Songwriting is hard graft. Only amateurs think it is easy, the ones who have their eye on the quick money. But few of their efforts will become standards, sung by countless others, cherished for their melody, message, wit, or emotion.

The Songwriter’s Choice series on AudioCulture asks New Zealand songwriters – many of them up-and-comers – to name 10 songs they admire that are written by other New Zealanders. Their reasons can be various: it can be the melody, lyric, emotion, arrangement, hook, structure, a chord change, or just a personal response. The writers love talking about the craft; the hardest part is whittling down their choices to a playlist of just 10 favourites. We want contributors to have fun sharing their selections, while encouraging readers to think about the art of songwriting.

The world needs more great songs, especially in this era when creators rage against the A.I. machine. The Songwriter’s Choice columns demystify the process but also keep the magic alive; they link the past with the present, and the future.