BY KELSEY HEELEY
Make Music Matter (MMM) is holding a national talent search called My Song For Change.
According to their website, their mission is to engage, educate and foster youth living in Africa communities who are affected by extreme poverty though music and socially conscious art creating future community leaders. MMM believes in using the transformative power music has to influence people to make positive choices.
Those at MMM feel that music has the ability to heal, transform, connect and enrich peoples’ lives. That is why they chose to work with Western Union Canada to launch My Song For Change.
The contest encourages musical self-expression from participants who must submit an original musical performance online. The song should focus on global issues and pressures youth face.
Ashley Smith, public relations person for Make Music Matter, said, “There is no charge to enter the competition. Canadians ages 18 and up can submit a musical performance via our online portal.”
In order to determine the winner, there is an online voting system. The top 10 are chosen by those using the system and then an expert panel consisting of Darcy Ataman, founder of MMM, David Bottrill, a multi-platinum-selling music producer, Joycelyn David, the director of production marketing at Western Union Canada, and Ian D’Sa, guitarist in rock band Billy Talent, will pick the winner, Smith said.
There are a few important deadlines you need to keep in mind when making your video and voting. June 15 is the deadline for submitting your video. July 24 is the final day you can vote for your favourite video and the winner will be chosen on July 31.
The winner will have his or her song professionally recorded and produced with Cone McCaslin of Sum 41 and Ian D’sa of Billy Talent and the song will be developed into a music video. This prize is valued at about $12,000.
To learn more about Make Music Matter go to www.makemusicmatter.org and to learn more about the campaign, My Song For Change, visit www.mysongforchange.com.
