Chloe Dadd (standing in white) hosts a workshop in Wagga. Photo: Jack of Hearts.
Emerging music stars Chloe Dadd, KLP and Ash Kennedy will be in Griffith on 11-12 April 2023 to run a free two-day workshop for young people on writing and recording songs.
For the past nine years, the Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA-AMCOS) have been visiting towns across Australia to help aspiring young musicians develop their career in the industry. In 2023, they’ve collaborated with the Piccolo Family Farm to host their event in Griffith for the first time.
“Last September, one of our target locations was Leeton because the council were very committed to the concept,” project manager Tina Broad said. “We did workshops there in the September holidays when Ken Dachi from the council put us in touch with Luke Piccolo and Bonnie Owen of Piccolo Family Farm, who are doing great things in the music scene, so we organised with them to host our program in Griffith.”
“We are very committed to the Riverina … without a doubt, the Roxy and Griffith Regional Theatre means the infrastructure is there, the next step is to broaden minds on what a music career looks like. Many people think it’s all about performance, but there is a whole plank of a music career that is about writing and producing.”
Free places are being offered to 16 young people, aged 16-21, to participate in the program on the Piccolo Family Farm.
“We usually go into schools and work with secondary school teachers … but support from Create NSW and the Office for Regional Youth have allowed us to run mentoring programs in the school holidays,” Ms Broad said.
“The workshop is split into two days. The first day is a meet and greet, then everyone is put into small groups where we try and write a song in a day. On day two, each group works with the two producers in demoing up a song. People will get used to using a laptop.”
Chloe Dadd in Wagga. Photo: Jack of Hearts.
The program will be led by three young performers who have already made it big. Chloe Dadd is a singer-songwriter and producer who has recently returned from a sold-out European tour performing as part of the band MAY-A and has worked with artists including Lime Cordiale and Meg Mac. Ash Kennedy is an artist/writer, session vocalist and performer who has worked with Tones and I, Genesis Owusu, the Brisbane and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, THNDO and The Reubens. KLP is a singer, songwriter, producer and DJ who has worked with Skrillex and Slumberjack and has graced festival stages such as at Splendour in the Grass, and whose track Energy with Stace Cadet peaked at number one on the ARIA club charts.
“Chloe Dadd grew up in a regional area on the coast. She really credits her exposure to big names for her success. She has played on the steps of the Opera House in front of thousands of people. She is loving doing the regional things. You can’t be what you can’t see. That’s the value of bringing young people these performers,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad says she wants to change perceptions about a career in music, which many parents see as a more fickle alternative to agriculture or a trade.
“A big barrier to following dreams is in many ways parental attitudes. We need to shift the way we think about music freelance career. You run a small business. You are the boss of contractors just like your parents are if they’re running a farm.”
Any young people interested in participating in the workshop can email the Piccolo Family Farm at [email protected].
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