Songwriting Residency at Clouds Hill Studios: Sep. 13th-22nd 2021

EUROPEAN GHOSTS is a MUSIC MOVES EUROPE co-creation project centred around a songwriting and recording residency at Hamburg’s Clouds Hill recording studio: https://cloudshillrecordings.com/

The 10-day residency will invite European artists during 3-day working cycles, 7 at a time, with the goal of establishing cross-regional working groups leading to the composition and recording of new European repertoire. Focused on songwriting, story-telling, and exploring uniquely European new soundscapes and styles affirming the “European Sound” found in German and UK classic analogue recordings. 

CloudsHill is the perfect environment upon which to delve into these explorations and co-creation. Owned by producer Johann Scheerer, it is an analogue studio packed with vintage gear that provides a unique live-in experience for creators.

Applications will be received for the residency via the EUROPEAN GHOSTS OPEN CALL. The artist curators will be responsible for “matching” the participants from different regions and cultural/musical traditions so as to foster creativity and recorded output from each working group. Furthermore, while the prospecting certainly focuses on the folk mapping and traditions, the curation that is asked of the Artist Curators in the selection process must keep in mind that the goal is to be open and experimental in the artistic approach.

Industry experts will also train the participants in several key aspects of music business promotion, synch, and general career development during the residencies – either in loco or virtually via webinars.

At the end of the residency, after the writing camps and webinars, the last day at Clouds Hill will be devoted to rough mixes, ie. preparing the output recordings for the final phase of the project, the networking and dissemination. 

21 Artists will participate in the residency in total; 7 participating artists will take part in each 3-day segment. Chosen by the artist curators through the Open Calls, these artists will each bring a different European folk instrument or tradition into each camp, having the opportunity to co-write and co-produce with artists from across Europe in the genesis of new side-projects or enhancing the material songs that can be used to further everyone’s careers.

This unique camp, while highlighting some of the aspects of songwriting for successful careers, focuses on the necessary creative freedom allowing for the creation of genuinely artistic European repertoire. The weight of the history of using ancient folk instruments or vocal traditions in new ways, respectfully re-inventing European heritage for the 21st century, will provide the basis for the 21 artists working together (in groups of 7) to yield a total of 9 new musical works – the goal being one per day. 

Throughout the camp, the virtual (or in person) visits by industry experts versed in the topics that form the integral part of the complimentary objectives will frame the creative works into a position aimed at success: on how to market online, how to tell the story that sets each song and project apart, as well as how to reach out to industry, film and TV professionals as well as synch in general. 

The webcast “fly on the wall” cameras will also document the camps in progress as well as the open webinars with experts will ensure the reach and the benefits of the project go beyond the scope of the 21 participants; in fact everything will be online and freely available to everyone on the web.

Photos: Clouds Hill recording studio: https://cloudshillrecordings.com/