Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares® Recognize Winners
NEW YORK (Jan. 27, 2017) — Talon David, a teen singer/ songwriter, has been chosen as the winner of the seventh annual GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares® Teens Make Music Contest for her original interpretation of the importance of living above the influence of drug and alcohol use. Second- and third-place winners for the contest have also been chosen. The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares, the two affiliated nonprofit organizations of The Recording Academy®, in collaboration with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids’ Above the Influence campaign, will honor each contest winner in late January and early February with exclusive GRAMMY® experiences and prizes. The GRAMMY Foundation offers a range of GRAMMY in the Schools® music education programs for high school students, teachers and schools, along with archiving and preservation initiatives. MusiCares provides emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery resources to members of the music industry in need.
The contest asked young musicians, ages 14–18, to compose or create an original song and/or music video that celebrates life above the influence or brings attention to the real-life consequences of substance abuse.
“We are honored to partner with the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares to recognize these creative and talented teen musicians,” said Marcia Lee Taylor, President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. “We’re thrilled to recognize these individuals for shedding light on the realities of substance use disorders and what being above the influence of negative pressures means to them.”
“The Teens Make Music Contest is an engaging and effective mechanism that encourages young people to consider and give voice to the issues around substance abuse,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Foundation, and MusiCares. “The submissions are very compelling across the board, and they bring the challenges of addiction and the paths to recovery into focus.”
First-place winner David, a student at Davidson Academy in Nashville, Tenn., submitted “Deep Snow,” a song that metaphorically compares snow to addiction and focuses on how easily a person can drown in its depths. Yet there is hope as the lyrics reflect a cry for redemption: “Lay me down to rest. Alone in the deep snow. Feel the cool, the rush, the chill, the numb, the kiss of the deep snow. Flurries luring in their ear. Hold still. It will all be over soon. Swallowed up in emptiness. Left as bare as the surface of the moon. … Is it too late to fight it? Take me back. Save me from being buried alive, stolen from life.”
Second-place winner Renee Audrey is from Short Hills, N.J., and is a junior at Millburn High School. The lyrics for her song “Paralyzed” describe the life of an individual struggling with a substance abuse problem and details how Audrey hopes she could help the individual overcome her addiction: “Searching for solace at the bottom of a bottle. Using but losing to a fake gospel. Her bloodshot eyes make my eyes water. Her disguise in the skies, feels like paradise. But she’s para-para-paralyzed. Para-para-paralyzed. Para-para-paralyzed. Wish I had the antidote to guide her lifeboat. In these rough waters, it’s hard to stay afloat.”
Third-place winner Jarren Blair, a senior at Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., submitted “Out Alive.” His song tells the story of someone with a drug or alcohol issue and how difficult that problem can be to overcome. The lyrics illustrate that, even in the midst of despair, faith in a higher power can help one rise above the negative influences: “I’ve seen trouble, I’ve seen pain. I’ve seen struggle for all my days. They say the devil is on his way to cut me open and steal my faith. I know it’s hard sometimes. I know it’s hard to find someone you like. I know it’s hard sometimes. I know it’s hard to smile through. I know it’s hard to smile through your life, but I’m singing. Oh, I’m saying. Oh, I’m praying. Oh, got my hands up to praise him. I know I’m gonna make it out alive.”
The first-place winner will receive two tickets to the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards® at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 12, two tickets to the GRAMMY Celebration® after-party, a cash award of $500 provided by Visions Adolescent Treatment Center, and the opportunity to perform a set at the Acoustic Tent on the 2017 Vans Warped Tour in the city closest to their hometown. The second- and third-place winners will receive cash prizes of $250 and $100 respectively, both provided by Visions Adolescent Treatment Center. Each of the winners will have the opportunity to attend the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards backstage experience during rehearsals. Other prizes include two tickets to the GRAMMY Museum®, two tickets to any Vans Warped Tour show, gift bags, and more. All the winners will have their original compositions posted on the MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation’s websites, the Vans Warped Tour website and on drugfree.org this month.
MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation provided a panel of judges that included music industry professionals, while the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids provided technical expertise in the judging process. Points were given for accurate depictions of subject matter.
Source: PRESS RELEASE