Parachute Music

WRITING EVENTS

WRITING EVENTS

Parachute hosts a number of songwriting events each year for artists, songwriters and producers working across New Zealand’s music industry. Our Song Week and Writing Night events bring together a diverse range of established musicians with the goal to foster connection, collaboration and creativity. 

Parachute’s writing events are curated either in-house or by guest curators. Please note, we are not currently taking applications for these.

SONG WEEK

Song Week is Parachute’s largest songwriting event. Running since 2019, this is an annual five-day writing camp where we host around 50 Kiwi songwriters, producers and artists to come and collaborate in our studios. Attendees are placed into new teams each day, with the goal of writing a new song by the end of each session. With up to 10 studios running daily, this is a significant event on New Zealand’s musical landscape; with many new connections formed and quality songs written. To date, 140 different Kiwi musicians have attended at least one of our Song Week writing camps.

 

SONG WEEK GALLERY

  • Song Week 2023 saw us hosting our first international guests; UK producer and songwriter Alex Stacey (One Republic, MIKA, Lecrae) and Australian songwriter Demi Louise.

    49 musicians attended the camp, and 45 new songs were written by teams across the week; culminating with a Listening Party on the Friday night. We also ran a Q&A during the event, with music producer Greg Haver and Alex Stacey, discussing their experiences working in the UK music industry and beyond.

    Song Week 2023 producers: Dan Martin, Joseph Faris, GHOS, Joel Jones, Harry Charles, EDY, Josh Naley, Will McGillivray, Abigail Knudson, Ben Malone, Nic Manders, John Garcia & Elena Šiljić.

    Artists & Writers: Alex Stacey (UK), Demi Louise (Au), Lilly Carron, Melodownz, Aacacia, eleven7four, Alayna, Kiki Rockwell, Lepani, Luca George, Aidan Fine, Sam V, Ratbag., George Villa, Sam Heselwood, Jake Schdroski (LA Women), WHO SHOT SCOTT, TAWAZ, Gabriel Everett (Foley), Rita Mae, MACEY, HALES, Gracie Moller, Neil Macleod, Ethan Jupe, Phodiso, Christian Tjandrawinata, Jess Penson (KEDU CARLO), Sally, Fynn Blackwood (NO COMPLY), Evie, Amber Luck, JARNA, Terence O’Connor & Cecily.

    2023 Image Block
    Photos by Samuel Bernard.

    Song Week 2023 was curated by Jane de Jong.

    Special thanks to NZ On Air & APRA for supporting Song Week 2023.
    Thank you to Creative NZ for supporting our Regional Artist Fund.

  • Our largest writing camp to date, Song Week 2022 had 56 Aotearoa musicians attending writing sessions across five days in July.

    Song Week 2022 producers were: Sam McCarthy (BOYBOY), Ambian Sleo, Dan Martin, Joe Faris, EDY, Josh Strand, Ben Malone, Dera Meelan, Nic Manders, Nik Brinkman, Emily Wheatcroft-Snape, Will Henderson, Ipsy & Ethan Jupe.

    Artists & Writers: Paige, There’s A Tuesday, Park Rd, DUAL, Evie, Luca George, Lepani, Cecily, Spencer Coyle, Aidan Fine, WHO SHOT SCOTT, Ratbag., Jayden Paul (Daily J), Xuzz, Sam V, Reuben Fleetwood, A.R.T, Foley, MACEY, Mikeyy, Sally, Rodney Fisher, HINA, MCK, Blake, Ryan Hobbs, Benjamin Mack, Smurgy, HALES, YAHYAH, ZËxÏÏ, Flaxxies, Skye Hine & Michael Kuresa.

    2022 Image Block
    Photos by Christian Tjandrawinata.

    Songs written at Song Week 2022 that have been released include Park Rd’s ‘Secrets’ (Written by Sam McCarthy, Park Rd, Harry Parsons), Aidan Fine’s ‘Sunday Morning (Dan Martin, Aidan Fine, Ethan Jupe), and Sam V’s song ‘Distance (written by Nic Manders, Sam V & Michael Kuresa).

    Song Week 2022 was curated by Jane de Jong.

    Special thanks to NZ On Air for supporting Song Week 2022.

  • Song Week 2021 saw 50 Aotearoa musicians come and fill the building, for five days of caffeine-fuelled songwriting.

    This year’s writing camp took out the record for having 55 songs written over the week, culminating in a Listening Party with all attendees to celebrate their work.

    Producing Song Week 2021’s sessions were: SACHI, Simon Gooding, Joe Faris, Timon Martin, Dan Martin, Josh Naley, Nic Manders, Harry Charles, Ben Malone, Abigail Knudson, Will Henderson, Emily Wheatcroft-Snape & WHO SHOT SCOTT.

    Artists & Writers: BEXY, Luca George, Amila, Henry Beasley (Balu Brigada), Tom Young (Leisure), DUAL, Reuben Fleetwood, LAAIKA, Ashley Alexander, Aidan Fine, Judah Kelley, Foley, Lévyne, Julius Black, Harry Parsons, Phodiso, MCK, ZËxÏÏ, A.R.T, YAHYAH, Crystal Chen, Lisa Grace, Marianne Wren, Connor Jaine, Smurgy, Becca Caffyn, Benjamin Mack, Hakim Lukman, Josh Chatfield, Jasmine Pene & Ilena Shadbolt.

    2021 Image
    Photos by Christian Tjandrawinata.

    Songs released from Song Week 2021 include DUAL’s ‘Magic’ (Warner - written by Abigail Knudson, DUAL & Henry Beasley), Amila Ft. MACEY ‘The Pattern’ (5AM - written by Josh Naley, Amila & Harry Parsons), and Smurgy’s ‘Mess’ (written by Harry Charles, Smurgy & Ilena Shadbolt).

    Song Week 2021 was curated by Jane de Jong.

  • Despite happening between lockdowns, our second Song Week event almost doubled in size, hosting 47 Kiwi musicians across 5 days.

    Song Week 2020 had up to 11 studio sessions running per day, wrapping with a Listening Party to celebrate the 51 songs written over the week.

    Song Week 2020 producers were: Simon Oscroft (US), Devin Abrams, Matt Sadgrove, Rory Noble, Dan Martin, EDY, Abigail Knudson, Simon Gooding, Maude Morris, Will Henderson, Nic Manders, Ben Malone, Joseph Faris, Josh Naley, Matt Clampitt & Ben Bartlett.

    Artists & Writers: Balu Brigada, RIIKI, Lepani, Dave Baxter (Avalanche City), Foley, Jayden Paul (Daily J), Cassie Henderson, Reuben Fleetwood, Georgia Lines, Possum Plows, Neil MacLeod, Steph Brown (Lips), Jeremy Redmore, Harry Parsons, Jon Lemmon, Sally, Alex Farrell-Davey (Alae), Ryan Hobbs, Nick Dow, Lévyne, Carly Gill, Christian Tjandrawinata, Harry Charles, Jen Turner, A.R.T, Lisa Grace, Chris Bates, Kyla Greening & Maria Schryvers.

    2020 Image
    Photos by Tom Grut.

    Songs written at Song Week 2020 that have been released include Balu Brigada’s ‘Moon Man’ (Warner/Capitol - written by Simon Gooding, Balu Brigada & Jayden Paul), Reuben Fleetwood’s ‘Same Shit’ (Sony - written by Matt Sadgrove, Reuben Fleetwood & RIIKI), and Georgia Lines’ ‘Leave Behind’ (written by Nic Manders, Georgia Lines & Nick Dow).

    Song Week 2020 was curated by Jane de Jong.

  • Parachute’s inaugural Song Week camp was held in 2019, with 26 attendees.

    30 songs were written over the five-day event, which culminated with everyone gathering together for a Listening Party in Studio A.

    Song Week 2019 sessions were helmed by the following producers: Rory Noble, Dan Martin, Nic Manders, Josh Naley, Struan Finlay, Ben Malone & Will Henderson.

    Artists & Writers: TEEKS, Niko Walters, NIKA, Abby Christo, Gavin Correia (Jupiter Project), Possum Plows, Villette, Max Gunn, Ryan Hobbs, Ash Wallace (Foley), Jon Lemmon, Tom Young (Leisure), Lévyne, Marianne Wren, Harry Parsons, Belladonna, Kaaterama Pou, Julius Black & Jen Turner.

    Image Block
    Photos by Christian Tjandrawinata.

    Songs released from Song Week 2019 include Abby Christo’s ‘Cooler Than Me’ (written by Will Henderson, Abby Christo & Jono Boyle), Villette’s ‘Curious’ (written by Ben Malone, Villette, Jono Boyle & Max Gunn), and Kaaterama’s ‘E Ihoa’ (written by Dan Martin, Kaaterama & Jen Turner).

    Song Week 2019 was curated by Jane de Jong.

 

WRITTEN AT SONG WEEK:

 

WRITING NIGHTS

In 2022, Parachute also started hosting regular Writing Nights, to bring musicians together in our studios more often throughout the year.

We host around 20 songwriters, producers and artists at these nights who write in teams across five or six studios. Some of these events are run with guest curators, who we invite to come up with the lineup and delegate writing teams.

 

Thanks to Recorded Music NZ for supporting our October & December 2023 Writing Nights.

Special thanks to Creative NZ for generously supporting our Regional Artist Fund in 2023 & 2024.