6BN-Cobalt

18 December 2016
Press Release

Submissions now open for third annual
Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award

The Toronto Blues Society and musician Paul Reddick announce the third annual competition for the Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award. The intention behind the Cobalt Prize is to promote blues music through exploration of its form. The winning composition will be judged on its ability to creatively utilize blues traditions within the broad contemporary musical landscape. Particular attention will be paid to aspects of instrumentation, melodic invention, song structure, lyrics, and production possibilities. The successful song will explore and refresh blues as an art form. Priority will be given to songs that have been crafted specifically for the Cobalt Prize, however previously released material may be submitted. Please read the About page to understand the priorities of the Cobalt Prize. The Cobalt Prize submissions are now open to Canadian composers.
 
The Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award was created and originally funded by Toronto-based blues artist Paul Reddick. “The Cobalt Prize continues on into its third year! Please celebrate the beauties and possibilities of blues music by writing and submitting your song”, says Reddick. “Blues remains a powerful source of truth in this crazy mixed up world. Blues, Creativity, Art, Cobalt.”
 
The winner of the inaugural Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award was Digging Roots, a Canadian musical group consisting of husband and wife duo Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish, whose musical style blends folk-rock, pop, blues and hip hop influences. Winner of the second Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award was young up and coming artist Conor Gains for his song “Leave It On The Line”.
 
The benefactor of the Cobalt Prize is Toronto-based The Unicorn Project, whose goal is to bring more live music to the Greater Toronto area by providing paid opportunities for musicians to bring their art alive.
A cash prize of $1000 will be presented to the winner at the upcoming Maple Blues Awards on January 23, 2017, with second and third place winners each receiving $250.
 
 
Submissions for Cobalt Prize Contemporary Blues Composition Award

Submissions are now being accepted for the third annual Cobalt Prize. To enter, please email your submission to cobaltprize@gmail.com by January 7, 2017, at 11:59 pm EST.
 
Submissions must include:
 
1. One (1) attached WAV (preferred) or MP3 file of the track to be considered (NOTE: Only one track per composer will be considered)
2. Track information (including track title, lyrics sheet, and composers’ name)
3. Contact information (including first and last name, email address, current city and province of residence)
4. A $10 admin fee payable via PayPal
 
 
Paul Reddick is available for interviews.
 
Media Contact
Sarah French Publicity
Sarah French
416-566-4188 | sarah@sarahfrenchpublicity.com
(please do not send your submissions here)
Media Tools:
View Blues is a Beautiful Landscape, a video essay by Paul Reddick here
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