---
title: "Mike’s Musings: The Collective Magic of Play It Strange"
description: Discover the magic of Play It Strange as Mike Chunn reflects on the evolution of New Zealand's youth songwriting competition and its impact on emerging artists.
image: https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/hubfs/DEN_104-_Luke_Van_Wyk_Auckland_New_Zealand_9.jpg
---

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 Nov 5, 2026, 9:31:00 AM

# Mike’s Musings: The Collective Magic of Play It Strange

[Mike Chunn](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/author/mike-chunn)

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Mike’s Musings: The Collective Magic of Play It Strange

5:54

![DEN\_Cameron\_Beattie\_Auckland\_New\_Zealand\_33](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/DEN_Cameron_Beattie_Auckland_New_Zealand_33.jpg?width=930&height=620&name=DEN_Cameron_Beattie_Auckland_New_Zealand_33.jpg)

Photo Credit: @denslens.co.nz 

The recent Play It Strange annual showcase was a victorious event where original songs, stage craft, personification, colour, literary rapture and musical arrangements forged a collective sweep of what is, in fact, a sweeping assembly of joy.

![DEN\_104-\_Luke\_Van\_Wyk\_Auckland\_New\_Zealand\_9](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/DEN_104-_Luke_Van_Wyk_Auckland_New_Zealand_9.jpg?width=462&height=616&name=DEN_104-_Luke_Van_Wyk_Auckland_New_Zealand_9.jpg)

Photo Credit: @denslens.co.nz 

It was, in reality, all about people. People? Indeed! The discovery palette of Play It Strange is powerful and unique and as such, it holds fast with surety and vigor.

 

To all who played a part - a huge salute is in play. Thank you.

 

[Read more about the showcase here!](https://writesaidpaul.com/home/blog/7868343/play-it-strange-annual-showcase-2026) 

 

[Music](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/music), [Song Writing](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/song-writing), [Performance](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/performance)

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[Music](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/music), [Song Writing](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/song-writing), [Performance](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/performance)

## [Mike’s Musings: It’s All About People, The Heart of Play It Strange](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-musings-its-all-about-people-the-heart-of-play-it-strange)

[Mike Chunn](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/author/mike-chunn) 

 Oct 12, 2026, 12:52:07 PM

Some years ago, I received a phone call from one Al Brown. A renowned restaurateur, he had started...

[Read more](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-musings-its-all-about-people-the-heart-of-play-it-strange)

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[Music](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/music), [Song Writing](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/song-writing), [Performance](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/performance)

## [Mike’s Musings: The Magic of Play It Strange](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-musings-the-magic-of-play-it-strange)

[Mike Chunn](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/author/mike-chunn) 

 Oct 5, 2026, 11:58:12 AM

As the 2026 annual Play It Strange Awards function edges towards reality; the truth of this year’s...

[Read more](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-musings-the-magic-of-play-it-strange)

[![](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/studio%20PIS.png?height=200&name=studio%20PIS.png)](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-musings-the-journey-of-a-song)

[Music](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/music), [Song Writing](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/song-writing), [Performance](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/tag/performance)

## [Mike’s Musings: The Journey of a Song](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-musings-the-journey-of-a-song)

[Mike Chunn](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/author/mike-chunn) 

 Oct 1, 2026, 2:44:13 PM

A participant in one of the Play It Strange songwriting competitions, which are run nationwide...

[Read more](https://info.playitstrange.org.nz/mikes-musings/mikes-musings-the-journey-of-a-song)

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---

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