Submissions are open for the Eco Arts Awards. The annual competition doles out a $2,000 Grand Prize for songwriting, which is pretty amazing! Several winners from years past have come through Sonicbids. We thought we'd catch up with some past selections.
We caught up with Hazel Tratt, who took home 2nd place last year.
How'd you get started in music?: I grew up in a household passionate about music, art and the natural world and started writing songs at the age of 10. It felt like a very natural progression, getting into music. There was always a record playing at home, whether it be The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Randy Crawford, early Elton John etc. As a teenager especially, writing songs was second nature - a way to express and expel all those crazy emotions coming and going.
Give us the story behind your winning song: 'Mothernature' was a song I wrote after moving from a small town in The New Forest to the chaos of London. Every so often I go through a phase of wanting to run away, discarding all possessions and living off the land. As long as you have someone who cares for you, all you need to survive is 'Mothernature'
What are you up to now?: I'm leading the London-based band Gold Road. We have a new EP called Planes coming out shortly.