News March 2, 2021

SongHubs’ all women-identifying and non-binary songwriting sessions wrap up

Back L-R: Chitra, Becki Whitton, Woodes, Lisa Mitchell. Front L-R: WILSN, Beatrice Lewis, Gretta Ray, Tulliah, Keeks; (photo by Jacinta Keefe)

SongHubs’ first-ever all women-identifying and non-binary songwriting sessions in Australia has wrapped up in Melbourne, organisers APRA AMCOS announced.

It was curated by Gretta Ray, a triple j Unearthed winner who took out 1st place in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, and has a debut album set for release this year.

Guest songwriters and producers G Flip, Anna Laverty, Montaigne, KLP and Lisa Mitchell ensured a song was written, produced and recorded each day.

Ray said, “As songwriters, producers, and artists, we have all been through so much in the last year and we miss seeing each other at festivals, gigs and just around, so these four days were all about harnessing our creativity and channeling our experiences into new music together.”

They were joined virtually by internationals Bre Kennedy and Best Original Song Oscar nominee Rosi Golan (for ‘Loyal Brave True’ from Mulan).

In the studio were Victorian creatives Alex Lahey, Beatrice Lewis, Becki Whitton, Chitra, Eilish Gilligan, Evie Irie, Kat Edwards, Keeks, Lucy Sugerman, Ninajirachi, Odette, Tulliah, WILSN and Woodes.

The studio engineers were Bonnie Knight and Gabby Crump.

Originally to be held in July 2020, SongHubs Melbourne finally took place February 23-26 at Fall Back Studios and was produced in partnership with Creative Victoria.

Victorian minister for creative industries Danny Pearson commented, “The SongHubs program has developed a reputation as a hot house for new music, ideas and inspiration – bringing together homegrown songwriters and composers with top international talent.

“This was an incredible group to kickstart the 2021 program. The Victorian government is proud to be part of SongHubs, it’s one of the ways we are supporting the reactivation and recovery of our music industry.

“I look forward to hearing the results up ahead.”

Since SongHubs launched in 2013, over $2.7 million in performance royalties for the initiative’s collaborators has been earned.

The program produced commercial releases for Briggs, Troye Sivan, Tayla Parx, Morgan Evans, Client Liaison, Peking Duk, Tkay Maidza, Ainslie Wills, The Chainsmokers, Guy Sebastian, Ecca Vandal and Kate Miller-Heidke, among others.