Delta Charlesworth has two songs listed in the Top 30 in the youth category, with winners announced on November 22 – the last youngest nominee was age 13.

The lyrics and melody to “Sweet Dreaming” and “I Want More” were both thought up by the youngster, who recorded them with the help of Dapto producer DJ Szabo (who recently remade a Daryl Braithwaite classic). 

The accompanying music videos were produced through a school holiday program plus a little help from her brother and dad.

Mum Melinda said she was so excited for Delta, who would wander around the house singing as soon as she could talk and began lessons at age four.

“It’s all her, she drives the process. If she wants to do something we try and create opportunities for her to do it but we’re not sort of pushing her into it, we don’t want her to do it if it’s not fun,” Mrs Charlesworth said.

“When she goes into the recording studio she sings the song with the tune she has come up with and the producer helps … and gradually adjust it until what’s in her head is laid down as a track.”

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ASA director Clare Burgess said it was rare for children under 10 to feature in the Top 30 of a category, while each usually receives around 500 entries.

“The Top 10 are selected from this elite group, and then saluted at the National Songwriting Awards. This is a glamorous sit-down dinner, where the category winners ... receive their prizes and play their winning songs, APRA hands out $3,000 to their Songwriter of the Year, PPCA chips in $500 for the best live performance, and a Maton Guitar is given to the most worthy ASA Member,” Ms Burgess said.

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Previous winners have included The Easy Beats, Brian Cadd, The Little River Band, The Angels, Richard Clapton, Garth Porter, Ross Wilson, Steve Kilbey, Kate Ceberano, Andrew Farris and the late Michael Hutchence.

Song craft, quality of the melody and lyrics are the main criteria judges look at.