Winnie Conlan released her debut single on Spotify last month after placing second in New Zealand’s Play It Strange songwriting competition earlier this year.
Winnie placed in the top of the national songwriting contest for secondary school students, which had a record-breaking 194 entries from across the country this year.
She was awarded a studio session at Waitaki Valley’s Sublime Studios to record her song One Sided Love Getaway.
She said she was thrilled with the positive reaction to her song since its release on the digital music platform nearly two weeks ago.
"It’s been amazing. I have had lots of people messaging me which is lovely.
"It’s quite cool. I logged into my Spotify account, and I have 91 listeners from the USA and around 390 from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and places all around the world," she said.
Winnie said inspiration for her award-winning song came from the experience of "everyone around her getting into relationships" while she had not been in one — although she was now.
The year 12 Waitaki Girls’ High School student also recorded an EP at Sublime Studios earlier this year, with her longtime musical collaborator and best friend Olivia Morriss, after the duo won the Harbour Street Jazz and Blues talent show in Oamaru in September.
They also claimed the Smokefree Rockquest Best Vocals award in Timaru this year after winning first place in duo at the national competition for intermediate and high school bands throughout New Zealand in 2024.
