MUSIC MENTORSHIPS

Write and record a song ... create a clip

Connecting Song is an inspiring place-based songwriting opportunity like no other. Three unsigned music acts will be selected to work with one of three outstanding mentors who are also from the Geelong region.

Each selected artist will choose a Geelong locality such as the You Yangs, the industrial north, city centre, farmland or coast. The three selected music acts – solo artists, bands etc – each write a song. Each song will then be recorded at Oxygen College’s Don’t Poke The Bear studio, and a film clip will be created by The Pulse. Each clip will be debuted at Geelong After Dark, 3 May 2019.

Connecting Song is an initiative of the City of Greater Geelong, as part of the Mountain to Mouth Contemporary Songline project. It supports emerging musicians from this region to be seen and be heard, and is supported by Creative Victoria through its Music Works program.

THE MENTORS

Featured

Adalita

A multi-award winning modern Australian rock icon, Adalita began as front person for seminal Australian indie rock group Magic Dirt. Magic Dirt was one of the most successful bands to explode out of Geelong in the 90s. She has toured internationally and now is a highly respected ARIA award-nominated solo artist. Adalita is an integral part of the Australian music scene, garnering a passionate and loyal following and countless accolades.

Mark Wilson

Jet is one of Australia’s biggest international success stories and Geelong’s own Mark Wilson is the bass player. Formed in 2001, Jet went on to have a stellar career touring all over the world in their own right and with mega artists such as the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, selling in excess of 6.5 million albums. The band dissolved in 2012, reforming in 2017. While Jet was on hiatus Mark was snapped up by record label Warner Music to join their A&R team.

Mick Thomas

Mick Thomas is an Australian singer- songwriter, producer, guitarist, playwright and music venue owner. Thomas was the founding mainstay of Australian legends, Weddings Parties Anything (1984–1998), and leader of Mick Thomas and the Sure Thing. He is also an ARIA nominated solo artist. Amongst international tours Mick has won multi-ARIA awards, including the highly coveted Song Of The Year. He has also co-written tracks with Paul Kelly and produced albums for the likes of Nick Barker and Ruby Hunter.

HOW TO APPLY

You must be a current resident of the Geelong region.

Then you need to submit a 1 page application which includes:

Contact details.
Why you would like to be part of this project.
The Geelong location you would prefer to write about.
A sample of your music – no more than 2 songs.
A recent photograph.

Applications due by close of business Friday 26 October 2018

Applications to be submitted via https://geelong.smartygrants.com.au/connectingsong

Any questions, please contact Arts & Culture at artsculture@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

DOWNLOAD THE CONNECTING SONG BROCHURE

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Endorsements for Connecting Song

MARK WILSON - guitarist from JET, A&R Parlophone - Mark grew up in Geelong. Jet was an Australian rock band formed in 2001. The group sold 6.5 million albums.

"To develop a thriving local music scene, it is imperative that good talent is nurtured from its seed. Without this sense of community artists will always leave for big cities in search of like-minded collaborators. Geelong has a unique opportunity to become an artistic hub as cost of living is far less than our larger cities and an influx of quality venues, food and nightlife will help propel the scene. However, it is paramount that the talent is nurtured from early on and this I believe will help develop a strong, thriving exciting young music scene."

SARAH CARROLL - current resident of the Bellarine, Sarah Carroll is a songwriter, performer, radio announcer, choir director, ukulele teacher and producer. She has played with well-known Aus. musicians such as: Chris Wilson, Andy Baylor, Mick Thomas, Van Walker, Gleny Rae Virus and Suzannah Espie - among others - for sixteen years whilst touring throughout Australia and the US. In addition to playing solo she performs in a duo with her husband, Chris Wilson, as well as part of The Junes who recently appeared on popular ABC TV show Spicks and Specks. Her music covers the broad spectrum of roots, country, rock 'n' roll, gospel, bluegrass, swing and calypso.

I believe that every second we invest in fostering artistic talent in regional Australia benefits the rest of the country well into the future. I delightedly pass on what I know to younger artists as I recall how essential these interactions were for me.

ANDY STRACHAN, THE LIVING END - The Living End are an Australian punk rock and psychobilly band which formed in 1994. They have released six studio albums and two reached the No. 1 spot on the ARIA Albums Chart: self-titled album (12 October 1998) and State of Emergency (4 February 2006). They have also gained chart success in the United States and United Kingdom. At ARIA Music Awards ceremonies they have been nominated 27 times and have won five awards. Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane described the group which "emerged as one of the country’s premier rock acts. By blending a range of styles (punk, rockabilly and flat out rock) with great success, The Living End has managed to produce anthemic choruses and memorable songs in abundance". In October 2010 their debut album was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums. Andy is a current resident of the Bellarine.

I think it's hugely important to help and support up and coming artists. The music industry is a hard place to be heard especially living in a regional area, and with the constant changes in technology and the way people consume music it's only getting harder. We need to get behind our local artists and help them build the next musical era to be heard now and in years to come.

Connecting Song EOI