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A songwriter’s retreat at the edge of the world
Wild Mountains Songs is held on Mununjali land, we pay our respects to elders - past, present and emerging and look forward to engaging with the Mununjali tribe at each event.
Wild Mountains Songs provides established songwriters with a peaceful and naturally beautiful, creatively nurturing and inspiring space to collaborate with new writers, and to garner new life-long relationships. This project was formed with community, the natural environment and artistic creation equally at heart.
OUR MISSION
By connecting artists with one another, and the natural environment we have found participants are able to deeply connect with themselves and discover their deeper artistic purpose. The project is designed as a career re-boot, nurturing mature talent in order to ensure a rich culture of high calibre songwriting in Australia
We’re living in a constant state of distraction, and this is a sure fire way to kill creativity. We encourage artists to limit their phone use, to disconnect from the everyday, to recharge their brain cells, not their phone cells, even just for a few days.
Artists co-write two new songs with two new collaborators and are encouraged to share their unique skills through skill sharing workshops throughout the event. Artists write in a special plot of the forest, away from computers and mixing desks, back to basic writing, for the love of the song.
We pay full rates to use the space, we want Wild Mountains Trust to survive so that they can continue to teach children the importance of nurturing mother earth. We engage with the Mununjali tribe, wherever possible to welcome to the space and introduce the writers to the history of the land.
The Place
Wild Mountains Songs takes place on Mununjali land, south of Rathdowney adjoining the World Heritage Border Ranges National Park in Queensland, Australia. The event is held on land that is taken care of by the Wild Mountains Trust; these wondrous humans provide "earth connection" activities as part of the retreat to assist songwriters to fully detach from the day to day and become more connected to their creative self.
Next Event in March 2023
The history of Wild Mountains Songs
Singer-songwriter, environmental activist and Music Industry project manager Emma Bosworth, is a long time friend of Wild Mountains Trust. In her teenage years, she attended multiple earth education camps managed by the Trust, and she says it was a major turning point in her life.
In 2016, Emma had a yearning to create time and space to create new music; she knew Wild Mountains could provide a space with big creative impact. Using her collaborative heart, she asked friends Benjamin Hale, Megan Cooper, Tim Steward, Kahl Wallis and Kellie Lloyd to join her in a weekend away amongst the trees to co-write and take some deep breathes.
It was the start of something really special. Emma purposefully creates co-writing collaborations in a way that is supportive of artists' background and aspirations. Artists are able to strengthen existing and create new relationships with songwriters from across the country and informally learn about other artists' creative process and new ways of co- writing. The event provides multiple opportunities for artists to connect to the land and encourages recognition of Australian songwriting talent through promotion of the project and resulting collaborative releases.
PAST EVENTS
Learn more about the program.
APPLY
Applications are open.
“I came to learn more about writing songs, but received much more than I thought was possible.” Charles Wall (Bobby Alu), 2020 Participant
“It’s so exciting to come away and realise that the world is still so full of potential – potential art, potential collaborations, potential new friends.” Tamara Bell, 2018 Participant (The Hits / Grieg)
”This retreat is not only respite from mid career boredom but a cure, as it shifts the well cemented habits I carry out. I’m left grateful.” Rohin Jones (The Middle East), 2020 Participant
