Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers, MAY-A & Beckah Amani Share The Triumphs Of Songwriting

Some of Australia's brightest up-and-comers are represented in the Emerging Songwriter of the Year category at this year’s APRA Awards.

Those artists include indie rockers Royel Otis, soulful pop-folk artist and 2022 APRA Professional Development Award winner Beckah Amani, punk rock band Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers, multi-genre pop act grantperez and singer-songwriter MAY-A.

The latter artist is a dual-nominated songwriter at this year’s APRA Music Awards, with the singer nominated for Most Performed Alternative Work with Sweat You Out My System (co-written with two-time nominee Robby De Sa).

With the annual APRA Music Awards around the corner, The Music caught up with three of the brand-new Emerging Songwriter of the Year category nominees who tell us what they love about songwriting and their go-to Oz tune.

What do you love most about songwriting?

Scarlett McKahey from Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers: Because we started the band so young, songwriting has always been part of our lives. It's been a tool for us to get over hurdles, and it's something that brings the four of us together. I think the best bit is being able to write together as a group and see how different everyone's ideas are. It changes the entire shape of the song, and it's so important to our sound as a band.

MAY-A: Honestly, for me, songwriting has always been really cathartic after-the-fact. Being completely candid about it, I get very emotionally distraught; there's definitely been more than a handful of times I've pushed myself to the brink.

I'm always pushing for what could be more honest, what could make the song better. I love songwriting as a whole, nothing beats the feeling when you finally crack a song or body of work, even if it can be gruelling, it's more than worth it to be able to take a step back and look at what you've put so much of yourself into. 

Beckah Amani: The thing that I love most about songwriting is storytelling, and the significance songs hold for a lot of people. It’s amazing that something a songwriter experiences or feels can mean so many different things to a listener and that these songs often form the soundtrack to their lives. 

What is your dream songwriting collaboration?

Scarlett McKahey: I think there's something so epic about collaborating with people outside your genre, so I'd love to write a song with someone like Remi Wolf or Bob Vylan. I have no idea how those songs would sound, but deep down, I know they'd slap.

MAY-A: Probably anyone from Wolf Alice or Sam Fender—it would be cool to jam with Spacey Jane. 

Beckah Amani: It would be a dream to collaborate with RAYE and [record producer] Paul Epworth. 

What Australian song never fails to make you turn up the volume when you hear it?

Scarlett McKahey: Get Inspired by our one true Canberra king, Genesis Owusu! I don't think there's been a single band car trip where that song hasn't been played. It's so good and so fun and makes me feel like I could attack somebody if necessary.

MAY-A: Straight Lines by Silverchair will forever unite crowds of drunk Australians.  

Beckah Amani: There’s so many!! My absolute favourite at the moment is What Comes Will Come by Genesis Owusu. It was my summer jam! Big Jet Plane by Angus And Julia Stone is an Aussie classic I’ll never get over.

The 2024 APRA Awards take place on Wednesday, 1 May, at ICC Sydney, Gadigal land, with host Tom Gleeson and guest presenters Jen Cloher and Bumpy.

2024 APRA Music Awards

Emerging Songwriter of the Year

Writer: Beckah Amani

Writer: grentperez
Publisher: Mushroom Music

Writer: MAY-A
Publisher: Sony Music Publishing

Writers: Otis Pavlovic & Royel Maddell (Royel Otis)
Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing / Ourness Songs 

Writers: Scarlett McKahey, Anna Ryan, Jaida Stephenson & Neve van Boxsel (Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers)
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music