Play It Strange

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Play It Strange

We exist to empower the next generation of songwriters in Aotearoa. Just close enough to reach.

Play It Strange is all about opening the door to the temple of imagination that young NZers harbor…..that they place on the edge of our real world.

23/06/2026

Last week we said haere rā to two longstanding, dedicated Play It Strange board members: Fred Soar and Andrew Ferrier.

Fred joined our Board in 2018 and became Chair in 2019, and Andrew has been on our board since 2007 – ever since his son Alex (of Dead Favours and Skinny Hobos) was involved in Play It Strange.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - our strength is not as individuals, but as a collective. We are only as strong as the people who stand behind us, and we are deeply grateful for the contributions Fred and Andrew have made to the Play It Strange whānau. 🌿

Please check out our latest Mike's Muse, where our founder Mike Chunn pays tribute to Fred and Andrew's contributions to Play It Strange over the years 💗

https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-muse-andrew-ferrier-and-fred-soar-with-thanks

23/06/2026

Last week we said haere rā to two longstanding, dedicated Play It Strange board members: Fred Soar and Andrew Ferrier.

Fred joined our Board in 2018 and became Chair in 2019, and Andrew has been on our board since 2007 – ever since his son Alex (of Dead Favours and Skinny Hobos) was involved in Play It Strange.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - our strength is not as individuals, but as a collective. We are only as strong as the people who stand behind us, and we are deeply grateful for the contributions Fred and Andrew have made to the Play It Strange whānau.

Please check out our latest Mike’s Muse, where our founder Mike Chunn pays tribute to Fred and Andrew’s contributions to Play It Strange over the years ❤️

23/06/2026

We have extended our Waiata Māori Competition by 2 weeks!! Giving you plenty more time to perfect your craft 🥰

July 12th is our new closing date! Get your entries in 🧡

21/06/2026

Thanks Kerikeri High School for having us💙

21/06/2026

As our Waiata Māori judge, Ria Hall says… Get stuck in and have a go! 🧡

We are so honoured to have this kaitiaki on our Waiata Māori judging panel this year.

1 week to go whānau 🧡

21/06/2026

Our Peace Project judge Paige and CEO Stephanie Brown paid a visit to Long Bay College to suprise our 2026 winner Cameron Beattie with the good news! ❤️

We are so excited to hear his winning track “Sun On The Hill” accompanied by a quartet from the Auckland Philharmonia aspiring musicians programme.

Big thank you to Wright Family Foundation for making this possible! ☮️ 🍃

19/06/2026

Meet your Peace Project winner Cameron Beattie! Comp judges Paige and Nat from There’s A Tuesday surprised Cameron at his school with the news this week 💫

Cameron is no stranger to Play It Strange. Already a FIVE time comp finalist since 2022, he follows in the footsteps of older brother Alex Beattie who is also Play It Strange alumni. What a talented family 😮‍💨

As part of his prize, Cameron receives a prize package including:
🔹 a 1:1 mentoring session with a competition judge
🔹 a $500 MusicWorks NZ voucher
🔹 a JBL New Zealand Bandbox Trio valued at $899
🔹 an artist development session with SOLE Music Academy founder S A C H A V E E
🔹 a radio interview and airplay on 95bFM
🔹 a performance slot at the Play It Strange Annual Showcase with artist workshops held in the lead-up to the showcase
🔹AND a quartet backing arrangement with Auckland Philharmonia ’s Aspiring Musicians.

Composer James Cullen , who will work with Cameron to curate the backing arrangement as part of his prize, says: “The Sun On The Hill is a fantastic song. I am very excited to start the process– and am looking forward to working with him!” ✨

Thanks to Wright Family Foundation for making this competition possible, to NZ On Air Music , and to our legendary comp judges and prize sponsors too! 💙

19/06/2026

🎤 Ngā rā e tokoiwa! Just nine days left to enter the 2026 Play It Strange Whakataetae Waiata Māori.

Whakaurua tō waiata! All finalists receive a day in a professional recording studio in Aotearoa, with their waiata mastered and released on streaming platforms.

Entries close: Midnight on the 28th of June | te 28 o Hune
Pictured: 2025 Waiata Maori Competition winner Ihaka recording at Parachute, photo taken by Steve Bone

18/06/2026

Mōrena, if you are on our mailing list you would have received this letter from us a few days ago. Please read this letter from our CEO. Play It Strange really needs your help.

We haven't done a plea like this before. Please contribute and support Play It Strange - we really need your support right now so we can continue our powerful mahi. 💙

If all 12,000 of you gave $10 that would be $120,000. ANY amount goes a long way allowing us to continue helping emerging musicians.

Please donate through our website, or email [email protected] if you would like to consider becoming a patron, corporate sponsor, or putting on a fundraiser for Play It Strange.

Please like or share this post too so more people can see it.

Calling all Māori musicians! Keen on a gig? Get in touch with chloe@youtharts.nz now✨🎤 Such an awesome opportunity 🤩

18/06/2026

Calling all Māori musicians!

Keen on a gig? Get in touch with [email protected] now✨🎤 Such an awesome opportunity 🤩

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