Songwriting

Write songs from scratch in a supportive, collaborative environment for the entire week. Discover how to take a basic idea, a possible title or a chord progression and turn it into a finished song you’re proud of. Learn how to work with other musically minded folk to present your song live. Prerequisite: 1. A passion for music. 2. A creative spirit – be willing to try things out and share ideas.

You will need reasonable competence playing a chordal instrument (piano, keyboard, guitar or ukulele).

TUTOR: EDEN IRIS

Eden is a songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand, who has been described as “an artist working in a new space” (Jordan Luck, Exponents) “with the ambition to carve out her own niche on the immense tree of folk-inspired music” (Tobi, Demerara Records). Recording and producing out of her home studio, Eden combines her love of infectious pop melodies and the grit of Americana stringed instruments to create a unique and compelling storytelling experience through her music. 

Moving to Los Angeles at twenty years-old with just a suitcase and a guitar, Eden’s music has taken her to cities such as Nashville, Austin, and New Orleans, to perform and co-write with established songwriters. Commanding a strong live performance with her dynamic rhythm guitar technique, she has supported touring artists such as Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Gin Wigmore (You Are Us Concert, LA, 2019), Nik Kershaw (NZ Tour 2014), and Mark Scibalious (Hotel Cafe, LA, 2018). In January 2020, Eden received a grant from the New Zealand Music Commission to travel and perform at the Folk Alliance International Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she opened for Tami Neilson and Troy Kingi.