After much deliberation, Happy Mag is proud to unveil the winners of the 2022 Needle In The Hay vinyl competition!
Happy Mag proudly announces the winners of the highly coveted 2022 Needle In The Hay vinyl competition, as chosen by an esteemed panel of judges including luminaries such as Benjamin Law, FlexMami, and Kieran Llama of Spacey Jane.
After meticulous scrutiny of 30 impressive finalists, the ultimate victors have been revealed, with one of them now set to bask in the glory of having their single pressed to vinyl.
But that’s not all: this year’s grand prize also includes coveted one-on-one mentorship programs with some of Australia and New Zealand’s most revered songwriters and producers, alongside over $30,000 in runner-up prizes.
Without further ado, here are the winners – and the prizes they’ll be taking home:
1st Prize Beckah Amani – Smoke and Mirrors
Beckah Amani is a songwriter of unparalleled virtuosity, her craft is an exquisite tapestry of soulful compositions that resonate deeply with listeners around the world. Born in Tanzania and raised in Australia, her itinerant upbringing infuses her music with a rarefied depth and introspection. Amani’s delicate and intimate songs touch on a myriad of deeply personal topics, from heartbreak to placelessness and identity, and are imbued with an ineffable warmth and grace that speaks to the very core of our being. Her music offers solace and inspiration, healing the wounds of the world with her sonorous voice.
250 x 7″ inch vinyls pressed of their track via Zenith
1 x Harmony Jupiter Guitar
1 x Custom Band tees from Billy Bones club
1 x Soundboks bluetooth speaker
1 x Gyrostream pack worth $2000
1 x Rode microphone pack valued at $3000
1 x Baby Audio Plugin Bundle
1 x Audio Technica headphone pack
1 x Korg Nano pack
1 x JMC Short course
1 x Moccamaster + 1 year supply of coffee from Coffee Supreme
1 x GoPro pack
1 x Polaroid pack
1 x 1 year supply of Jameson
1 x Plugin pack from GForce
1 x Death By Audio guitar pedal pack
1 x Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator
1 x MONO prizing pack
2nd Prize Agung Mango – Guap Pop
Agung Mango is a Melbourne-based rapper whose undeniable presence, unparalleled originality, and flawless production have been turning heads in the music industry for the past few years. Mango fearlessly blazes his own trail, refusing to be held back by convention or expectation. It is this unwavering commitment to creative expression, and his willingness to experiment with his vocal style sets him apart from the countless other artists vying for the limelight. Drawing on a wide range of influences, including hip-hop, alternative R&B, punk, jazz, and spoken word, Mango’s music is a genre-defying fusion of Balinese and Italian cultures, which adds yet another layer of complexity and depth to his already impressive body of work.
1 x Apparel pack from Billy Bones Club
1 x Soundboks Bluetooth speaker
1 x Gyrostream streaming pack
1 x Audio Technica headphones pack
1 x Korg Nano pack
1 x Baby Audio plugin bundle
1 x Jameson Whisky prizing pack
1 x Polaroid Pack
1 x GoPro pack
1 x GForce plugin bundle
1 x MONO prizing pack
1 x Teenage Engineering Pocket operator
3rd prize Euan Hart – Snowflake
Euan Hart is rapidly making a name for himself as an emerging solo artist. His music is a tapestry of poetically driven lyrics, dreamy synth soundscapes, and breathless wonder, all anchored by his distinctively raw vocal tones. Hart creates a vivid, cinematic world that transports listeners into a realm of his own making. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical influences, including the likes of Weyes Blood, Father John Misty, and The War on Drugs, Hart’s unique acoustic-folk/pop style is a testament to his ability to seamlessly blend contemporary folk foundations with vibrant pop sensibilities and an electronic flair. Sydney-based singer-songwriter Euan Hart is truly a force to be reckoned with, and one that we can expect to hear more from in the years to come.
1 x Apparel pack from Billy Bones Club
1 x Gyrostream streaming pack
1 x Polaroid Pack
1 x Jameson Whisky prizing pack
1 x Baby Audio plugin bundle
1 x Teenage Engineering Pocket operator
1 x GForce plugin bundle
Runners-up are:
Hannah Cameron – Take the Blame (Track to be released May 2023)
Floozy – World
Ainsley Farrell- The Way Back
Phoebe Go – We Don’t Talk
Salarymen – Young Guns
Dulcie – Cold Hard Truth
Foura – Glimmer
1 x Apparel pack from Billy Bones Club
1 x Gyrostream streaming pack
1 x Baby Audio plugin bundle
As the seventh annual instalment of the highly esteemed competition, Needle in the Hay beckons a new wave of emerging artists to make their mark. With an impressive list of previous winners such as Maple Glider, Tones and I, Spacey Jane, Haiku Hands, The Buoys, and a plethora of other promising talents, the stage is set for this year’s winners to join the ranks of esteemed alumni. Anticipation is high as the next generation of musical luminaries is primed to make their mark.
Needle in the Hay continues to serve as a platform for the brightest and most promising talent, and we’re honoured to witness the next chapter in the competition’s rich legacy.
Special thanks to Zenith, Audio Technica, Harmony, Supreme, Death by Audio, G – Force, Go -Pro, Jameson, JMC Academy, Korg, Mono, Polaroid, Rode, Soundboks, Teenage Engineering, Baby Audio, and Billy Bones Club for making Needle In The Hay 2022 possible.