r-H (Rajesh Hardwani) was not just the only Singaporean finalist at the 2004 International Songwriting Competition (ISC), but also the first and only finalist in the history of the ISC to have more than one entry.

r-H submitted 2 songs, ‘SUSHI’ and ‘CRACK’.  ‘SUSHI’ was placed 2^nd in the Dance/Electronica category and ‘CRACK received an honorable mention.

Razali Abdullah, a journalist with the TODAY paper (Singapore), spoke to the founder and CEO of the ISC, Candace Avery.  Candace had this to say of r-H’s success at the 2004 ISC,  "The aspect of his song that really impressed the judges is its creativity. In a musical climate where there is so little risk-taking, the song Sushi is refreshing in its originality. With over 11,000 entries from 77 countries, winning ISC is a tremendous accomplishment for an artist."

ISC, called “the songwriting competition to take note of” by the New York Times, received over 11,000 entries from 77 countries in its third year. From the West African kora player to the rock band in Russia to the Canadian fiddler with Acadian roots to the pop artist from Los Angeles…ISC entrants represent a truly international cultural span.  ISC prizes include more than $100,000 (USD) in cash and merchandise and are shared by 50 winners in 16 categories. 

Judges for the 2004 competition included many of the music industry’s top executives and recording artists: Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Sean "P. Diddy" Combs; Aaron Lewis (Staind); John Ondrasik (Five For Fighting); Bo Diddley; Clint Black; David Hidalgo (Los Lobos); Branford Marsalis; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Peter Furler (Newsboys); Taj Mahal; Sully Erna (Godsmack); Macy Gray; Stacey Earle; Scott Kirkland (The Crystal Method); Michael Gudinski (Chairman, Mushroom Group of Companies); Alan Meltzer (CEO, Wind-Up Records); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP Gospel/Urban Music, Sony Records); Michael McDonald (President, ATO Records); Tracy Gershon (Sr. Dir A&R/Artist Dev, Sony Records Nashville); Chris Parr (VP of Music Programming & Talent Relations, CMT); Peter Asher (Co-President, Sanctuary Artist Management); Kim Stephens (VP A&R, Lava Records); Barbara Sedun (VP Creative, EMI Music Publishing Canada) and Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People).