Talent Is Timeless - Mini Documentary
Inaugural Year 2020-2021
To Connect And Inspire Songwriters Age 50+
By shining a light on a 50+ years only stage, we are focusing on promoting acoustic music makers, pairing you with one in a lifetime prizes, world-renowned celebrity judges and unlocking industry opportunities that may have felt a past lifetime away.
We all know that the media discriminates against more mature generations. Talent is Timeless is on a mission to transform songwriting and music-making into an age-positive endeavour, setting you up to celebrate your age, wisdom, experience and most of all, talent.
We want to encourage people to begin their careers in the music industry without feeling that age is a barrier. By supporting you, we support change and create a chance to change perspective.
BBC Radio Interview
Judge Ralph McTell & founder Saskia Griffiths-Moore talking about this year’s competition, the prizes, what the judges will be looking for and how to enter.
"It's Never Too Late To Be What You Might Have Been."
GEORGE ELIOT
Community Insight
Are you a songwriter over 50?
Do you have an original song ready to be shared with the world?
It’s time to dust off your notebook, or tune that guitar, or sit at your piano and ignite that musical fire inside. The Talent is Timeless competition is here to give YOU the platform you may have missed out on, and to open the doors to your songwriting possibilities.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you’re 50+ years of age, have written an original song in an acoustic genre style and can record a video or audio file of your song, you’re who we’re looking for to shake up the music industry and change the tide.
With some incredible prizes and even more impressive judges, your time is now.
Saskia Says
The Talent Is Timeless Community
Join our global community of songwriters and get access to weekly masterclasses, premium events, monthly songwriting competitions and a supportive creative community.
Community Events, Open To All
Click the calendar image to see our current events
Free Online Songwriting Workshop
Each month to stay inspired and welcome in new members we run a free online songwriting workshop, one for the UK & EU timezones, one in USA & Canadian timezones.
Sign up to our next one below to meet some other members and write a song.
Saskia has created a very safe space for us to share”
Competition Rules
-
Entrants must be 50+ years of age
-
You have written an original song in the style of acoustic music
-
You must be a USA, Canada, UK or EU resident
-
The formats accepted are: video or audio file of your song – phone recordings are fine
-
Enter from Feb 1st 2022
-
Closing date 31st March 2022
-
Winner announced Mid/late May
-
Co-writes are welcome, so long as all parties are over 50 by March 31st
- You may have another artist sing or perform your song, as long as the songwriters is age 50+
- This is a free competition, and no submission fee or voting will be required, donations towards the costs and the charities however, will be welcome, but optional
2022 Prizes Included
1st Prize:
Record Deal
Artist friendly record deal with JAM Records London
Studio Time
Recording and production of the winning song at Abbey Road Studios
Flights/Travel
We cover the winners travel to the studio
Music Video
Professional music video made for the winning track
Spotify promotion
Playlisting on Spotify
Equipment
From our partners
Magazine Reviews
In regional and national papers
Workshop
With our double Ivor Novello award winning judge
Mentoring
With industry professionals
National Winner for UK, USA, Canada & Europe:
Studio day to record your winning song:
UK: Fieldgate Studio, Wales
EU: AudioPlant, Poland
Canada: Chalet Studio, Nr Toronto
USA: Sound Temple Studio, Asheville, NC
15 Runners Up (plus national winners)
Online songwriting workshop
Certificate
Entry into the Talent Is Timeless ‘Hall Of Fame’
2022 Judges Included
Songwriter Competition Disclaimer:
One song submission is permitted per person
We do not claim to own any of the original music submitted
Amateur songwriters over 50+yrs are encouraged to apply
We welcome applications from USA, UK, EU and Scandinavia
Travel expenses covered by us include flights from your nearest major airport and accommodation in London. We cannot cover costs related to pandemic measures (e.g. PCR tests)
Songs will be judged on the audio alone
If the winning songwriter prefers not to perform the vocals of their song, they can request the host artist to sing it or bring a singer of their choice
We are committed to encouraging a diverse range of applicants
All enquiries contact: [email protected]
Meet The 2021 Talent Is Timeless Winner: Fergus McNeill
Biography
Fergus started writing songs only in his mid-40s.
In his day-job as an academic criminologist, he had stumbled upon the idea of using collaborative songwriting to explore crime and justice. To that end, in 2013 he co-founded the arts organisation Vox Liminis (www.voxliminis.co.uk) with his friend and colleague, Alison Urie.
He soon found himself part of songwriting workshops and, very quickly, the songwriting bug had him firmly in its grip. Over the last 8 years, he has written many songs, but Bloodrush is the first and only one to be studio-recorded and commercially released.
Fergus lives in Glasgow with his wife and two teenage children.
'Bloodrush' by Talent Is Timeless winner 2021 Fergus McNeill
Filmed and recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Words and music: Fergus McNeill
Drums and Percussion: Louis Abbott
Backing vocals: Saskia Griffiths-Moore
Piano and backing vocals: Donna Maciocia
Electric guitar: James Mackay
Vocals and acoustic guitar: Fergus McNeill
Violin: Jill O’Sullivan
Double bass: Thomas Holder
Engineered by: William Baker
Produced by: Kris Gorski, Audioplanet
Mastered by: Magdalena Piotrowska, Hear Candy
Videography by Carl Russ-Mohl (Muphovi Ltd)
‘Bloodrush’ is available on all streaming platforms.