17-Year-Old Wins Grand Prize Of Unsigned Only Music Competition

Faouzia, 2017 Grand Prize Winner

The winners of the U.S.-based UNSIGNED ONLY MUSIC COMPETITION were announced, highlighted by the 2017 Grand Prize being awarded to 17 year-old Canadian artist FAOUZIA. Her song, "Knock On My Door," helped her win $20,000 in cash and more in prizes, including one-on-one mentoring from upper-echelon music industry executives from ATLANTIC, RAZOR & TIE, SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE, ISLAND and more.

She was also the First Place winner in the Teen category, which earned her a full scholarship to BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC’s five-week Summer Performance program.

“I am so thankful for this opportunity and the doors that it will open in the future,” FAOUZIA said. “Receiving approbation in such a prestigious competition brings a sense of honour and happiness that can't fully be put into words. This only pushes me to work harder to achieve goals that seem unattainable but can be achieved with perseverance."

“If there is one thing that we have learned over the years it’s that there is such an incredible wealth of talent in the world,” said Founders/Directors CANDACE AVERY and JIM MORGAN. “This is best highlighted by this year’s Grand Prize winner, FAOUZIA, who at only 17 years old is one of the most stunning vocalists and artists that we have come across in a long time. This is just the beginning of what is to come for this young, talented artist, and we are very excited to be a part of her journey.”

2017 judges included: AARON SHUST; AIMEE MANN; DAVID CROWDER; DELBERT MCCLINTON; EXCISION; FRANK FOSTER; JACK INGRAM; LUCERO; LYDIA LOVELESS; MELANIE FIONA; MERCYME; MONTGOMERY GENTRY; O.A.R.; PHANTOGRAM; THE KILLERS; KYLE ANDERSON (Senior Writer, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY); JOSH JACKSON (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, PASTE MAGAZINE); ANTHONY DECURTIS (Contributing Editor, ROLLING STONE); ZACH LONG (Associate Editor, TIME OUT CHICAGO); CAINE O’REAR (Editor-In-Chief, AMERICAN SONGWRITER); MICHAEL MOLENDA (Editor-In-Chief, GUITAR PLAYER); LYNDSEY PARKER (Managing Editor, YAHOO MUSIC); JED GOTTLIEB (Music & Theater Writer, BOSTON HERALD); KEVIN MCNEESE (Pres., NEWRELEASETODAY); SUZANNE CADGENE (Publisher, ELMORE MAGAZINE); SARAH JONES (Editor, ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN MAGAZINE); and many more.

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