Out of thousands of entries, Digital Audio Technology senior, Daniel Codella, was selected as one of three finalists in the Electronic category in the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Session 1.

His entry, Something to Exist For – a harmonic and haunting exploration of how a relationship can change from love to indifference and the inherent anguish the process creates – is the title track to the newest album from his band, Polare.

Daniel and a childhood friend formed the band when he was 16. Since then they signed with a small Las Vegas label and released an album on iTunes called Lovestage. Polare draws crowds whenever it plays throughout the Bay Area.

“I was going for something dramatic, epic and tragic,” said Daniel. “I wanted the song to feel almost like a movie soundtrack. Hopefully listeners will be able to relate to it in some way and attach their own story to it. My goal is to compose music for film.”

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international contest that began in 1997 and is open to amateur and professional songwriters. Entries are judged on originality, melody, composition and lyrics. The Executive Committee of Judges included D12, Bob Weir, Robin Gibbs of the Bee Gees, The Black Eyed Peas, The Bacon Brothers, The Veronicas and John Legend.


Polare concert at Cogswell, December 2007
September 17, 2008