The Magic of Songwriting with Francesca de Valence

We chat with Vika & Linda at the 2023 Whitsundays Songwriter Festival, to shine a light on their journey as artists and songwriters - from singing with The Black Sorrows, to discovering their artistic sound as a duo, finding the songs to record for their first album, and how they started writing songs as established artists. Timestamp:2:27 - Exploring Song Selection for Albums4:47 - The Evolution of Choosing Songs6:59 - Diverse Sounds and Genre Experimentation9:08 - The Gospel Album Journey12:07 - Refining Song Choices Over the Decades12:40 - Entering the World of Songwriting15:27 - The Rolodex and Collaborations15:54 - Listening to Demos and Musical Intuition18:05 - Authenticity Over Spit and PolishAbout Vika & Linda: Vika & Linda have enjoyed a remarkable musical journey over the past 3 decades. After three classic albums with The Black Sorrows, Melbourne’s Bull sisters, Vika & Linda released eight studio albums, two live albums and a chart-topping anthology. They have also sung on number one albums by Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers and John Farnham, done gigs for the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and the King of Tonga, and been nominated for six ARIA Awards. Contact Vika & Linda: Website / Facebook / Instagram This episode was recorded at the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / InstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.

Not every songwriter will get a publishing deal, so we pose some questions to Mark Sholtez that may help songwriters understand how they can succeed as a songwriter without a music publishing deal.  Having had success both as a published and self-published songwriter, Mark offers invaluable insights to this question.Timestamp:3:00 - What is an essential element of being a songwriter?5:25 - Tips for getting in a room with other artists8:06 - What does having a publisher mean for a songwriter and is it still necessary to have a publisher?10:40 - How can you make the most of your publishing deal if you’re not an artist?12:25 - What quality of demos do you need for pitching your songs to artists?13:39 - Mark shares the key steps that enabled him to get his publishing deal About Mark Sholtez: Mark Sholtez is an ARIA nominated and APRA award-winning songwriter and recording artist currently signed to EMI Music Publishing Australia. He was the first Australian artist to record for the legendary Verve record label in New York, and his career to date has included collaborations with music industry icons including Tommy LiPuma (Barbra Streisand, George Benson, Miles Davis), Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient and noted veteran engineer Al Schmitt (Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson), multiple Grammy winning producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Tracy Chapman), as well as internationally renowned artists and songwriters including Don Walker (Cold Chisel), The Veronicas, Iain Archer (Snow Patrol), Troy Cassar-Daley, and Wendy Mathews. Contact Mark Sholtez: Website / Facebook / Instagram This episode was recorded at the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / InstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.

Music publishing is an area of the music industry that is complex and hard to get a handle on so we ask publisher and 2019 Billboard International Power Player, Rachel Kelly all the hard questions: What is a music publisher? How do they support songwriters? And do you really need a publishing deal? This episode is a solid overview of music publishing and how they can support songwriters.Timestamp: 4:45 - What does a publisher do?8:50 - How do publishers pitch songs to artists?15:00 - We talk selling songs vs selling catalogues19:35 - Pitching for Sync vs Pitching for A&R Cuts 26:00 - Examples of publishing deals 33.50 - How to get a publishing deal?About Rachel: With over 20 years’ experience in music publishing, Rachel Kelly has held executive roles at both major and independent publishers including Downtown, BMG Rights Management, J Albert & Son (Alberts) and Warner/Chappell.  In 2019 Rachel was named as a Billboard International Power Player. She served for two years as a board member for the Australasian Music Publishers Association (AMPAL) and mentor for Women in Music. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / InstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.

Welcome to Season 6 of the Magic of Songwriting Podcast. This season is all about songwriting opportunities - from publishing deals, pitching your songs to artists, co-writing, sync opportunities and more. By the end of this season, our hope is that you will have a greater understanding of how songwriters can grow their careers, networks, and opportunities. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

The idea of playing your music on a stage at a key industry event somewhere in the world can sound alluring, but showcasing can be a big financial investment and should be part of a much bigger picture growth strategy for you as an artist. How do you know if the time is right for you to showcase and what’s involved? Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

To shed light on the intricacies of the PR landscape, the potential impact of publicity on your release, and what you can realistically anticipate, we spoke with a PR expert, Genna Alexopoulos. This episode offers valuable insights for artists navigating the complex PR decision-making process and the impact of the multifaceted PR world on the artistic journey.Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.About Genna Alexopoulos: Genna Alexopoulos is the founder of Super Duper, a Melbourne-based music publicity and consulting company. Genna has led PR strategy for artists including Alex the Astronaut, Camp Cope, Jaguar Jonze and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, and programs with Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall, National Geographic, Zoos Victoria, Taronga Zoo and more. Contact Genna here.Timestamp:4:45 - What is a publicist and what is PR?7:40 - The importance of correctly positioning the pitch12:10 - Telling people what is happening is not bragging13:54 - How do artists and PR teams connect?21:18 - Is PR worth the money it costs?29:03 - What can an artist do to be their own PR agent?Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

Viv Mellish, founding partner from GYROstream, shares how independent artists can best use their digital distribution service and power up their digital marketing game to make the most of release day and reach as many people as possible.Viv mentions Every Noise At Once as a tool to help you get clear on your genre. Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.About Viv Mellish: Viv Mellish is a founding partner and CMO at independent, Queensland-based digital music distribution and artist services companies, GYROstream and DistroDirect. Viv oversees GYROstream and DistroDirect's global marketing and A&R strategy as well as the wider artist promotions team across DSPs, PR and Digital Marketing. Viv has previously held marketing, communications and PR roles in a range of sectors including music, the Commonwealth Games, politics, theatre and film. She is also on the board of QMusic, Queensland’s peak music industry body which also oversees events such as the QMAs and BIGSOUND. Contact Gyrostream here.Timestamp:2.00 - What a music distribution company does and how to get your music onto streaming sites 9.00 - Metadata, DSP backends and choosing your genre13:30 - Your release checklist 18:00 - How a pre-save campaign can impact release day 26.25 - Paid digital advertising - when and when not to use it 29:50 - Release day and post release campaign insights Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

In this industry conversation with Michael Parisi, we look at how he took Celia Pavey from a third-place finish on The Voice to Aussie pop sensation Vera Blue. If you’re still developing your artistic sound and look, or evolving it to the next level, check out this conversation for some practical and inspiring tips to create your unique artist brand. Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.About Michael Parisi: Michael Parisi is one of Australia's most renowned A&R people: an acknowledged master of finding and nurturing raw talent and connecting it to successful outcomes. In more than 30 years in all facets of the global music business, the artists he has signed have accounted for sixteen #1 albums and 15 million album sales. From REM and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Muse, Kylie Minogue, and the Whitlams, Michael has helped to forge the musical landscape of the last 30 years. Today, his management, music publishing, and recording and consultancy connections span from The Voice in Australia to the world's largest music conglomerate, Universal Music. Check out Parisi’s podcast, Vinyl Tap here.Timestamp:04:31 - Understanding exactly what A&R is 07:31 - What are A&R reps looking for initially these days? 08:21 - What about the music? 08:50 - Understanding your expectations as an artist 10:04 - How to develop your sound and personality 14:10 - Making a mood board for the visual aspects of your act 18:40 - None of this matters without a strong work ethic 23:30 - Getting a publishing deal Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

In this industry conversation with music media stalwart Stephen Green, we tackle the question of what marketing is from a macro viewpoint as well as best practices for pitching to media outlets and radio, and how artists can focus their marketing efforts on where it counts most and for maximum impact. Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.About Stephen Green: Stephen Green is the CEO of The Music Press, which runs four of Australia's most vital music media outlets, TheMusic.com.au, Purple Sneakers, Kill Your Stereo and Countrytown, speaking to nearly half a million music fans every month. Stephen also runs communications company SGC Media and Radio Monitor, Australia's key B2B airplay statistics platform. Stephen has been working in music media and marketing for over 25 years, with his businesses spearheading campaigns for the likes of Gurrumul, Sheppard, Fire Fight Australia, BIGSOUND, Queensland Music Trails and more. He's also a Dad, husband, vinyl collector, political campaigner and music industry advocate.
Timestamp:2:45 - You never know who the next big songwriting or artist is going to be 6:53 - This is what makes a great song 10:30 - How an enhanced fan opportunity created different audience dynamics on Hansen’s tour 13:50 - How emotional connection to a song is enhanced by key events in your life 16:00 - Choosing songs is part of the marketing strategy 23:40 - Big marketing mistake artists make 36:05 - What works well when doing your own pitching and publicity54:00 - Why marketing services cost so muchGet your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

It’s not what you know, it's who you know. If you struggle with networking at music industry events, then be empowered and guided with a few simple tips to help you to stay grounded, present and balanced so that you can build quality relationships for your career.Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

What does a record label do? How do I get a record label deal? And what are some ways that I can get my songs out to the world without a label? To answer these questions, we chat with Sweetie Zamora, Head of Labels & Promotions at Remote Control Records. Sweetie shares about the role labels play in an artists’ career and what artists should be focusing on regardless of having a label deal or not.Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Timestamp:3:13 - What does a record label do?7.40 - How artists who are not signed can take strong steps forward12:50 - How to be authentic in your marketing endeavours  17:10 - Some pathways for radio promotion in Australia19:26 - What does a label deal look like?23:00 - How does a label make their money?24:54 - How to approach labels that you want to work with?About Sweetie Zamora:Sweetie is the Head of Labels & Promotions at Remote Control Records, and board member of the Australian Independent Record Label’s Association. With over a decade at Remote Control, Sweetie has delivered multiple ARIA #1 Albums, as well as Gold and Platinum sellers for the likes of Adele, Courtney Barnett, Radiohead, Queens Of The Stone Age, and more, as well as guiding the careers of beloved local artists including Ngaiire, Donny Benet, Memphis LK, Carla Geneve, and many others. In early 2021, she founded Pointer Recordings, her own label imprint, home to Telenova, Glenn Hopper, Jamaica Moana and a number of other genre-bending artists. Check out some of the Remote Control Records artists here.Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

Do I need a music manager? When do I need a manager? What does a manager really do? And until I have one, how can I effectively manage myself as an artist? To answer these questions, we chat with Simone Ubaldi, co-director of Sundowner Artists and co-manager of internationally acclaimed, three-time ARIA award winning band, Amyl and The Sniffers. In this conversation, Simone clearly articulates the role of a manager and offers valuable insights on how to build a team. Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Timestamp:5.17 - What is a manager and what do they do?7:40 - What is a good next team player for an artist after a manager?9.44 - How do you build an artist’s team as a manager?13.26 - What are some of the daily activities of a manager?18.35 - Why be a music manager? The pros and cons. 25:25 - How do you get the music industry to pay attention to what you’re doing?About Simon Ubaldi:Simone Ubaldi was named the Australian Association of Artist Managers’ inaugural ‘Manager of the Year’ in 2022 and won the 2023 Lighthouse Award celebrating Australia’s female and non-binary managers. Simone has pursued, developed and managed The Sniffers’ partnerships with Rough Trade Records/Beggars Group, Universal Music Publishing, ATC Live Agency and Virgin Music Australia, amongst others, and oversaw The Sniffers’ extensive, strategic international touring and a successful international debut album release pre-Covid. She managed the production and release of The Sniffers’ ARIA #2 album ‘Comfort to Me’ (Top 25 Album Charts in the UK, Germany, Spain, Top 20 Billboard Physical Sales Chart USA).Check out some of the Sundowner Artists here: Amyl and the Sniffers Grace Cummings Girl and Girl Nice Biscuit Baby CoolFind out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

How do you fit into the music industry as a songwriter and artist, and how do you build your music industry team? These music industry conversations will offer you a deeper understanding of what support exists in the industry, how you can build your team, what roles different people play to help you take your career to the next level, and how you can take some of those steps yourself.Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence  If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

17 year old queer singer songwriter, Kaiyah Mercedes has gone from writing their first song at eleven years old to their debut album being streamed over 200,000 times, just a handful of years later. In this Club Conversation, Kaiyah shares her clear artistic vision and how they manifest this into tangible form with the support of their creative community, and as well as their discovery of sexual identity, and their diagnosis with ADHD and Autism. Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Timestamp:2:20 – Kaiyah takes us through her songwriting journey from the start to now. 13.09 – We talk about self-reflection through the lens of her new single “Hindsight” and the wisdom of hindsight. 16:00 – We talk about self-acceptance and being diagnosed with Autism and ADHD and navigating relationships. 24:50 - Kaiyah shares her vision for her artistic projects and some of the ways she brings ideas into tangible forms.29:20 – We discuss the artistic development phase and the process of building an artist brand, putting together release assets, and building a team. 36:00 - Building trust in collaborative teams.39:37 – Kaiyah talks about self-discovery and coming to terms with her sexuality and self-identity as a queer person. 43:56 – Kaiyah shares her song “‘Hide with me”. 48:00 – A practical path to establishing yourself in a new genre.  About Kaiyah: Kaiyah Mercedes is an LGBTQI+ singer/songwriter who, at just 17 years old, has already gained recognition for her deep and introspective music. Her lyrics are crafted with an intention to connect with listeners, touching on relatable themes such as young love, heartbreak, and the struggles of being a teenager in today’s world. Her music is a testament to her ability to capture the universal experiences of adolescence and beyond. Contact Kaiyah: Website / Facebook / Instagram Song Credit: “Hide With Me" - Written by Kaiyah Ridgway. Performed live by Kaiyah Mercedes.Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / InstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.

Many artists go quiet when they don’t have a release to promote, but when they do this they miss out on opportunities to continue to develop and build their audience. In this episode, we outline some commonly used and out of the box ways to develop your audience when you’re not promoting a release.Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

In this club conversation with UK singer songwriter and producer, Kwun, we talk about the magic of channelling music, sound frequency and light language, and recording music in 432 Hz, juxtaposed with the big blocks that come up for artists when it comes to releasing and promoting music.Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Timestamp:4:08 - How high energy places in the world can affect people and be channelled to create something unique14:55 - The elements of magic in Kwun’s creativity24:07 - We share our experiences with Light language 38:49 - Tuning in 432Hz46.26 - The ease of creating vs the resistance to release music1:01:32 - Kwun introduces his song “Ancient Ageless & True” and performs it live on the podcast. We also talk about his upcoming albumAbout Kwun: Kwun is an multi award-winning singer-songwriter and producer from the UK at the cutting edge of a movement of conscious artists leading the way into a New Paradigm. His eclectic repertoire skillfully moves between themes of the personal and universal, weaving a rich tapestry of styles that include Rock, Americana, Funk and all the spaces in between. Kwun’s music is recorded in 432Hz tuning (not the standardised 440Hz), the frequency that resonates and harmonises with nature and the human body. Contact Kwun: Website / Facebook / Instagram Song Credit: “Ancient, Ageless & True" - Written by Kwun Pang. Performed live by Kwun.Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / InstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.

What do I do after releasing a song? How can I promote my music by myself? How do I attract listeners to my music? How do I increase the number of streams on Spotify? If you’re asking these questions, listen in as we offer up ways that you can take a professional approach to your music business. Get tips to promote and market your brand and music so that you can optimize your reach and grow your audience, and do it in a way that allows your time, energy and financial resources to be sustainable.Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here.  Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

Starting a new musical project? Get some tips and insights on clarifying your artistic sound, brand and message from neo-soul, r&b artist, meadowhip. Cara also shares that having a stroke changed the course of her career and gave her a new outlook on life. This is an empowering conversation for any emerging artist who lacks the confidence and drive to back themselves and follow through on their new artistic project. Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Timestamp:2.55 - Cara talks about all her different musical projects and how her solo project ‘meadowhip’ was born  6.26 - We discuss how music, message and artist brand fit together18:09 - Cara shares about having a stroke and how this changed her attitude and drive to being an artist26:18 - We talk about some common blocks artists have32:00 - Cara shares how she has built her audience to date (Streaming, playlists and social media) 36:00 - Cara’s biggest takeaway and what’s next for her career 43:00 - Taking inspiration from Taylor Swift and Beck 44:24 - Listen to meadowhip with James Murada performing an acoustic version of “Iconic” About meadowhip: meadowhip is the solo project of Wollongong musician-poet-calamity queen, Cara Walkam. Influenced by artists like Solange, Tame Impala, Erykah Badu and Moonchild, meadowhip fuses introspective and irreverent lyrics with pop melodies and elements of woozy alt-R&B, soul and jazz. meadowhip is a project that was born during Cara's recovery from a major hemorrhagic stroke in 2019. It is an exploration of self and society from Cara’s perspective. As she puts it, “I’m here to discuss the big three - capitalism, patriarchy, and myself.” Contact Cara : Website / Facebook / Instagram Song Credit: “Iconic" - Written by Cara Walkam (aka meadowhip). Performed live by meadowhip and James Murada.  Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / InstagramTheme song:  “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence

With over 100,000 songs being added to DSPs each day, how can you be heard above the noise? In this podcast episode we look at the benefits of a clear artist brand and release plan, plus answer the questions - who am I as an artist, how can I make the most of my music release, and how do I build an audience?Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: InstagramFacebookYouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials:YouTubeFacebookInstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. Thank you for joining us.

We discuss the first 12 months of an artist's career including business and marketing strategies to have a sustainable career and making money, plus tips for recording your debut album and playing festivals.Want the mentorship and guidance that Isabel had to help you get similar results? Find out more about Level Up Club here. Timestamp:4.22 - The transformation of an artist's role in the online space8:11  - One year in the life of an emerging artist15: 00 - Space for business vs space for creating 20:30 - Isabel shares her biggest tips from her first year as an artist. The role of the producer in shaping the artist’s sound. 32:00 - Isabel shares her tips for getting booked to play festivals38:00 - Some ways to feel centred when on the road 41:00 - The Magic of being an Artist. The magic we’re here to bring to the world. 48:10 - The sacrifices of being an artist 52:00 - Music business vs music hobby 50:50 - Isabel performs live “Bird Be Brave”  About Isabel: Isabel Rumble weaves stories together with nuanced vocals to create a space of open-hearted intimacy and connection. Drawing upon a strong folk roots influence, Rumble offers a contemporary sound likened to Laura Marling and Mazzy Star, inviting listeners into a cocoon of reflection on the subtleties of love, nature and human relationships. Isabel’s intuitively crafted songs of her debut album “Bird Be Brave” define an observant and soul-stirring emerging young artist. Website / Facebook / Instagram Song Credit: “Bird Be Brave" - Written by Isabel Rumble. Performed live by Isabel Rumble at I Heart Songwriting Club Headquarters.Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTubeBe inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / InstagramTheme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence  / Additional opening track: "Take it All In" music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.