Play It Strange - 2008

Television (Full Length Episode) – 2008

Documentary series Play It Strange shines a light on the talent involved in the charitable trust's high school songwriting competition. Judges for the 2008 competition include trust founder and former Split Enz bassist Mike Chunn, Hamish Jackson from the Rockshop and two famous faces from 1980s pop, songwriters Dianne Swann and Jordan Luck. This episode profiles four diverse musical acts whose songs are up for consideration: Taranaki teenage rock band Statuary, acoustic balladeer and reluctant farm girl Jessica Smith, Noel Gallagher fan Tom Holden, and nine-piece group Essence with a joyous, funky ode to their community.

After the song [I] put the guitar down, they just all stood up and cheered. It was just one of those little, euphoric moments where you're just sitting there, like, "Yeah, this is what I want to do".
– Chris Caskey from New Plymouth band Statuary on falling in love with playing music