Play It Strange launches Te Reo Māori songwriting competition + Rei announced as judge

Play It Strange has just announced the addition of a new Te Reo Māori Songwriting Competition to its umbrella of songwriting competitions this year.

Play It Strange has been helping New Zealand songwriters with support, industry knowledge and performance opportunities to help lunch their music careers since 2003. Play It Strange runs annual national songwriting competitions, with finalists awarded a day in a recording studio to professionally record their songs.

Previously, students could enter songs in te reo Māori eligible for the Te Reo Māori Award, previously called the “Junior Maioha Award”.

This year, Play It Strange is placing a spotlight on the beautiful te reo Māori waiata crafted by
rangatahi by moving away from an award, and now being its own competition.

Play It Strange has announced Rei as the guest judge for the Te Reo Māori Songwriting Competition.

Rei is the next generation of Aotearoa/NZ bilingual artists fusing international sounds and
setting his sights firmly on taking NZ's unique culture to the world (and making some
bangers along the way). His music seamlessly bridges multiple genres, in particular, Urban and Electronic and has been travelling the world with his music in 2023.

Rei is looking forward to hearing the entries come through: "In 2011, I produced and
recorded my first EP, The Soapbox EP as a direct result of the connections I made
through recording my Play It Strange single. As a bilingual te reo artist, I'm also super
excited to hear the reo-focused talent coming through from our rangatahi."

The winner of the Te Reo Māori Songwriting Competition will receive:
- A one-on-one mentoring session with judge Rei
- A $500 Rockshop Gift Card
- The opportunity to record their song in a professional studio

The 2024 songwriting competitions are now open. Enter HERE to submit your songs!

Listen to the previous winners of the Te Reo Māori Award, 2013 – 2023, HERE