Mike Sciachitano entered the International Songwriting Competition, then forgot about it—until he got a surprise email.
“We had basically forgotten we entered,” said Diane Sciachitano, his wife and musical partner in The Shockitanos. “Then Mike got an email saying, ‘Congratulations, you won first place in Americana/Country.’”
Skeptical at first, Mike recalled entering their song Make It Sweet and later received a congratulatory call from the contest organizers. The competition, judged by renowned musicians like Nancy Wilson, Tom Waits, and Tanya Tucker, gave them valuable feedback on their song.
For the Kearney-based duo, the win was an exciting milestone. “It’s the first time our music has gotten attention beyond Nebraska,” Diane said. Their judge, an accomplished songwriter from New York, praised their work. “Knowing someone outside our local circle appreciates it makes us want to take the next step,” she added.
Diane wrote Make It Sweet about her father, who passed away when she was five. “The first verse is based on real memories, but the rest imagines what he might have said to me throughout my life,” she shared. Mike, who had the song’s musical hook in his head for decades, provided the composition.
Their songwriting process is deeply collaborative. “I don’t write lyrics, but Diane brings words to my music,” Mike said. “We just needed each other.” Over time, they developed a musical shorthand, balancing creativity and compromise. “We butt heads sometimes,” Mike admitted, “but we don’t go to bed angry.”
