Listen-up would-be songwriters — and Gavin DeGraw fans, too. The pop singer/songwriter is heading up Folgers’ competition for aspiring song- writers to create a new version of the coffee company’s jingle, “The Best Part of Wakin’ Up is Folgers in Your Cup,” which nets the winner $25,000. But don’t expect DeGraw to add his take on the tune. He is more of a mentor.
“My role is to inspire people to get involved, take a chance, because at some point I was also undiscovered and looking for every opportunity to have someone hear me,”?he says. “This is a great opportunity for someone who hasn’t been seen yet.”
DeGraw knows all about the career boost being attached to a brand offers. His song “I Don’t Want To Be,” was chosen as the theme song to the show “One Tree Hill.”
“That was my lucky break,”?he says. “I had released my album and it was doing well, but the opportunity of having your voice heard on a platform like that, there’s great odds that millions of people will hear it.”
The boost did help his 2003 debut, “Chariot,” sell more than a million copies.
And DeGraw is still soundtracking: “I wrote a lovely song with my friend Colbie Caillat,” he says of “We Both Know,” which will be in Nicholas Sparks’ latest movie adaptation, “Safe Haven,” (out on Valentine’s Day and starring Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel).
But that’s not all.
“I’m pretty deep into the next album already. I’ll be writing a lot here in Los Angeles. I was in Miami producing a couple of songs for it. I’ll be doing more in Nashville. It’s good to stay busy, right?”
Whoa, did they say $25k?
The Folgers Jingle Contest runs through March 6. Entries are judged based on creativity, originality and musical performance. The top 10 finalists will be posted at Folgers.com/jingle, ready for nationwide voting May 15-June 19.
