Strange Boost

Play It Strange is an charitable organisation, transforming the hearts and minds of young New Zealanders through songwriting competitions for secondary school students as well as recording and performing opportunities. 

Play It Strange has worked for over 17 years, striving to provide secondary students with a platform they can use to pursue their musical adventures. We've held concerts, workshops and competitions, all with the intentions to provide the right environment from which students can gain confidence, self-belief and an impetus for a career path they would like to follow. 

Play It Strange provides live performance opportunities for its songwriters and the wonderful experience for secondary school students to have their own songs recorded in a professional recording studio.

Finalists are picked in a judging process to record their own songs in professional studios. This recording experience is a profound and empowering event in the life a young songwriter. It solidifies the musical and creative talent they have intuitively and propels them forward.

Play It Strange calls some of New Zealand's most shiny musicians and song writers 'alumni' including Louis Baker, CHAII, Georgia Knot (Broods), Elizabeth Stokes (The Beths).

And now, we are delighted to present you with Strange Boost. Strange Boost, is a campaign supporting our ongoing activity with young songwriters and musicians as well as directly contributing to the recording of the top 10 song finalists in our flagship competition the Lion Foundation Songwriting competition due to close in July. 

The Covid-19 year will certainly strip our usual funding supplies so we are wanting to see generous NZers donate when we stream our STRANGE BOOST episodes from Friday 5th June at 7pm. Any contribution would indeed be a “Strange and lovely BOOST”, thank you.

STRANGE BOOST on BoostedLive is an ideal way for Play It Strange to secure funding for these recording sessions.

EPISODE 4: AIRING 7PM, FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2020

And for our final week: Greta Balfour, Mads Harrop, Daneil Blacklock, Laura Griffiths, Deena Kaiaruna, Sophie Brown - girl, and the final appearance of The Gaye Gardner Band!

EPISODE 3: AIRING 7PM, FRIDAY 17 JUNE 2020

This week... a super cool line up! Featuring Rebel Reid, Halle Aish, Marianne Leigh, Morgan Costello and Grace Cameron, Caught Inside, Bailey Lindsey, Sam Charlesworth, 'Six Months In A Leaky Boat'  performance.

EPISODE 2: AIRING 7PM, FRIDAY 12 JUNE 2020

This week - a Fleetwood/Geldof clip, Nesian Mystik, Graham Candy, Keira Batten Coogan, Eden Iris, CHAII. Also Matthew Beardsworth and Mike Chunn play Citizen Band's 'Julia' (back by popular demand!)

We are raising funds to enable professional recordings of the finalist songs in our Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition. Check out the many professional recordings we have gathered over 17 years below. We don't want to stop... Give us a Strange Boost!

EPISODE 1: AIRING 7PM, FRIDAY 5 JUNE 2020

Featuring: Sophie Brown, J Williams and band, Baylie Vinson, Park Road, The Essence, Fletcher Mills, Mike Chunn & Matthew Beardsworth with friends..with entertaining commentary.