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 3 team in the Coach House studio.
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.
By Day 3 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 have found 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 Day 3 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!
Day 3: 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 in the air as the artists find out who their Producer and team will be.
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 today… and in the space between Alex’s airy reverse guitars and Greg’s gritty snare, Kota finds 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. 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 us at Pro7ect is so that the songs 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.
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!
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 feel so proud to share our ‘Eyes Wide Open’ song with the other artists!
22.00 late nights at Rockfield. The after party moves to the Quadrangle living room. These evenings give us all a chance to de-frag, compare experiences with 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.
About Pro7ect:
26 artists travelled from around the world to write and record 15 songs at the 8th annual Pro7ect residential songwriting retreat at Rockfield Studios, in July 2023. To find out about our 2024 events, and to register your interest, go to: www.pro7ect.com or email info@pro7ect.com
Pro7ect is a global network of musical professionals that facilitate creative opportunities for songwriters, producers, and musicians to collaborate at residential writing retreats. We inspire musical collaboration.
Dates, headline producers and prices for Pro7ect 2024 will be announced in October.
To find out more and to apply for a place at Pro7ect 2023, please visit www.pro7ect.com.