2010 Faculty

Jason Blume will be returning again for 2010 as will a number of our wonderful 2009 Faculty, and we have some new faces joining us for ASC 2010 too. The ASC is committed to a 1:5 ratio of Faculty and attendees - one Faculty pro for every five attendees.

More Faculty confirmations coming soon! Check out our past Faculty Speakers and Mentors [here] to see the callibre you can expect at ASC!

• SPEAKERS
  • Jason Blume
  • Shane Nicholson (Country)
  • Lui Spediliere (Hip Hop)
  • TBA (Pop)
  • TBA (Rock)
  • Di Torossian (Publishing)
  • Jules Munro (Music Law)
    
    
• MENTORS
  • Ross Stagg
  • Toni Koch
  • Lyn Bowtell

• WORKSHOP PRESENTERS
  • Andrea Rieniets (Lyric Workshop)
  • Doreen Van Bree (Singing Workshop)
  • Andrea Szabo (Authentic Self Workshop)
  • Rangimarie Ferguson (Hip Hop Workshop)
    
    
• RECORDING STUDIO / PRODUCTION
  • Sean Rudd
    
    
• PUBLISHERS
  • Robert Case (Old Pants/New Pants Publishing)
  • David Rowley (Rowley Music)

Jason Blume

Key Note Speaker - Main Seminar Facilitator

Jason Blume is one of the few special people who smash the idea that ‘those who can - do, and those who can’t – teach’. Jason does both – exceptionally well.

Jason Blume is one of the few songwriters to ever achieve the distinction of having his songs on Billboard’s Pop, R&B, and Country charts - all at the same time. With his songs recorded by pop superstars Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and Jesse McCartney as well as country stars including Collin Raye, the Oak Ridge Boys and John Berry, Jason’s songs are included on albums that have sold more than 50 million copies!

One of the USA's most respected songwriting teachers, when he is not writing hits, Jason Blume teaches others how to do so. He developed and teaches the BMI Nashville Songwriters workshops and has taught his songwriting techniques as a guest lecturer at U.C.L.A. and Vanderbilt University, as well as a member of the faculty of Los Angeles' Pierce College, Nashville's Watkins Institute, and internationally in Norway, Ireland, Jamaica, Canada, and Mexico. His lessons are used by the Nashville Songwriters Associations members throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information about Jason Blume, visit his website at www.jasonblume.com.

Yup. Here at the ASC, we’re pretty chuffed that Jason is facilitating the main seminars for the Australian Songwriters Conference. He is brilliant, funny, creative and riveting – he’s also an adrenalin junkie, so hang on to your seat and get ready for the ride of your life!

SHANE NICHOLSON
Speaker/Mentor

• Winner - 2008 ARIA Award
  • Best Country Album - “Rattlin’ Bones”.
    
    
• Winner - 2009 APRA Award
  • Country Work Of The Year - “Rattlin’ Bones”.
    
    
• Winner - 5 x 2009 Golden Guitar Awards
  • ALBUM OF THE YEAR
  • SINGLE OF THE YEAR
  • APRA SONG OF THE YEAR
  • VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR - "Rattlin’ Bones"
  • HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM.
    
    
• Nominated - 2009 Americana Music Awards,USA
  • Song Of The Year” - "Rattlin’ Bones".
    
    
• Nominated - 2009 Americana Music Awards, USA
  • “Duo/Group Of The Year” - Shane Nicholson/Kasey Chambers.
    
    
• Nominated - 2009 ARIA award
  • Best Country Album - "Familiar Ghosts".

www.shanenicholson.com

Full bio coming soon.

LUI SPEDILIERE
Speaker

Never did the term “label” seem quite so ironic. In an Australian hip hop scene too often dominated by conservative sounds and aesthetics, Sydney-based label Unda K9 Records defines itself by being just a little less definable than the rest. Hip-hop has always been about the underdog – this is Unda K9 Records.

Founded in 2002 in Crow’s Nest, New South Wales, by flourishing songwriter and producer Lui, Unda K9 Records was intended to be and has steadily become a domicile for artists who, each in their own way, stand apart from the traditional urban soundscape. Providing record production, management and promotion services, Unda K9 Records has developed and built a catalogue of innovative artists under a single banner, creating its own unique sound in the process.

While initially the label’s sound struggled to break onto the airwaves of radio and television despite numerous well-attended shows, Unda K9 Records began to earn widespread national and international attention with the release of the label’s then flagship artist Figgkidd’s debut album What is Figgkidd? And hit lead single ‘I Gotta Know’ featuring US artists Tech N9ne and Red Foo (LMAO). The single peaked at #11 on the ARIA Urban Chart in 2004 – an almost impossible achievement for local hip hop artists at the time – marking the label’s first of many underdog victories.

Such was the unexpected growing success of What is Figgkidd? That, following the merger of Sony and BMG, the album was re-released as This is Figgkidd, featuring new collaborations with DJ Babu (Dilated Peoples) and the late Proof (D12), which went on to spawn two more singles. The album not only represented Unda K9’s growing connections behind the scenes, both at home and abroad, with sound engineering by Richard ‘Segal’ Huredia (Eminem, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Limp Bizkit, etc.) and music video direction by Fat Pizza’s own Paul ‘Pauly’ Fenech and award-winning American Film Director Spencer Susser and New Zealander Ed Davis. With extensive production from Lui herself, ‘What is Figgkidd?’ also showcased the most tracks by a female producer ever featured on an Australian commercial release.

In 2005, Unda K9 Records established another major landmark when Lui founded Park Jam, the first Australian hip-hop festival, at Luna Park, Sydney. The Park Jam concept was the first to bring together all types of hip hop from underground and commercial spheres, including indigenous, alternative and experimental, with headliners such as Digital Underground, Kool Keith & Kutmasta Kurt. The festival was a coup for the Unda K9 philosophy – a philosophy that acknowledges and respects all types of hip hop, whether from Australia, New Zealand or further abroad.

Shortly after the successful re-release of Figgkidd’s debut, Unda K9 Records broke its ties with SonyBmg and set about establishing itself as one of Australia’s leading independent hip hop stables. Teaming up with distribution giant MGM (John Butler Trio, The Waifs, Beautiful Girls) both the label’s roster and fan base has steadily expanded over time. The first release in the newly made relationship with MGM was the widely anticipated, self-titled follow-up to Figgkidd’s own first album. Figgkidd improved upon the first record’s success, thanks in no small part to the popular first single ‘Feel Good’, which featured the unmistakable vocals of the late great James Brown. The single sold 10,000 units over 6 months and hovered in the top five throughout December 2007 on the Independent AIR Charts, before securing the Number One top spot for two consecutive weeks at the beginning of 2008.

Since 2007 Unda K9 has spent the last couple of years developing newly released American raised - Melbourne residing artist Bukkcity, who since signing to the label has won three major independent music awards, before an official album release.

Also calling Unda K9 Records home is Tycotic an upcoming brilliant young emcee from the Central Coast and 13th Son a gifted seasoned local hip hop artists who’s third album will change the way we listen to hip-hop/soul electronica. Exciting things will also be revealed in the scheduled releases from Herb, Syntax (from renowned Brisbane local crew Trace Elements), DirtBox Kings and DJ Crusador. Six years on, the once upstart of the Australian scene has grown into an award-winning brand, recognised for pushing the limits of musical convention.

These are the artists that continue to build the unique Unda K9 sound that is steadily taking over the airwaves.

Of course, no true underdog story would be complete without the underdog coming out on top. For Unda K9, the story so far is just the beginning...

Among the accolades bestowed upon current Unda K9 artists so far are –

• BUKKCITY
  • Winner of the MusicOz Best Urban Award (2008)
  • Winner of the MusicOz Best Urban Award (2007)
  • Winner of the Nokia Urban Song of The Year (2006)
    
    
• FIGGKIDD
  • Winner of the MusicOz Channel V Video Award (2007)
  • Nominated for Urban Music Awards for Best Male Artist (2007)
  • Nominated for Best Hip Hop Single for ‘Feel Good’ (2007)
  • Winner of the inaugural Urban Music Award for Best New Talent (2006)
  • Nominated for Urban Music Award Best Hip Hop Album (2006)
  • Nominated for Urban Music Award Best Male Artist (2006)
  • Winner of the national “New Artist 2 Radio” (2006)
    
    
• DJ EKO
  • Nominated for Urban Music Award Best Australian DJ (2007)
  • Nominated for Urban Music Award Best Australian DJ (2006)

To define hip-hop is to restrict it.

• http://www.myspace.com/undak9

JULES MUNRO - Music Lawyer
Speaker

Jules is a senior solicitor at Simpsons Solicitors and their resident music industry wrangler. Jules was admitted as a solicitor in 1997 and he joined Simpsons in 2002. His client list includes national and international acts, labels and music publishers, as well as representatives from every niche in the local industry: record labels, artists, managers, producers, song writers and DJs. Jules will give a talk on legal matters such as copyright, royalties, industry contracts and co-writing agreements.

Jules Munro provides entertainment industry clients with commercially pragmatic advice, ranging from contract negotiation and drafting to licensing, strategic business and deal structures and litigation. Beyond music, Jules draws clients from the film, television and media industries, as well as clients involved in information technology and intellectual property.

A musician in his own right, Jules' practical and personal experience of the music industry gives him a valuable insight into the concerns of clients in that sector.

He is the President of Music New South Wales, a non-profit association set up to represent, promote and develop the contemporary music industry in New South Wales, Australia (See the website www.musicnsw.com) and an active volunteer lawyer with the Arts Law Centre of Australia, where he provides free legal advice to the members of the Centre in relation to the arts and entertainment industries.

He regularly gives addresses to various bodies on music industry matters, both as a keynote speaker and as a panel member. He is a guest lecturer in Entertainment Law at the Southern Cross University.

Jules is a member of the Copyright Society of Australia and a member of the Australasian Performing Right Association.

ANDREA RIENIETS
Workshop Presenter

Andrea works as a singer; is an awarded writer for theatre; lyricist for opera and contemporary song; composer for concert, circus, drama and dance; musical director for actors and choirs; trainer and educator in using arts for social change; producer of live events and recordings. Andrea will present an introductory session of her "Open Hearted Lyric Writing to Make Extraordinary Songs" and has kindly agreed to stay on for the weekend as a Conference Mentor.

Andrea Rieniets presents an introductory session of her Open Hearted Lyric Writing to Make Extraordinary Songs.

Andrea Rieniets works as a singer; is an awarded writer for theatre; lyricist for opera and contemporary song; composer for concert, circus, drama and dance; musical director for actors and choirs; trainer and educator in using arts for social change; producer of live events and recordings.

Andrea creates beautiful filmic moments wrapped up in music.

‘I approach songs as a composer and sound scores as a songwriter. You know, I think what makes energy really interesting, and music is one of the purest forms of energy, is when it has a contradiction or a counterweight. So I never can seem to make anything flow all one way.  I learnt that from watching the Murray River when I was a kid fishing with my Dad near Tocumwal. When I'm creating music I feel like I’m swimming; navigating the snags and undertows and always looking for the sandbar to relax over! It’s a lovely messy, muscular feeling and why I adore composing so much. Most of my work is commissioned so I use a research-based method of writing; transforming ideas, interviews, long conversations into melting moments. The trick is to be able to access the emotion at any given time. Having been asked how I do this I took some time out to track what I do and came up with the Open Hearted series of workshops to hand it over to others.’

To find out more background on Andrea go to happyhead.com.au/about/

Amongst songwriters Andrea treads a fascinating path, having been awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal for Services to Australian Society through Writing for Theatre, being the first Australian musician to be a guest of the Australian National Antarctic Expeditions on a resupply ship to Macquarie Island and awarded for entrepreneurial activities in arts/business.

Andrea has two labels – Happyhead for her adult contemporary work and Cha Cha Sam - music for big spirited kids and their grownups.

Andrea is a generous and inspired trainer. Her goal is always to get participants to the ‘Ah’ moment in learning.  In this one hour session Andrea will offer a tasting plate of five aspects of her Open Hearted Lyric Writing to Make Extraordinary Songs process.

You’ll get insights into:

1. How to organise your creative personas or attitudes when making up songs so that you have a veritable team of writers inside you power housing through songs!
   
   
2. How to use your body in different ways to access different levels of emotional material.
   
   
3. How to go 3 times as far and get 10 times the emotional impact with your lyrics.
   
   
4. How to apply a little known interview technique to get amazingly honest, clear lyrics.
   
   
5. How to make lyrics that stop people in their tracks.

To hear what past participants have discovered from Andrea listen to the Snapvine recording at happyhead.com.au/category/services/open-hearted-workshops/

Andrea’s introductory session of her Open Hearted Lyric Writing to Make Extraordinary Songs is a beautiful complement to the sessions by Jason Blume.

Andrea is mentoring throughout the weekend and promises a very bad rendition of the beloved Hula from her recent trip to Hawaii. Is nothing sacred? Watch out!

DOREEN VAN BREE
Workshop Presenter

Doreen was a professional singer for over thirty years and has been teaching the art of singing for some twenty years. Doreen will conduct Singing Workshops to help performing songwriters learn more about their vocal ‘instrument’ and how to use it to their best advantage for the long term. Doreen’s workshops are fun, interesting and educational, and all workshop participants will receive a free copy of her booklet “Basic Vocal Exercises For Singers”. Doreen is kindly making herself available at various times during the event as a Conference Mentor.

Born in Holland, Doreen studied classical piano and organ from a very early age, making her debut perfomance at the tender age of ten, playing Clemente's Sonata.

At the age of twelve, Doreen migrated to Austalia with her family, quickly becoming interested in the popular music of the day. During her high school years in Sydney, Doreen performed in many musical stage productions and was organist at St Joseph's Church Edgecliffe. She later moved to Gosford, on the Central Coast just north of Sydney, where she studied singing and formed her own rock 'n' roll band, playing piano and singing.

In 1961, Doreen entered the Miss Australia Quest and was crowned Miss NSW Charity Queen. Around the same time, Doreen made her first appearance on Australian television, on the popular music show "Brian Henderson's Bandstand". Doreen would appear on the show several times, even co-hosting at one point.

Doreen became a professional singer, performing in various clubs in Sydney and on the Central Coast. She began taking on singing students and her abilities as a gifted singing teacher started to become known.

Doreen's love of travel saw her travel around Australia, eventually settling in the northern New South Wales town of Murwillumbah where she was invited to be Musical Director in David Johnstone's musical, "Ghengis", with a cast of over one hundred performers and a fourteen-piece orchestra, which Doreen conducted.

Doreen taught singing at the nearby Tweed Music Academy and in her private studio at Murwillumbah for ten years. She also gained a diploma in Psychology before moving to Brisbane where she taught for a further four years.

Doreen moved back to the Central Coast in 2006 to be closer to family, where she continues to enjoy teaching her vocal techniques to a growing number of students at all levels, both locally and internationally.

Doreen's one hour workshop is designed to introduce non-singers to the art of singing and to give experienced singers a chance to learn something new and enjoy a good vocal workout.

Doreen will be explaining the various parts of the instrument within, and has designed breathing, as well as singing, exercises to strengthen the support system. This is vital for voice improvement and will 'tune' the vocal instrument as a result.

All you need to bring is enthusiasm and the willingness to learn. There will be time for individual attention and a Q&A session at the end of the workshop.

ANDREA SZABO
Workshop Presenter

Warrior at Work: These workshops are intimate focused sessions that make up a 1½ hour component of the conference program. The sessions run concurrently to cover how, as writers/artistic creators, we can keep our selves moving forward in the pursuit of our creativity.

Andrea is committed to raising and equipping people by teaching them the principles of authenticity, valid cognition and motivation.

Andrea is qualified with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Performing Arts and has worked on stage as actress, comedian and singer, with a released CD, for over 20 years. Now the Director of Zenith Productions Andrea also works as a venue consultant, wedding music agent and voice over talent. She has worked on Radio with her own show and has run workshops for over 10 years. She now concentrates on individuals wanting Personal Development with the self devised MANAWA METHOD, Personal Expression Coaching and as a Vocal and Singing Coach. Through her workshops, she has initiated programs for many community groups and has obtained much Federal and Council Funding. She has a sound understanding of community issues, creative process, holistic health and metaphysics and, as an individual in the community, is highly respected as a reliable and professional operator.

More can be found at www.zenithproductions.com.au

RANGIMARIE FERGUSON
Workshop Presenter

Rangimarie aka Ms.eXotic is a prolific songwriter and smooth off the cuff free styler, she has created a much needed niche for herself by inspiring anyone and everyone to not only write their own lyrics but also sing or emcee their message, their truth, their hearts desire or their will for change.

Working these last 6 years up and down the North Coast of NSW spreading and sharing her message and joy of liberating the spoken word.

She has been presenting the love Bites Program ( Building respectful relationship for Youth ), teaching the art of emceeing and with her team recording countless numbers of youth.

She has perfomed in many bands crossing all music styles and hosted many a stage, singing and facilitating shows, like Splendour in the Grass Temple Stage 09, Aussie Battlers Break Dance Event 2005 -2009, Byron Bay Writers Festival etc… she has moved audiences with her very real and honest songs which inspire and educate.

In 09 at the Australian Song Writers Conference she has taken out the Hip Hop award.
Her mission is liberation through the expression of the spoken word everyone can do it.

ROSS STAGG (B ContempMus,BEd,DipAE)
Mentor

Ross Stagg - A popular Mentor at the 2008 ASC, Ross is a full-time Teacher of Songwriting& Performance at TAFE Entertainment, Quakers Hill, Sydney. An A&R man at CBS Records London in the 70’s (before Sony) Ross went on to become a recording artist himself signing firstly to Pye Records as a solo artist and then to EMI UK as singer/writer for Strapps. The band released four albums with a fifth album ‘Strapps Live at the Rainbow Theatre London’ released internationally in Jan 2008. Ross has written across many styles and is currently working on his second musical “Fabulous Nobodies”. He specialises in teaching & mentoring new writers. Ross is brilliant, wise and funny, so grab any opportunity you can to spend time with this wonderful Conference Mentor.

TONI KOCH
Mentor

Toni Koch aka TK Promotions / Pitch-A-Song is a songwriter/artist who became a pioneer in the 1980's for guerrilla marketing techniques as well as street team coordination, online promotion/branding and artist development.

Toni is known for her creative results in "getting the word out" to gain exposure and appeal for her clients. She has worked as an independent promotion consultant or executive administrator with major companies including Evening Star Productions, Clear Channel Entertainment, Disney Publishing, Mattel, Kaiser Permanente, KABC/KLOS Radio and Electronic Arts.

In the 80's and 90's she worked with major record labels (CBS/Columbia/Epic Records, Warner Bros., MCA, RCA, etc.) to break out emerging artists including Sarah MacLachlan, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, K.D. Lang, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, The Hooters, Men at Work, Midnight Oil, Berlin, The Tap Dogs, The Eurhythmics, Bangles, Chrissie Hynde & the Pretenders plus many more indie songwriters.

In 1985 she was awarded "Indie Promoter of the Year" in Phoenix by Soundboard magazine and in 1986 Toni received a platinum record from Columbia Records for club and radio promotion of the song "And We Danced" by The Hooters (Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman.) In 1997 Toni was awarded an original lithograph of the "Lilith Fair" logo as one of only 18 promoters in the U.S. for her promotional support of the first ever women's music oriented tour.

Toni was awarded "Indie Manager of the Year in 2003" by the Indie Music Conference (IMC) in Philadelphia for consistent work done in support of Australia artist gilli moon gaining exposure in the U.S. with indie artist showcases, touring across North America to create a buzz and helping to build Songsalive!, a songwriter organization founded in Australia but now worldwide. Toni will acknowledge she was surprised at the "manager" title but most would agree that's exactly what she does - help manage artists to move forward in their careers.

Based in Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, AZ, Toni still works as a consultant with emerging songwriters and composers to secure "placement" for their music with "Pitch-A-Song", an ongoing series of international panel presentations designed in an effort to provide music makers a vehicle to expose their songwriting to professionals in the new music business. An advocate for the artist or author or entrepreneur, she will continue to blaze trails for increasing revenue streams for those who work with her.

Toni is currently spending a lot of time as Media Relations for COSMO, the Coalition of Songwriters & Music Organizations based in Southern California, www.cosmocoalition.org and is grateful for a full life being surrounded by art, music and such talented people - especially her new friends here at the ASC!

For more information about Toni visit:

• www.myspace.com/tonik
• www.myspace.com/pitchasong
• and Facebook.

LYN BOWTELL
Mentor

Lyn Bowtell is an accomplished singer/songwriter, two time Golden Guitar winner with trio 'Bella' (2004 & 2005), Toyota Star Maker winner (1997), APRA Awards finalist (2007). She has written with industry legends such as Janis Ian, Phil Buckle, Jerry Salley, Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole & Rod McCormack to name a few, recorded with such idols as Jimmy Barnes & Troy Cassar-Daley, released two independent solo albums since her Star Maker win and recorded 'Gravity' with 'Bella', released on Sony/BMG.

Bowtell has toured through Europe and Australia with fellow band members Kate Ballantyne and Karen O'Shea, Asia with James Blundell, and up and down the East Coast of Australia and South Australia.

2009 sees Lyn concentrating on recording her third solo album, with her focus set on 2010 independent release. The album is shaping up to be self-penned, introspective folk/country with a 'live' feel, encompassing the vocal and lyrical sincerity we've come to expect from her. The project will enlist the production skills of long-term band member and friend Sean Rudd. The album will have an “organic”, soulful feel and will be recorded at Peppertone Studios, in the legendary 301 studios in Sydney.

Originating from Toowoomba Queensland, Lyn now resides in Maitland NSW, where she gigs weekly, teaches singing, studies Music at Newcastle University & Conservatorium of Music, and creates her original ‘gems’ at home - at any waking hour!

• http://www.myspace.com/lynbowtell

ROBERT CASE
Publisher

Robert A. Case, President of New Pants Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP) and Old Pants Publishing, Inc (BMI) is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art, Denver, Colorado with an Associates Degree in Business with an emphasis in Music and Video Business. He completed studies at Community College of Denver in Business Administration and Marketing. In the last 15 years Robert has had extensive experience in the day-to-day operations of the Company including artist management, contracting, marketing, financing, scheduling tour and event administration, travel, production and distribution and film and TV music placement.

With his wealth of experience and knowledge, we are very pleased that Rob is joining us this year as both a Publisher for the pitch sessions and a Conference Mentor for the weekend.

• Old Pants Publishing
• New Pants Publishing

DAVID ROWLEY
Publisher

In 1984 David Rowley left a promising career in journalism and moved to London from Sydney, Australia, thus starting a 25 year long career in the music business and causing his parents heartbreak.

Since then heπs lived in four different countries (the UK, Denmark, Sweden and now ≠ after a 24 year long hiatus - Australia again) and during that time has been a Countdon Magazine's London correspondent, a professional musician with a UK record deal, label executive, label owner, publisher and consultant (sometimes all at the same time).

Most of the past decade has been spent specialising in and working closely with writer/producers and the placement of songs with third parties, first as co-owner of Air Chrysalis Denmark, then as head of A & R at Air Chrysalis Scandinavia in Stockholm, Sweden and then later as consultant for a bunch of different publishers such as Stage Three, Chrysalis UK, US and Scandinavia, Denise Rich Songs. Shapiro Bernstein and now as owner of Rowley Music.

In a good year David places around 100 tunes around the planet and has the signing and placement of songs on many millions of records to his credit.

When not travelling the world seeking song placement opportunities, hooking up co-writes, pitching songs and deseminating information to writers and publishers, David likes to kick back with a piccolo and gaze blankly out over Rushcutters Bay Park. He is married with one son, who he's desperately discouraging from a future in music, though it seems to be a losing battle.

rowleymusic.com