Songwriting Festival 2026
Songs of Diversity II
“I Believe”
Every voice has a story. Every story deserves to be heard.
What do you believe in? Your dreams, your identity, your community, or your ability to make a difference? Write an original song about it and share your voice.
Submit your original song by 15 November 2026 to stand a chance of having your work featured at the Enabling Lives Festival on 28 & 29 November 2026! All submissions remain open until 31 December 2026.
About the festival
A festival for every voice
Songs of Diversity II invites persons with disabilities to express their beliefs, experiences and aspirations through original songwriting. Members of the public can join in by writing a song together with a person with disabilities, and organisations are welcome to take part too.
Whether you are an experienced musician or have never written a song before, this is your chance to share your voice, celebrate diversity and inspire others through music. You do not need a music background to take part.
Let’s bring out our stories and voices, and tear down the barriers of songwriting.
Who can take part
- Persons with disabilities
- Members of the publicWriting together with a person with disabilities
- Organisations
No music background needed.
The theme
What do you believe in?
Your song can be about anything meaningful that you believe in. A few places to start:
Dreams and aspirations
What you hope for, and what you are working towards.
Strength and overcoming challenges
The hard days, and what carried you through them.
Friendship, family and community
The people who shape you and stand beside you.
Acceptance and inclusion
Being seen, being welcomed, and welcoming others.
Diversity and belonging
What makes us different, and what brings us together.
Your own story
Something you believe in that only you can tell.
How to take part
Five steps to enter
- 1
Write an original song
Create a new song, with your own melody and lyrics, on the theme "I Believe".
- 2
Record a complete demo
2 to 5 minutes long, with vocals and an instrument or backing track. MP3 or WAV.
- 3
Prepare your lyrics and summary
The complete lyrics, plus 50 to 100 words on what inspired the song and what you want it to say.
- 4
Declare any use of AI
Tell us if AI was used anywhere in making your entry, and check your song meets the rules below.
- 5
Submit your entry
Upload your song, lyrics and details through our online form before 31 December 2026, 11:59 pm. It is free to enter.
Before you submit
Submission checklist
Song demo
- 2 to 5 minutes long
- An original song that has not been released before
- Your own original melody and lyrics
- A complete demo, with vocals and an instrument or backing track
- MP3 or WAV format
- Up to 200 MB
Lyrics
- The complete lyrics of your song
- A PDF, Word or TXT file, up to 10 MB
Song summary
- 50 to 100 words
- What inspired you to write this song?
- What message do you wish to convey with your song?
AI declaration
- Declare any use of AI in creating your entry
- AI may help with accessibility and technical work, but must not create any part of the lyrics or music
- Entries that do not disclose AI use may be disqualified
Ready to submit?
Upload your song, lyrics and details through our online form by 31 December 2026, 11:59 pm. You will get an email confirming we have received your entry.
Rules
Rules and regulations
Songs of Diversity II is organised by MS Academy Pte. Ltd. (“the Organiser”). The key rules are below. Please read them before you submit — entries that do not meet them may be disqualified.
- Originality
- Entries must be original, previously unreleased songs with both melody and lyrics.
- Previous releases
- Songs already released on sharing platforms, or that have won past competitions, are not eligible.
- Appropriate content
- No inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, defamatory, blasphemous or offensive material, including discriminatory content targeting protected groups.
- Plagiarism
- Plagiarised entries, or entries that breach the rules, may be disqualified. Entrants are responsible for any legal disputes arising from their submissions.
- AI disclosure
- All AI use must be declared. Undisclosed use may result in disqualification.
- Limits on AI
- AI must not create any part of the lyrics, melody, composition, arrangement or vocals. It may help with accessibility and technical work, such as speech-to-text, mixing and mastering.
- Proof of authorship
- The Organiser may ask for evidence such as lyric drafts, revision history, songwriting notes, voice memos, notation, DAW session files or project files.
- Selection
- The Organiser has the final decision on eligibility, selection and results.
- Rule changes
- The Organiser may amend the terms and rules. Material changes will be published on this page.
Planning to use any technology in making your song? Read the full guidelines on the use of AI.
Please read
Ownership of shortlisted songs
If your song is shortlisted for production, you will transfer full ownership of it to MS Academy Pte. Ltd. Songs that are not shortlisted stay yours.
Read the full ownership and intellectual property clause
Upon the shortlisting of a song for production, the songwriter shall irrevocably assign and transfer to the Organiser all rights, title and interest in and to the song, including its lyrics, musical composition and melody, together with all associated intellectual property rights, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Such assignment shall entitle the Organiser to reproduce, arrange, adapt, modify, record, perform, publish, distribute, broadcast, communicate to the public, create derivative works from, and otherwise use or exploit the song in any media or platform, whether existing now or developed in the future, for promotional, educational, commercial and other purposes as determined by the Organiser.
The songwriter agrees to execute any further documents and take any reasonable steps required to give effect to the assignment. Songs that are not shortlisted for production shall not be subject to the ownership transfer under this clause.
After you submit
What happens next
Every entry is reviewed. These opportunities are selection-based, so not every entry will be chosen.
The I Believe album
Selected songwriters will be contacted about having their work featured on the I Believe music album.
Perform live
Submit by 15 November 2026 and your song could be featured at SG Enable's Enabling Lives Festival on 28–29 November 2026.
Watch and listen to Build Bridges
Curious how last year went? Read about Build Bridges, the winning song from Song of Diversity 2025.
Songs of Diversity II is part of our Songwriting Festival on 28–29 November, with panel sharing, songwriting workshops and free live performances. See the festival programme.
Questions?
Get in touch
Enquiries8020 4855
contact@musicsolutions.com.sg
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