The South Plains Songwriter Contest is for aspiring talent in the West Texas area. The event is sponsored by SPC’s Commercial Music Department, and the winner of the contest is featured during Fest Week in the Tom T. Hall Studio.  

Each artist is asked to produce an original song which is judged by a panel of professional songwriters. Only one of the top five candidates wins an award and has the opportunity to perform their song for a Cactus Theatre show and access to recording time at a professional recording studio.  

Garcia says that being surrounded by a musical family inspired him to pursue songwriting. “As a kid growing up, I was always surrounded by music with my family being in bands. I'm always listening to music and one day I thought I want to make my own music and that’s when I started telling my story through lyrics,” said Garcia.  

Garcia was surprised when he was announced as the winner of his division. “Honestly, I didn’t think that I was going to win. There were a lot of artists that were country and bluegrass, I was the one that stood out.”  

Garcia believes that participating in the SPC Competition will help propel his music career. “I will be able to get better quality music with the recording studio time that I won. I’m excited that I get to open for someone at the Cactus Theatre show. I feel like that will get my music more recognition.”  

Garcia encourages any students who are interested in producing music to give it their all. “Don't care what anybody else thinks, because there's always going to be people that hate and there's always going to be people that are trying to make you better.”  

Garcia plans to study Commercial Music at South Plains College after graduation this spring.