Zac Griffith at the 2021 NZ Gold Guitar Awards. Photo: Gold Guitar Awards
A love song written by a teenager who has never fallen in love has won him the Gold Guitar Awards and an armful of other category wins.
Nelson's Zac Griffith took out the senior final of New Zealand's top country music competition in Gore on Sunday.
The 18-year-old wrote My River Runs To You about a break-up, but admits he has never been in love.
Griffith also scooped the gospel, male vocal solo, new country, New Zealand song and country rock sections.
Nelson teen's love song wins 2023 Gold Guitar awards
He told RNZ the win came as a surprise.
"I never expected this much, or anything really," Griffith said. "There was a lot of talent there this weekend and I was just pretty grateful to be named among them."
He has been singing and performing for the last ten years, but said the Gold Guitar win was the "top, top thing to do - so it's pretty exciting."
Griffith was inspired to write his prize-winning song after attending a show by fellow-New Zealand country singer-songwriter Jenny Mitchell.
"I went to one of her shows and she plays all original music and I came home feeling inspired," he said.
"I dunno where the idea came from - but yeah a break-up song came out and that was the song."
And My River Runs To You certainly tugged the heartstrings of the Gold Guitar judges.
Describing himself as an "off the cuff person when it comes to music", Griffith said he did not usually feel nervous before performing - until last night.
"I did get nervous, I normally don't get nervous cos I just go up there and I just love performing," he said.
"It was the first time I got properly nervous, but I think that was a good thing."
As part of his prize package Griffith would record his original song as well as performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in New South Wales in January.