When First Fed put out the call last fall for its PNW Songwriting Contest, songwriters were invited to enter original compositions for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize. Guidelines for submissions? Although the contest was part of the bank’s centennial celebration, songs simply needed a Pacific Northwest or community theme.
All First Fed team members voted on the entries and “We Believe” by mother-and-daughter team Mary and Jessie Morgan landed the grand prize. Two other submitted songs tied for second place, with all of the winning songwriters being compensated for use of their compositions in celebration of First Fed’s centennial year.
Grand Prize Winner: Mary and Jessie Morgan’s ‘We Believe’
“We wanted to make it fun and upbeat while also capturing the essence of community that together you have created in the last hundred years,” Jessie Morgan wrote in her artist statement. “Congratulations First Fed on your centennial! We are grateful to be a part of it through music.”
“We Believe” edged ahead of the other two songs due to its message of community. However, the song needed to be re-recorded professionally.
“We loved the message, but the production quality needed polish,” says Jennifer Bolton, First Fed Senior Director of Marketing.
The original performer was located out of the state, so local musicians Abby Sill and David Rivers — from Abby Mae and the Hometown Boys — stepped in to learn and perform the song for a new recording. In addition to being a talented vocalist, Sill is also a member of First Fed’s marketing team, so she had a vested interest in creating a high-quality recording.
When Bolton realized that Johnny Bregar, another contestant in the running, was a well-known producer with a Bainbridge recording studio, she recruited him to produce the new, professional recording of “We Believe.” Bregar recorded Sill and River, and then mixed and mastered the song.
“It was a pleasure collaborating with Abby and David,” says Bregar. “They are talented musicians — total pros.”
“Our PNW spirit shines with this amazing collaboration!” said Bolton. “We hope everyone loves this song as much as our team does.”
Second-Place Tie: Jenner Fox and Johnny Bregar’s ‘Upper Left’
“Upper Left” was a collaboration between Bainbridge Island musicians Jenner Fox and the aforementioned Johnny Bregar.
“Upper Left was our first collaboration together,” Bregar says. “Jenner wrote the song specifically for First Fed, but we also wanted something people could enjoy listening to while driving around the peninsula. After it was done, we were like — hey, this is really good!”
Second-Place Tie: Drew Chadwick’s ‘Northernstar’
Tied for second was “Northernstar” by Sequim native Drew Chadwick, a member of Emblem3, which rose to national fame when they competed on The X Factor.
“I wrote these lyrics in my backyard of the house I grew up in, next to a campfire with my best friends,” Chadwick wrote in his artist statement. He also listed out several firsts he experienced in his hometown of Sequim: “Most importantly my first realization of purpose and passion….and my first bank, which happened to be First Fed.”
Chadwick has traveled around the world with his band but his Pacific Northwest roots shine through in his music. “To show everyone in my hometown how much they inspire me and my creative endeavors, gives me the deepest sense of fulfillment and honor,” Chadwick says.
You can listen to all three winning songs at www.ourfirstfed.com/about/community/songwriting-contest.
First Fed is a member FDIC and equal housing lender.
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