We chat creativity with Liz Stringer

Liz Stringer is one of Australia's most revered songwriters and creative leaders

She took a break from her national tour to discuss creative consultancy, songwriting, and what people can expect from her free webinar next Wednesday 23 April

Be sure to RSVP to Insights: Finding your Unique Creative Voice with Liz Stringer

Liz Stringer is no stranger to APRA AMCOS, having been a judge in the 2025 APRA Professional Development Awards, and a finalist in the 2022 APRA Song of the Year for her track 'Dangerous.'
She took a moment out from her busy schedule to chat creativity, songwriting, and why YOU should attend her free webinar on 23 April.

What’s a consistent topic that your clients need guidance with, regardless of their experience levels in the industry? 

A lot of the time it's just about clients needing to chat to someone who understands the industry and for them to express, out loud, issues or dilemmas they're having about the 'next step'. 
Sometimes the choices we're faced with as artists can be overwhelming and a bit paralysing; there's literally thousands of ways to 'do' a music career. 
I've spoken to a lot of clients about recording or release or tour projects, for example, and helped them nail down some practical next steps they can take to get started. 
 
What’s something that you wish you had been told when you were starting out your career? 

I think basically just to trust your instincts. About people, about the art you want to make. 

To find the right team of people is all about finding individuals who you trust and who are in it for what you consider to be the right reasons.
 I think I ignored my own gut about a couple of people early on and went on to regret it. 

Can you tell us about your songwriting process? 

I tend to play guitar or piano a lot, and songs usually begin while I'm doing that. I'll have an idea for lyrics or something will come to me while I'm just mumbling while building a melody.

I've had times in the last few years where I've taken myself away to the country somewhere for a few days with my recording gear and just worked on songs from morning until night with no distractions. But, generally, ideas tend to pop up while I'm thinking about something else. 

What’s a lyric written by someone else that you love? 

Touring and performing with Midnight Oil was such a powerful experience in many ways. 

I came out of it with a new family and a deeper appreciation for the importance of a band like that. There were many full-body goosebump moments during their sets but one of my favourite moments was singing 'Truganini' with them - the combination of the unmistakable deep drive of the band and the sentiment of the songs - they managed to capture the outrage and devastation the white man's behaviour has caused on this country:

I hear much support for the monarchy
I see the Union Jack in flames, let it burn
I see Namatjira with dignity
I see Truganini's in chains

Any advice for APRA AMCOS members who are just getting started in their career? 

My advice will always be to work on your craft first and foremost. It's easy to get distracted in social media, booking shows, trying to 'build your brand', but ultimately it's your body of work which is why you're doing this in the first place and it's the thing that should, in my opinion, take precedence over everything else. 

And also, to find your community. Jen Cloher would always push this idea when she was running her 'I Manage My Music' workshops, which I was a part of every now and then. And she's so right. Finding musicians and other creative people in different fields who you can play shows and collaborate with will put you in good stead to have support and scope for interesting and diverse projects, which is, in my opinion, vital for a fulfilling artistic career. 
 
Why should folks come to your Insights session? What will you be exploring? 

I'll be discussing how to:

• Find your community and take your early career into your own hands
• Hone your own voice as an artist. Express yourself in your lyrics in your own words and from your own perspective
• Keep focusing on writing songs and getting better as a writer and musician while you're trying to book more gigs and get out there more. It can be so easy to lose sight of why you're doing all this
• Build a solid electronic press kit
• Grant and festival applications, and everyone's favourite topic, 'The Importance of Budgeting'
• Lots of APRA members have already submitted questions, so please keep them coming when you RSVP! See you there!