UPDATE: Needle In The Hay is currently open to albums and EPs! Enter here.
Early this year we opened Needle In The Hay: The 7-Inch Singles Edition, a competition giving one band the chance to have their single pressed to vinyl. We received an overwhelming amount of amazing entries, and after much deliberation 30 finalists were chosen.
Those finalists were then handed over to our judges Jen Cloher, Monkey Marc, and Aaron Curnow (Spunk Records), who rattled it down to a top 10. The votes were as close as it gets, with only a few points separating all 30 finalists post-judgement.
But, winners must be chosen. Here we go!
Our second Needle In The Hay vinyl competition was even harder to judge than the first. These 10 singles have taken home the prizes.
Grand Prize: Spacey Jane – Thrills
For their jangly tune Thrills, Perth outfit Spacey Jane scored the number one spot. The four-piece have been making a steady name for themselves around the West for a hot minute now, and we’re stoked to give them a chance to press this killer single to wax.
Spacey Jane will receive 250 copies of Thrills pressed to 7-inch vinyl at Zenith Records, plus a high production live video shot in-studio at JMC Academy. They’ve also won 12x $250 vouchers valid at Beach Burrito venues across Australia.
Second Prize: Otis Thomas – Gina
Garage pop outfit Otis Thomas take home second prize for their shimmering tune Gina – the first release since their 2017 album DOG DREAMS. They may be new to the game, but we’re expecting huge things from these Avalon locals.
Otis Thomas will receive up to $2000 in studio gear from Audio-Technica Australia and a $150 voucher valid at Beach Burrito venues across Australia.
Third Prize: SOOK – I’m Not Your Woman
For their fiery debut single I’m Not Your Woman, SOOK have taken home third prize. SOOK have spent their formative days carving a path through Sydney and Wollongong’s live scenes with their vicious punk, and we can’t wait to see where they go next.
SOOK will receive a KORG MicroKorg synthesizer / vocoder and a $100 voucher valid at Beach Burrito venues across Australia.
Fourth Prize: CLEWS – Museum
Sister duo CLEWS are winning hearts everywhere with their sublime vocal melodies and a well-crafted alt rock charm. They’ve taken home the last major prize for their fantastic debut single Museum – take a listen to it below.
CLEWS will receive a $700 software bundle from IK Multimedia.
Runner-up: VOIID – Silly Girl
Brisbane punk rock crew VOIID have been taking names across the country, and their 2018 single Silly Girl showcases exactly why that is. They aren’t taking shit, and their music straight-up rocks.
VOIID will receive a single mastering pack from Enmore Audio.
Runner-up: RACKETT – Alive
While their live show has garnered huge attention over the last year, RACKETT have also proved they know how to put together a spicy tune. They kicked off 2018 with Alive, a riotous rock ‘n’ roll jam you’d be a fool to miss out on.
RACKETT will receive a single mastering pack from Enmore Audio.
Runner-up: Annie Hamilton – Fade
Annie Hamilton’s debut single Fade was unreleased at the time she entered Needle In The Hay, and we were stoked to see it go public this month. It’s a beautiful song to start your solo career on, and we’re all ears for whatever else Annie has in the pipeline.
Annie Hamilton will receive a single mastering pack from Enmore Audio.
Runner-up: St. South – Inure
Olivia Gavranich aka St. South has been releasing absolutely gorgeous music since 2014, and we’ve loved every single minute of it. Inure is the title track of her latest EP, a return to her folky roots that will blow you away.
St. South will receive a single mastering pack from Enmore Audio.
Runner-up: The Lazy Eyes – Unreleased
For an unreleased, Beatles-esque jam, Sydney four-piece The Lazy Eyes have scored a top 10 slot. Keep an eye out for this one, we’ll give you a shout when it’s out to the world!
The Lazy Eyes will receive a single mastering pack from Enmore Audio.
Runner-up: TONES AND I – Unreleased
Toni ‘Tones’ Watson is TONES AND I, a solo artist based in Melbourne. Earning her chops busking and playing intimate shows, she’s yet to release her debut single into the world. When she does, we’ll be telling you. You’re in for a treat.
TONES AND I will receive a single mastering pack from Enmore Audio.
Thanks to every single act that entered, thanks to our judges Jen Cloher, Monkey Marc, and Aaron Curnow for lending their ears, and thanks to RACKETT, Rosa Maria, Annie Hamilton, Tuppaware Party, Raindrop and SOOK for playing our Finalists’ Party.
Needle In The Hay would not have been possible without the help of our partners Zenith Records, Young Henrys, JMC Academy, Beach Burrito Company, Audio-Technica Australia, Korg Australia, IK Multimedia and Death by Audio Effect Pedals.
Needle In The Hay will return!