PRESS RELEASE

15 June 2007


Holly Light wins Peacedriven Songwriting Award


NEW YORK – Out of more than 400 entries into the 2007 Peacedriven Songwriting Award contest, a song by California-based musician Holly Light garnered the most buzz among the panel of judges, comprised of social activists and musicians.

Light said she wrote “Keep Rising Up” as a tribute to her fellow Buddhists. “Some [Buddhists] have surmounted incredible hardships in their lives, things that would crush most ordinary people,” Light said. “I was inspired by their inner strength and commitment to win – no matter what – and their willingness to share that strength with me.” Light said the goal of the Buddhist practice is to achieve world peace and happiness for all living beings.

As the winner of the Peacedriven Songwriting Award, Light receives a trophy and a $300 cash prize. Her winning song can be heard at www.myspace.com/peacedriven.

Anthony Stokes, director of the Peacedriven Organization, says the songwriting award honors songwriters like Light who can tap into music’s power to inspire social change. “Holly Light is an exceptional songwriter and you can feel the passion in her words and music,” Stokes said. “Her song ‘Keep Rising Up’ is timely and will inspire peacedriven people everywhere.”

The runner-up for the 2007 Peacedriven Songwriting Award is Ghanaian musician Wanlov. Through his Afrobeat and hip hop-flavored song “Human Being”, Wanlov relates to the struggles of people around the world.

The Peacedriven Organization began taking submissions for the contest in February of this year. Almost all of the songs were submitted through an online submission process, with the help of the global music network Sonicbids.com. Entries from all genres and from around the world were received, including United States, Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, France and the United Kingdom. Judges narrowed down the entries based on originality, melody and lyrics. The field was first cut to the Top 16 finalists, and then judged a second time to find the winner of the songwriting award.

The Peacedriven Organization, founded in 2001, is a nonprofit group established to inspire, motivate, and educate people about global social issues. The term “peacedriven” describes one who dedicates himself or herself to addressing social issues such as poverty, violence, justice, suppression of human rights, discrimination and crime.


WINNER:

Holly Light, California, “Keep Rising Up” (Adult Contemporary)

RUNNER-UP:

Wanlov The Kubolor, Ghana, “Human Being” (World)


FINALISTS:

Declan McGarrry, Canada, “Funny Clown” (Singer/Songwriter)
Joy Adler, New York, “Your Love is Everything” (Pop)
Karl Anthony, California, “One People / Wall of Peace” (Acoustic)
Margot Blanche, New York, “At the End” (Urban / R&B)
Bill Candy, Canada, “Common Ground” (Acoustic)
Q. a.k.a. Merc Love, North Carolina, “One Day” (Hip Hop / Rap)
Telly, New York, “Try Change” (Singer/Songwriter)
Lorna Bracewell, Florida, “Love Song” (Singer/Songwriter)
Tracy Scharf, California, “If Heaven Spoke” (Adult Contemporary)
Michael Patrick Phelan, New York, “Safe” (Singer/Songwriter)
Eddie Cunningham, California, “Why” (Americana)
Scholars Word, Florida, “I Know” (Reggae)
Mark Hildreth, California, “The Beauty Of It All” (Pop)
Joe Con, California, “Fight for Peace” (Hip Hop / Rap)


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