ACE Studio à Villeray, Montréal
About the workshop
This is a unique opportunity for young songwriters to come together as a community and commit themselves to the craft of songwriting. This workshop is for all creatives. Whether you have a journal full of songs and poems, or you’re a music lover who wants to begin exploring the world of songwriting, you are welcome here. We will share our creative energy, encouragement, and ideas in a open and accepting environment.
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At the core of this workshop is the power of a vibrant songwriting community. Each member brings a unique perspective, style, and set of experiences to the table. They understand the importance of this community—a space where ideas flow freely, creativity is nurtured, and support is abundant. It's more than a gathering; it's a haven for aspiring songwriters to find their voice and grow alongside others who share the same passion.
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One of the workshop's key elements is the experience of co-writing. Pairing up and working in small groups, participants will learn the magic of collaboration. They will navigate through melodies and lyrics, weaving their thoughts and emotions into a tapestry of sound. This collaborative process not only fosters creativity but also teaches the invaluable skill of give-and-take and the beauty of collective creation.
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Amidst the gathering are peers who understand the challenges and triumphs of songwriting. We will share stories of writer's block, moments of inspiration, and the satisfaction of crafting a perfect chorus. Here, validation and encouragement flow freely. The feedback from peers will become a guiding compass, steering each songwriter toward growth and improvement.
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This workshop will be led by Keeper E. Keeper E. is a professional musician and seasoned songwriter who will offer invaluable insights and guidance. She will share anecdotes from her journey, offering pearls of wisdom and constructive criticism. Her mentorship elevates the workshop, providing a glimpse into the music industry and the art of songcraft honed through experience. Keeping with the core mandate of these workshops, to learn and grow collectively, mentor and mentee will equally learn from one another.
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The most impactful aspect of this community is the confidence that will be instilled into every participant. It will be a safe, nurturing environment that emboldens participants to share their work without fear of judgment. As they witness the power of their creations resonating with others, a newfound sense of assurance will blossom within them. The group, therefore, becomes a catalyst for self-belief, encouraging each member to boldly present their songs to the world.
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But amidst all the shared wisdom and camaraderie, the hardest yet most crucial aspect of songwriting lingers—the commitment to sitting down and penning songs. Songwriting is often solitary, lonely work, and it can be difficult to get started. It's here that the songwriting group plays a pivotal role. With regular meetups, deadlines, and the shared dedication of fellow members, the workshop will enforce discipline and routine into the songwriter's life. It will nudge aspiring songwriters to overcome procrastination and self-doubt, guiding them towards the discipline of regular creation.
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In this transformative space, songwriting becomes more than a solitary pursuit; it evolves into a collaborative, enriching journey. The workshop isn't just about crafting melodies and lyrics; it's about fostering a community that nourishes creativity, fuels passion, and empowers every songwriter to find their unique voice in the symphony of life.
About Keeper E.
Steeped in unease and constructed in an unprecedented time, Keeper E.’s new collection of songs comprises a portrait of an anxious existence that’s as deeply worried as it is catchy against all odds.
On thank u and please and don’t go, the follow-up to her award-winning debut The Sparrows All Find Food, Adelle Elwood again retreated to her Halifax bedroom to compose, engineer, and produce the record herself, a Billie Eilish who doesn’t need a Finneas. The resulting seven songs build on Sparrows’ strong foundation of melody and beats, expanding its medium-fidelity pop into something more robust, anchored by deeper and more intricate drums and sweetened with counter-harmonies and refrains.
thank u and please and don’t go is packed with a litany of one-line worries and shame spirals: “I’m always driving in somebody’s blind spot, thinking I’m going to crash”; “I never know expressions and I’m so embarrassing”; “Who will take care of me if I take care of you?” The stress reaches its apex on “What If We Lose Everything,” a mid-tempo climate-change lament scattered through with unsettling dissonant notes: “There’s no way to go back,” she concludes, with considerable disappointment.
But for all the personal anxieties explored in these songs, Elwood’s music is at its most confident, deeply thoughtful and wise beyond its lived experience. Born in Nova Scotia, Elwood began playing the violin at three years old, moved onto piano by four, and found her own musical voice while in university studying classical piano. Though she claims to be a technological Luddite, her production skills rival any hitmaker’s, and she crafts the indie-pop base of Keeper E. in solitude, with little outside influence.
It’s music that knows it’s bound for bigger audiences in larger spaces. Elwood’s pandemic has been successful by any measure—she released Sparrows to critical acclaim and picked up a Music Nova Scotia Award for Best New Artist while building up her live audience throughout her hometown in between lockdowns. There’s clearly a brass ring thank u and please and don’t go is reaching for here, as each song—no matter how melancholy its lyrical content—offers a danceable rhythm, a clap-along verse, and/or a shout-along chorus (“I can do it, I can do it, get my name off your lips”) that will play in any club or on any festival stage. It’s singular and thrilling, contemporary and timeless. Keeper E’s sound is the moment, but that moment is not fleeting.
