Yorkshire teen Lily Finlay wins The BIC® WRITE AND SHINE Songwriting prize with song she wrote when she was 13

Yorkshire teen wins major songwriting prize with song she wrote when she was 13

18 year old Lily Finlay from Wakefield in West Yorkshire has won the inaugural BIC® Write and Shine prize after beating hundreds of songwriting hopefuls with a song she wrote aged 13, two weeks after getting her first guitar and teaching herself to play.

As well as working with a platinum-selling music producer to record her song, Lily will also perform on the main stage at The Big Feastival on Saturday 26 August.

BIC® teamed up with singer/songwriter, 4Music TV host and YouTube star Bethan Leadley, platinum-selling producer Andy Whitmore at London’s Greystoke Recording Studios and The Big Feastival to provide the prize.

The Big Feastival happens every year at Alex James’ farm in The Cotswolds. Also performing Olly Murs, Louisa Johnson, De La Soul, Madness, Betsy, Frances and of course Bethan Leadley.

BIC® is also partnering with The Big Feastival on the festival’s ‘Common Room’ area for teenagers, where there will be songwriting workshops with popular artists, a lyrics wall and plenty of 4 COLOURS™ Shine pens so people can let their creativity shine, plus heaps of other fun activities.

Lily, who has just had her A Level results in Music, Maths and English Literature, which she studied at New College, Pontefract, said it was her dream to make it in the music industry.

“None of my family are musical but I always loved writing songs. I used to follow my mum around when she was doing the gardening, singing her nursery rhymes I’d made up. When I was 12 I asked if I could have guitar lessons and was told we couldn't afford it. Then at Christmas I got a guitar and started teaching myself, I’ve never had lessons,” Lily said.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity, music is my life and I cannot believe I won.”

The BIC® Write and Shine competition asked budding songwriters aged 13 to 24 to hand write their own original song.

A panel of judges, lead by Danny Cope, Curriculum Leader: Popular Music and Songwriting at Leeds College of Music and including BIC representatives and Bethan Leadley, shortlisted the top four songs from hundreds of entries, based on the lyrics alone rather than musical ability. Then a public vote on The My BIC Pen Facebook page determined the ultimate winner.

The other three finalists for the Write and Shine prize - Cara Leach, 19, from Oxfordshire, Olly Carter, 15, from Kent and Violet Spinks, 18, from London - will still get to hang out at The Big Feastival.

About BIC®
BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters, shavers and promotional products. For more than 60 years, BIC has honoured the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication and thanks to everyday efforts and investments, BIC has become one of the most recognised brands and is a trademark registered worldwide for identifying BIC products which are sold in more than 160 countries around the world. In 2016, BIC recorded Net Sales of 2,025.8 million euros. The Company is listed on “Euronext Paris” and is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes. BIC is also part of the following Socially Responsible Investment indexes: CDP’s Climate A List, CDP’s Supplier Climate A List, CDP Supplier Engagement Leader Board, FTSE4Good indexes, Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI) Excellence Europe, Euronext Vigeo – Eurozone 120, Euronext Vigeo – Europe 120, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders Index.