What is the quintessential song of North Carolina? Now, there’s a question that will get you a diverse array of answers. There’s the standard and tired refrain: “Carolina in My Mind;” the indie anthems: “Web in Front,” “Slack Motherfucker;” the historically relevant, yet mostly inaccurate: “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” But it appears that if you ask the editorial department at Our State, the Tar Heel State glossy culture magazine, they’ll tell you that North Carolina’s quintessential ode has yet to be penned.

At least that’s the premise behind the publication’s new songwriting competition. To quote the magazine’s website: “Our State is looking for the quintessential North Carolina song by inviting singer/songwriters to submit their entries in the first-ever Carolina Songs: Singer/Songwriter Competition.” It’s unlikely their search will yield any definitive results given that criterion, but the contest itself is well-structured with a panel of judges that know what they’re talking about when it comes to writing music in the Carolinas. In addition to Our State editor Elizabeth Hudson, Carolina Chocolate Drop Rhiannon Giddens, Chatham County Line main man Dave Wilson, Yep Roc Records founder Glenn Dicker and longstanding Triad singer Laurelyn Dossett will judge the entries.

All genres will be considered with entries accepted through Sept. 30. The winner will get a $500 cash prize in addition to production of the song in a professional recording studio and the opportunity to perform the winning song at an Our State event and be featured the magazine’s website. You can find out more about the competition right here. —Jordan Lawrence