Meg Mackey: Photo by Brian Adams

A few weeks ago, Four Points Productions in Seward put out the call for songwriters to submit their best work for the production company’s Alaska Song of the Year competition. The awards ceremony took place Saturday at Seward High School, with the best songs chosen in 14 categories.

The panel of judges included John Damberg, leader of the John Damberg Latin Jazz Quintet and an instructor at UAA; vocalist Monica Lettner; Alaskan singer/songwriter Melissa Mitchell and audio engineer Kurt Riemann. Meg Mackey's "Heaven Explodes" took the overall Judges' Choice Award. Below are their choices for best song in each category.

Alaska Native
"Searching" by Jason Leyva (sole nominee)

Alaskana
"Flat Lands" by Kelsey Shields

Blues
"The Pearl" by Tim Scott

Bluegrass
"Olivia" by Anna Lynch

Country
"Gonna Get Down" by Nellie Clay

Folk
"Take Me There" by Kelsey Shields

Gospel/Inspirational
"Grateful for Your Love" by Melanie Trost

Indie
"Phobia" by Easyhead

Jazz
"Searching Shuffle" by Daryl Hollingsworth

Metal
"MRSA" by Kallahan

Other
"Heaven Explodes" by Meg Mackey

Pop
"By the Way" by Michael Johnson

Rock
"The Fall" by Ivan Night

World
"Birthing Chant-Pomo Bear Chant" by White Eagle Medicine Woman and the Grandmother Drum Ensemble