Waimate’s country-pop singer Kaylee Bell comes in second at international songwriting competition Unsigned Only 2019 with her song Keith.

Kiwi semi-finalists 2019

• Andrew Masseurs: Night After Night in Adult Alternative Album/Days They Come And They Go in Adult Contemporary
• Annie J: By My Side – Christian/Jazz 
• Arjuna Oakes: Deep End – RnB/Hip Hop 
• Bartells: Our Love May Go Away – Soul 
• Jeremy Walters: Future By Design – Instrumental
• Levi Lights On Project‘s Eyes Of A Child – Folk/Singer-songwriter
• Marina Bloom: Flying – Alternative/Pop
• Miss French: Racing with Time – Jazz/Blues
• Missy: Hate Me – Pop
• Phil Edwards Band: Cabin In The Woods – Folk/Singer-Songwriter
• The Vazey Collective: Running To You – Rock

Unsigned Only is open to all artists who are unsigned to a major record label and gives artists exposure, recognition, and validation for their artistry.

Among the judges were Aimee Mann, Garth Hudson (The Band), Robert Smith (The Cure), Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals), Tinariwen, and other members of the US music industry.