Sweet dreams are made of this… if you’re a poet
Sunderland songwriting legend Dave Stewart is inviting poets to submit original work, with the winning entry set to inspire a new composition from the Eurythmics star
Sunderland musician Dave Stewart is offering poets the chance to collaborate with him on a new competition with a pretty extraordinary prize.
The Eurythmics star has launched an international poetry search inviting people to submit videos of themselves performing original poems.
The winning entry will earn the chance to have Dave - a Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee whose many honours also include four Ivor Novello and four BRIT Awards - compose and produce original music to accompany their poem.
In an unusual twist, the Sunderland-born songwriter says the winner will also retain full rights to the music, allowing them to use, distribute or even sell the finished work however they choose.
Posting on Instagram, Dave said: “When I choose a winner, I will compose and put music to the winning poem - only if you want me to. I will donate all the rights to the music to the winner to use in any way they wish - even to sell!”
The competition is being run as a collaboration with Poetry Spirits, a creative venture and award-winning Vodka brand he co-founded with Swedish entrepreneur Johan Holgersson in 2022.
Entries must be submitted as Instagram Reels featuring competitors performing their own original poetry. The deadline is July 16, with the winner due to be announced later that month.
All the guidelines and rules of entry can be found on the Poetry Spirit website.