Diary of a songwriter at camp: day 2
An inside view at Pro7ect’s residential songwriting retreat at Rockfield Studios, July 2023.
In this month’s Session Notes blog, Pro7ect Songwriting Retreats founder and songwriter Lisa Fitzgibbon shares her personal experience of co-writing the song ‘Eyes Wide Open’ with her Day 2 team in the Coach House studio.
“Pro7ect producers are top draw - very high standard and they really worked hard to get the best production available in the time frame” – Paul Hopton, songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist
P723 ‘Eyes Wide Open’ songwriting team: Alex Stacey, Kota wade, Lisa Fitz, Paul Hopton, in the Coach House Studio, Rockfield.
Every day at camp is totally different, personally, and creatively. It takes a lot of discipline to disconnect myself from the management side of things and focus on the task of being a songwriter. I have to constantly remind myself why I started P7 in the first place… so I can write with other artists and producers. I get a real buzz from bringing people together, making sure that they have what they need to create amazing songs, and forge forever connections, and our home at Rockfield is the perfect location for this kind of immersive, creative experience. But, at the end of the day, I am just a songwriter, sharing my vulnerabilities and putting myself on the line, every time I walk into a session.
P723: Alex Stacey & Paul Hopton in the Coach House
By Day 2 we’ve all settled into the farm (yes, Rockfield studios is on a farm), we’ve recovered from the journey (some artists travel from as far as NZ and Australia), we’ve survived the first day’s session (the hardest songwriting challenge of them all) and finding the P7 groove. After yesterday’s pop-tastic team collaboration ‘The Waves’ (see Session Notes August edition) I am looking forward to working with a fresh team of artists and finding a different direction.
My team is songwriting powerhouse Alex Stacy, multi-instrumentalist Paul Hopton, and Featured Artist Kota Wade. Kota is a singer/songwriter and multi-media artist from LA. After fronting the LA based band Bad Wolf for many years, Kota is starting her solo adventure and is looking for co-writers for her new music project. Her manager recommended she join us at Rockfield and today we are going to write her a winner!
“This past week I had the most memorable time of my life with Pro7ect, and still feel like I'm inside a dream!”
– Kota Wade, singer/songwriter
Day 2: Thursday 20th July 2023
6.00: Alarm. Get up and out for a run. One of the many things I love about Rockfield is location… being in Wales, and in nature, is a real bonus and this morning re-set is an essential part of my day. I also use this time to think about songwriting ideas. The stream of consciousness that flows when you’re moving and breathing and sorting out your inner world can generate some cracking song-starters. This morning’s thoughts drift into the parallel nature of the make-it-happen / let-it-happen paradigm… the contradictory pull and push that we all face in our daily quest to be focused, inspired and productive is a real challenge for me. This week is a classic example of having to make it happen, and then knowing when to step back to let it happen. I am determined to give let-it-happen the casting vote today.
8.00: writing teams are announced. We plan our writing groups the night before and announce teams at breakfast. A lot of thought and energy goes into this daily A&R ritual because we want to give everyone a chance to work with each other whilst making the teams as strong as possible. There’s a buzz and an air of expectation as the artists find out who their Producer and team will be over a wholesome breakfast.
09.30: I walk over to the Coach House and open my studio. I love the Coach House studio at Rockfield. There’s something about being tucked away behind the farmhouse that I find calming. So much incredible music has been recorded here, and the ‘Wonderwall’, made famous by Rockfield regulars Oasis, is right outside my studio.
10.00: Team tea and talk. The first moments a writing team meets are precious. Knowing that by the end of today we will not only have created a song together, but that we will have forged deep personal connections through a lived experience, is so special.
Working with Alex Stacey is a privilege. As a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Alex is a one-man music machine. Paul Hopton has returned for more after last year’s camp and has a broad knowledge of composition and production. Paul’s arrangement and keyboard skills are a valuable addition to any writing team. Kota is a force of nature. A real artist. Her lived experience, grit, honesty, and courage leads us effortlessly into a deep discussion about choices and consequences. How the threads of opportunity and possibility, that weave in and around our daily lives, lead us to the people we love, the world we inhabit and to this very moment.
I share my morning mantra, make-it-happen / let-it-happen, and we dive into the randomness of knowing when to drive and when to pause. Fate or force. How to read the random road signs and how luck, or loss, can flip our lives like a coin.
11.00: Find the sound. Kota plays us some reference tracks and Alex swiftly jumps on a guitar and starts building a vibe. Last year our Headline Producer Greg Haver let Alex record live drum samples of him playing in the Quadrangle studio. So, Alex starts building Greg’s samples into the session and its sounding HUGE! I know he would approve.
We are going for a Pop-Indi sound… and in the space between Alex’s airy reverse guitars and Greg’s gritty snare, Kota comes up with the killer opening line “Pulling on a thread that led me to you”! We find a melody… and we’re off!
13.00: The afternoon session is a totally different creature. We are now at the business end of the day. Our let-it-happen session has evolved beautifully into a focused operation. We have a plan. We have a sound. We have a story. Alex and Paul are working on the instrumentation, whilst Kota and I weave the top line. We come together regularly to share and devise, blending all these parts effortlessly. The song leads us to a discussion about our origin stories… where and how we met our partners and the random nature of these momentous encounters.
16.00: Decision time. Two hours until the mixes have to be ready, we decide to stop writing and focus on production and start tracking the vocals. This is where make-it-happen kicks in. Although the song needs another part, a bridge perhaps, we decide to work on the strongest parts of what we have. There is a limit to what you can achieve in a day, and the reason why production is so important to the Pro7ect model is that this song can be improved and go on to be released after the event.
Kota is a true pro and slams the verse first take! It feels real. Alive and honest.
“I had attended songwriting retreats before but was excited by Pro7ect because of the iconic Rockfield studios and having a producer, and other artists, in the room. It was a great experience” – Kevin Jakeman P723 songwriter/musician.
P723: ‘Eyes Wide Open’ songwriting team.
18.00 It’s a mix! P7’s Head Engineer IndiB arrives to collect the session stems and the mix for tonight’s playback. We are almost ready, but what’s the song called? We throw several suggestions into the hat, when Alex suggests ‘Eyes Wide Open’, in reference to a lyric in the pre chorus. It’s a eureka moment! That’s it!!!
20.00: time to dine. Sue and Jan have dished up another wholesome home-cooked meal and there’s a real sense of respect and connection amongst the group tonight. The personal bonds created by this intense shared experience open us up, pulls us all apart and puts us back together again.
21.00 the listening sessions are my favourite part of the day. I’m having a pinch-myself moment as we hear the playbacks from today’s sessions. Mind blowing!!! All the five teams have created such strong, individual and diverse songs… it’s an incredible feeling. I felt so proud to share our ‘Eyes Wide Open’ song with the other artists and it sounded great! What a dream team…
22.00 late nights at Rockfield. After party in the Quadrangle living room. These evenings give us all a chance to de-frag, compare experiences and make personal attachments to our fellow music campers.
23.00 And out! I fall into bed feeling a real sense of achievement. Tomorrow will be another amazing day but first… to sleep.
Writing Day 2 Thursday 20th July 2023
Since its launch in 2013, Pro7ect has brought together over 180 artists, songwriters, musicians, and producers. These collaborations have resulted in more than 100 tracks written and recorded, 18 (that we know of) have been released. There have also been four syncs, three albums produced by P7 artist collaborators and many production opportunities for participating Headline Producers through the P7 Alumni.
Pro7ect’s success lies in its ability to pair artists and songwriters with internationally acclaimed producers who are there to guide the recording process and capture the collaborative efforts of our writing teams. Limited places are available so apply today…
P72024 dates to be announced soon.
Register your interest by email: info@pro7ect.com
“A friend suggested I go on a songwriting retreat
…and it changed my life!”
- Lisa Fitzgibbon (singer, songwriter, music producer)
Pro7ect is proudly sponsored by Prism Sound.
P7 Headline producers include Stew Jackson (Massive Attack), Youth (Sir Paul McCartney, The Verve, The Orb), Roni Size (Reprazent), John Fortis (Razorlight, Ellie Goulding), Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers), Iain Archer (Snow Patrol, James Bay), Andrew Levy (Brand New Heavies) and Mercury Prize Winner Talvin Singh, just to name a few.