A selected group of up-and-coming Gold Coast songwriters will be producing future hits from 20-23 April as part of SongHubs at Bignote Productions. This marks the fourth locally-supported SongHubs residency as part of a multi-year partnership between City of Gold Coast and music rights management organisation APRA AMCOS.
Melbourne's dynamic pop duo Client Liaison, Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan, are curators for the program. Through a competitive application process, they have selected the following locals: Angus Field of duo AYA J; producer and Amy Shark collaborator Blake Malone; James Todman pka Rave Radio; Ivey band members Millie Perks, Lachlan McGuffie and Matthew McGuffie; solo artist Genes, (Maddy Rowe); and producer/songwriter Riley Smith.
The roster of locals will work with Client Liaison's special guests to produce new songs each working day. Guests are writer/producer Tyron Hapi, Masked Wolf's collaborator on the massive 'Astronaut in the Ocean', TikTok's 2021 song of the year; NZ pop-funk duo Foley, rising R&B star KYE and DJ/producer/vocalist Stace Cadet.
With two places available to APRA AMCOS members outside of the Gold Coast, two of New Zealand's top creators will be participating: Rory Noble, multi-talented instrumentalist, writer, producer and artist with credits including Kanye West and DJ Mustard; and Maurice Miller of duo DUAL.
"Having attended SongHubs in the past it was a real honour to craft this one from the ground up. It's such a privilege to be part of something like this and we have been looking forward to it like it's a big family holiday," said Client Liaison.
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.
“The Gold Coast has a rich history when it comes to live music and we are determined to create as many opportunities as possible for local talent,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
"The City Live Music Action Plan is now operating and as part of that, we are amending our planning scheme so more live music venues can get started in the Southport CBD.
"From an industry perspective, SongHubs is key to promoting our live music talent and I wish everyone success this year."
Since SongHubs launched in 2013, across 80 events worldwide, over A$4m in performance royalties for the initiative's collaborators has been earned. 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 and many more.
FULL LIST OF GOLD COAST SONGHUBS PARTICIPANTS
Curator
Client Liaison (Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan)
APRA AMCOS special guests
Foley
KYE
Stace Cadet
Tyron Hapi
APRA AMCOS participants
Maurice Miller (NZ)
Rory Noble (NZ)
APRA AMCOS Gold Coast participants
Angus Field
Blake Malone
James Todman (Rave Radio)
Lachlan McGuffie
Matthew McGuffie
Maddy Rowe (Genes)
Millie Perks
Riley Smith