A selected group of up-and-coming Gold Coast songwriters will be hard at work in the studio with homegrown Grammy-winning hitmaker M-Phazes from 17-21 April as part of SongHubs at The Pink Hotel. This marks the fifth locally-supported SongHubs residency as part of a multi-year partnership between City of Gold Coast and music rights management organisation APRA AMCOS.
Through a competitive application process, M-Phazes (Eminem, Madonna, Demi Lovato, Kehlani) has selected the following local acts: Gubbi Gubbi, Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Islander artist Keely, songwriter and artist Yorke, soul, R&B and pop singer songwriter Beckah Amani, 2022 Eurovision contender Jude York, indie-pop artist Bella Amor, Brooke Toia (KLP, Jem Cassar-Daley), songwriter and producer Mikey Dam and Logan Priest.
The roster of locals will work with M-Phazes and his special guests to produce new songs each working day. Guests are ARIA-award winning Alice Ivy, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jarryd James, rising pop sensation Ūla and Grammy-nominated producer Rory Noble.
With two places available to APRA AMCOS members outside of the Gold Coast, two of Australia's top creators will be participating: 17 year old musical prodigy Ben Swissa and songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Hauskey.
"I am extremely honoured to be able to curate a SongHubs camp held in my hometown of the Gold Coast. I think I’ve put together an amazing and diverse group of people whose talent I am excited to witness! APRA AMCOS has always been there for Aussie artists and I’m so happy to get to play a small role in bringing great Australian talent together!" said M-Phazes.
Through its Music Action Plan, the City of Gold Coast's commitment to the music creators who call the area home has provided invaluable opportunities. From the first SongHubs in 2019, and then in the midst of pandemic and live music restrictions, the songwriting carried on, including a hybrid virtual and in-person Gold Coast SongHubs in October 2020. Songs from Kate Miller-Heidke's A Child In Reverse album, New Zealand #1 'Overdrive' by Louis Baker and commercial releases by Hauskey, Jem Cassar-Daley, Liyah Knight and Taye Oskee featuring Tia Gostelow, respectively, are some of the highlights from the previous Gold Coast sessions.
"SongHubs is a fantastic avenue for musicians to promote their talents," Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said. "Nothing beats live music and we have seen some amazing new local talent stepping up over the past year. Council is keen to create as many opportunities as possible for local talent, underpinned by our Live Music Action Plan. I wish everyone success at this year's SongHubs."
Since SongHubs launched in 2013, the program has helped to generate over A$4m in performance royalties for the initiative's collaborators across its 90+ events worldwide. SongHubs has produced commercial releases for the likes of Briggs, Troye Sivan, Tayla Parx, Morgan Evans, Peking Duk, Tkay Maidza, Ainslie Wills, The Chainsmokers, Guy Sebastian, Ecca Vandal, Chaii, Kaylee Bell and many more.
FULL LIST OF GOLD COAST SONGHUBS PARTICIPANTS
Curator
M-Phazes
APRA AMCOS special guests
Rory Noble, Alice Ivy, Ūla and Jarryd James
APRA AMCOS participants
Ben Swissa
Hauskey
APRA AMCOS Gold Coast participants
Keely
Yorke
Beckah Amani
Jude York
Bella Amor
Brooke Toia
Mikey Dam
Logan Priest