Jacques M. Gentil

Jacques is an award-winning songwriter with great ongoing determination for achievements. From his childhood, growing up in a musician family, his father being the composer of the National Anthem of Mauritius, his country of birth, Jacques has done the journey from being in a church choir, winning a TV singing contest, being the lead singer of a pop band, released albums of his own songs in French and in English, toured with a brass band for 4 years, toured the South-Pacific, Indian Ocean, Canada, USA with TV appearances as well as judging singing contests and more.

 

Jacques has collaborated with various famous hit songwriters including Joe Dolce (Shaddap You Face) on a song titled Lynetta on Dolce's 2008 album 'The Wind Cries Mary, a tribute to Hendrix. Jacques also has been commissioned to write a french lyric for a Diane Warren song, published by Realsongs however unreleased as yet. His influences include the 60's pop-rockers which were the Beatles, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, and has continued through the years of listening to pop music to this day.  He heavily studies a variety of hit songwriters and their songwriting techniques. 

 

Jacques runs songwriters workshops online and on-location Australia-wide, and he has been running his own school of songwriting for 15 years helping his students achieve songwriters awards.

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Jacques' accolades include winning various songwriting contest awards as well as the prestigious APRA/ASA* Australian Songwriter of the Year Award in 2013. He is an all-rounder writing for any genre and can accommodate any project. With a passion for Christian gospel music, he happened to have won the spiritual Category in song contest awards, not only 3 times in Australia but also 2 years in a row in 2016 and 2017. However, 2017 also saw him winning the UK Songwriting Contest in the Christian/Faith category as well as just recently winning the Official release category at the UKSC 2021. Jacques is a current member of ASCAP* and of the GISC*. He currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.

 

Jacques was privileged to perform 2 songs together with Karen Guymer at the NRL Games, round 20 (Parramatta Eels V/s West Tigers) at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

 

Awards Won:

Winner of Spiritual category at the 41st National Songwriting Awards (2021)

Winner of  Official Release category  at the UK Songwriting Contest ​ (2021)

Winner of Spiritual category at the 39th National Songwriting Awards (2019)

Winner of Spiritual category at the 38th National Songwriting Awards (2018)

Winner of Christian/Faith category  at the UK Songwriting Contest ​ (2017)

Winner of Spiritual category at the 37th National Songwriting Awards (2017)

Winner of Spiritual category at the 36th National Songwriting Awards (2016)

Winner of the APRA/ASA Australian Songwriter of the Year Award  (2013)

Winner of Spiritual category  at the 33rd National Songwriting Awards (2013)

Winner of Ballad category  at the 33rd National Songwriting Awards (2013 with Karen Guymer)

Winner of Ballad category  at the 32nd National Songwriting Awards (2012 with Rick Hart)

Winner of Instrumental category at Songsalive Australia (2012 with Karen Guymer)

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*APRA - The Australasian Performing Rights Association

*ASA - The Australian Songwriters Association

*ASCAP - American Society of  Composers, Authors, and Publishers

*GISC - The Guild of International Songwriters & Composers

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