as her most important musical influence.

How important do you think formal training is if you want to make music a career?

"It depends which area you pursue. It helps but I don't think it's that important. I'm always hanging around backstage and tuning into advice from musicians. This has benefited me more than any kind of formal performance or vocal training. But when it comes to learning guitar, on the other hand, I would have been lost without my tutor, John Meddings."

How did you feel when you found out that ‘Home' was going to be the only song by an unsigned artist in The Great New Zealand Songbook?

"I had no idea what I was in for. Murray Thom invited me to lunch one day to talk about my layout for the book. We sat down and he showed me pages designed by Boh Runga and Brooke Fraser. It didn't really sink in till that stage. Incredible launch, incredible people, incredible artwork. What an honour, to be a part of the Great New Zealand Songbook.

If you could give one piece of advice to other young songwriters, what would it be?

"Play your songs to everyone. Especially family, I think mine are tougher critics than I am!"

Who has been the single biggest musical influence on you to date?

"I've had lots of people looking out for me along the way so far, but if I had to name a single influence, it's Mike Chunn, hands down. I thought all my songs were crap before I met him, I don't think I'd still be writing if we hadn't crossed paths."

What's on your iPod's ‘On the go' playlist, or are you an iPod refusenik?

"Jose Gonzalez, ‘How Low'; Jeff Buckley, ‘Mojo Pin'; Bon Iver, ‘Skinny Love'; J. Williams, ‘Ghetto Flower'; Keri Williams featuring Lil Wayne, ‘Turnin' Me On'; Smashproof, ‘It's Friday'; Cat Power, ‘Silver Stallion, M.I.A, ‘Bucky Done Gun'; Bjork, ‘Who is it?'; Joanna Newsom, ‘Peach Plum Pear'.

Who is your favourite from the current crop of Kiwi music artists?

"Smashproof, first, for their song ‘It's Friday'. But I was lucky enough to make it to the NZ Music Month opening this year. Smashproof rolled up in clean-cut suits and went out of their way to talk to everyone. They were the superstars of the night."