A songwriting mentorship programme with Ellery James Roberts.
Over the past decade I have immersed myself within the uncanny magic of songwriting, working in a variety of notable projects including WU LYF and Lost Under Heaven.
The road I've traveled as an artist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer has taught me much about the challenges & opportunities encountered on the creative journey.
This experience has kindled a heartfelt aspiration to help nurture the flame in others who are committed to their path of creative self-actualisation.
In many ways creating this programme of 5 unique workshops has been a nourishing attempt at articulating the guidance and mentorship I wish I had received when I was a wild eyed 21 year old, with an overwhelming fire inside that yearned for articulate expression.
Though my medium is Songwriting, I see this work as beneficial to anyone who seeks the inner authority to become articulate authors of their own lives.
In this unique creative mentorship, I will walk with you through the process of creation - from the initial glimpse of imaginative potential to the performance of personal anthems.
Each path will be walked individually, honouring your unique artistry whilst offering strategies to root into your life experiences, consciously exploring your wounds & innate gifts to help amplify your voice in powerful testimony to all that you have been, and all that you are becoming.
Throughout the course of five online sessions the essence of what makes a great song will be examined; there will be a focus on practices for powerful vocal presence, energy preservation and reflective self awareness- all enriched by my passion for the art of oral storytelling, captivating performances, and the poet’s craft of weaving the perfect words in an articulation of our shared human experience.
From overcoming the blank page, courting the elusive muse, navigating rejection, perseverance & overcoming the persistence of self doubt - I am here to support you along your path, passing on the best of what I have learnt, and what I have invented along the way…
You'll be sharing your journey with a cohort of like minds, all the while supported by my dedicated mentorship.
Our sessions together will be interactive, filled with hands-on writing exercises paired with reflective prompts and sound healing modalities designed to inspire and invigorate you beyond our meetings.
As our time together concludes it is my intention that you will emerge with a revitalised vision of yourself as a songwriter & even a human being.
Past Experience.
Central to my identity and the essence of my work is a yearning to inspire an embodied, self-liberated and life affirming presence in myself & others.
At the beginning of my career as a vocalist I received coaching in 'Primal Voice Technique' by Dane Chapman which I have subsequently built upon to develop my own unique vocal style.
My years spent touring the world (including notable performances at the Sydney Opera House, Fuji Rock Festival and an appearance on the David Letterman Show) have left me with valuable insights and protocols for Vocal Maintenance and Energy Preservation, which I have found essential to both surviving life on the road and remaining in an optimal state of flow for participating in the creative process.
Parallel to my career in the Music Industry, my inner journey has been shaped by a deep fascination with the power of sound to heal and transform. This inquiry has led me to an exploration of Nada Yoga, the ancient Vedic science of sound and vibration, the Bhakti practice of Mantra Chanting through Kirtan, Vagal-Nerve Toning, Prananyama, Transcendental Mediation and other energetic practices of somatic awareness such as Qigong and Reiki.
Participating in the creative process has been a great source of joy throughout my life, and I have experienced the greatest suffering when I have found myself blocked, frustrated or burnt out - be it from procrastination, perfectionism, or the self sabotaging fear of failure (or more insidiously) success.
Consequently, I have studied and practiced numerous psychological techniques to help get out of one’s own way, and allow the mysterious and often beautiful act of creation to unfold unimpeded.
In our sessions together, I will be drawing on my wealth of experience and insight to empower your authentic self-expression to be set free with courageous confidence.
Song of the Self.
5 x 90 mins online group workshops
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2 x 30 mins 1-2-1 feedback conversations.
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1. Where do Songs come from?
O magnum mysterium : tracking the ineffable - following songlines back to the source- courting the muses
O magnum mysterium : tracking the ineffable - following songlines back to the source- courting the muses
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2. Readying the Vessel.
Introduction to the Vagus Nerve, Waking the Vocal Cords, Connecting with the Diaphragm, Breathing from Root to Tongue, Muscle Group Relaxation.
Introduction to the Vagus Nerve, Waking the Vocal Cords, Connecting with the Diaphragm, Breathing from Root to Tongue, Muscle Group Relaxation.
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3. Seek Inspiration Everywhere.
Practices to become Praise Singers of all that is; bearing witness to the beauty & tragedy of existence.
Practices to become Praise Singers of all that is; bearing witness to the beauty & tragedy of existence.
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4. Everything I Need is Inside of Me.
Connecting with the “Daemon” - developing confidence to trust inner authority. All of Creation is already finished in the field: we navigate towards the realisation of our intent.
Connecting with the “Daemon” - developing confidence to trust inner authority. All of Creation is already finished in the field: we navigate towards the realisation of our intent.
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1.Finding Your Authentic Voice
Authenticity = Authority. Exploring the quality of our outer voice as a reflection of our inner being.
Authenticity = Authority. Exploring the quality of our outer voice as a reflection of our inner being.
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2. Finding flow through Play
Understanding Flow States, getting out of self critical headspace and back into the Body. Primal voice techniques as Play, connecting with the animal within.
Understanding Flow States, getting out of self critical headspace and back into the Body. Primal voice techniques as Play, connecting with the animal within.
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3. Exploring how melodies evoke Emotions.
How does it make you feel? Practice of wordless improvisation over a drone to find Melody.
How does it make you feel? Practice of wordless improvisation over a drone to find Melody.
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4. Spiritual Science of Mantra Chanting
Brief Introduction to Nada Yoga, Kirtan & Mantra Chanting.
Improvising repeated phrases over chord sequence - Allowing oneself to feel fully the feelings that arise.
Brief Introduction to Nada Yoga, Kirtan & Mantra Chanting.
Improvising repeated phrases over chord sequence - Allowing oneself to feel fully the feelings that arise.
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1. Speak when spoken through.
Language of Intent & Petition, finding the words for soulful expression.
Language of Intent & Petition, finding the words for soulful expression.
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2.Active Imagination.
How to work with what emerges; understanding the characters in our songs and stories as living imaginal beings.
How to work with what emerges; understanding the characters in our songs and stories as living imaginal beings.
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Discussion and practice of effective Lyrical & Poetic Techniques.
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4. Articulation & Annunciation
Exploring how tonality of voice can be used to characterise, emotionalise. Practice Singing found words to find a melody- or following Melody to find the perfect words-
Exploring how tonality of voice can be used to characterise, emotionalise. Practice Singing found words to find a melody- or following Melody to find the perfect words-
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1. Deep Listening & Structural Expectations
Studying the Greats - following your intuition- Story Structure; 3 part narratives, The Black, the White & the Red.
Studying the Greats - following your intuition- Story Structure; 3 part narratives, The Black, the White & the Red.
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What the Song feels like to you? creating a sensory mood board.
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3. First Thought Best Thought
Experimentation / Happy Accidents- making space for chance & emergence.
Experimentation / Happy Accidents- making space for chance & emergence.
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4. To Be or not to Be
Act of shaping an idea into reality can sometimes limit its potential. Don’t be too quick to define form -
Act of shaping an idea into reality can sometimes limit its potential. Don’t be too quick to define form -
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1.the Art of Finishing or Letting go
Practice detachment & presence. Hold everything lightly as an experiment- Perfection is Death.
Practice detachment & presence. Hold everything lightly as an experiment- Perfection is Death.
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2. Performance as Ceremony.
Putting it all together with the courage to show up & be seen in Community
Putting it all together with the courage to show up & be seen in Community
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3. Rituals of Renewal
Keep coming back with beginners mind, Staying inspired, Evolving whilst remaining rooted.
Keep coming back with beginners mind, Staying inspired, Evolving whilst remaining rooted.
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4. Unveil the Grail of Receptive Imagination.
Closing Meditation. Creation is Finished, we are just beginning.
Closing Meditation. Creation is Finished, we are just beginning.
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A songwriting mentorship programme with Ellery James Roberts.