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Friday, April 30, 2021

Fusing rock, funky jazz with a touch of Junkanoo for the win

“Funkatology” – a fusion of rock and funky jazz with a touch of Junkanoo – a song penned by Chris Fox about seven years ago, has earned the 77-year-old a win at the 2020 SongDoor International Songwriting Competition.

Fox’s original composition “Funkatology” won the Instrumental category.

It’s a win Fox says made him appreciate his song even more, and made him feel that he needs to do more arrangements like that.

“[Funkatology] just came to me, and I just wrote. It came naturally,” Fox told The Nassau Guardian. “I like to write for movie soundtracks and was thinking if I had to write for a movie soundtrack that’s what it would be,” said Fox.

“I had written Funkatology but never brought it out. During the pandemic he decided to enter the song into a competition.

The 1978 Berklee College of Music graduate entered “Funkatology” into the SongDoor competition “to see what would happen.”

Fox is the former band leader of the Mighty Makers Super Stars, and is known for his fiery arrangements. He is described as multi-talented – an arranger, composer, guitarist, music instructor, recording artists, conductor, playwright, songwriter, author, producer and director.

The SongDoor competition each year recognizes one Grand Award Winner and six category winners – Christian, Country, Hard Rock/Alt-Rock, Instrumental, Pop and Soft Rock/Alt-Folk.

All entrants receive a SongU.com 45-day all-access trial, one-year film and TV membership, and songwriting software, valued at $220.

The Grand Award winner takes home a prize package valued at $5,291.80; category awards prize package which Fox won total $1,356.95 – an acoustic demo with their choice of a guitar/vocal or piano/vocal demo, or opt for an expert mix on an existing demo; three-month SongU.com platinum membership where they can pitch their songs, collaborate, get personal coaching, and take courses; and enjoy a one-year membership to Broadjam where they get pitch opportunities.

Fox said for him it wasn’t about the prize.

“It’s really not money. It’s more than money if someone pitches your song,” he said.

SongDoor was started in 2006 so that people who really care about the craft of songwriting could have a place to get their music heard, have an honestly good chance of getting some credible recognition for their work, and end up with something tangible for their effort.

Aside from material stuff, the SongDoor crew says winning is good for a person’s confidence as they’ll have an award to put on their resume.

The post Fusing rock, funky jazz with a touch of Junkanoo for the win appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.



source https://thenassauguardian.com/fusing-rock-funky-jazz-with-a-touch-of-junkanoo-for-the-win/

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