THE BUSINESS OF SONGWRITING

Join us on the evening of Sunday April 28 at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver for an insightful panel and songwriters circle moderated by Kristina Lao, featuring award winning composer Mary Ancheta, seasoned swoon rock artist Alexandria Maillot, and Jenny Lea of hip-hop girl group NADUH.

This two part event will consist of an educational panel on the business of being a songwriter including writing for film/tv and the art of landing sync placements, followed by an intimate acoustic songwriters circle featuring performances from our panelists.

This event is open to emerging and established songwriters, composers, and producers looking for advice on navigating their career in this ever-changing industry.

All tickets are PWYC with proceeds going to the Olivia Quan Award for Audio Excellence scholarship.

Location: The Warehouse Studio, 100 Powell St - limited onsite parking available, street parking available, accessible by transit.

Doors: 6:00 pm - casual networking, complimentary light refreshments

Panel start: 7:00 pm

Event end: 9:30 pm

Accessibility Details: Fully seated venue, gender-neutral bathroom, indoor temperature regulated space with high ceilings. The studio is located on the top floor and an elevator is available for use.

About our panelists:

Alexandria Malliot

Vancouver Island's “swoon rock” artist Alexandria Maillot guides listeners on an introspective journey through rain-soaked roads and lava-lamp-lit bedrooms, blending experimental rock and indietronica with poignant lyricism. Maillot’s career, spanning from childhood, showcases national radio attention, critical acclaim, extensive touring, notable performances at Rifflandia and Reeperbahn Festival (among others), sync placements (Netflix, MTV, Hallmark), and collaborations with artist/composers like Terez and Steph Copeland. Cryptomnesia, Maillot’s third and newest album, takes inspiration from the likes of Radiohead and Juana Molina, delving into new sonic realms that are at once hauntingly familiar and briskly contemporary, exploring themes of memory, loss, and the quest for self-discovery.

Jenny Lea

Jenny Lea is a professional singer-songwriter, performer, Billboard charting and award winning recording artist based out of so-called Vancouver, BC.

She first gained notoriety as I M U R’s front-women (2015-2022). The band released 4 albums, toured Canada, USA, and India, and performed main stages at festivals such as Bumbershoot, Shambhala, and Bass Coast. Lea was awarded Best Electronic Song in the 2017 Canadian Songwriting Competition, and Best Electronic Artist in the 2019 WCMAs. The group has had great success garnering sync placements in television with their catalogue.

Lea is now writing and performing in the 5-piece femme powered supergroup, NADUH. Since their inception in 2020, they’ve released their debut EP 'HOMIESEXUAL' garnering over half a million plays across streaming platforms, and were nominated for R&B Artist of the Year at the 2022 WCMAs. They’ve toured the UK/EU, and have supported sold out shows for artists like Jacob Banks and Raveena. The group recently signed a publishing deal with Third Side Music, and secured Midnight Agency for their bookings.

Mary Ancheta

Mary Ancheta is a Canadian Filipina born in Hamilton, Ontario. While teaching at the Ontario Conservatory of Music she received her B.A. of Music at McMaster University. Now a Vancouver, BC based composer you can hear her work on such Networks as Showtime, Netflix, HBO, National Geographic, Bravo, The Hallmark Channel, CTV, Fox, Crave, The Discovery Channel, Freeform, TNT, and more.

In 2022 Mary scored the award winning feature film Golden Delicious directed by Jason Karman.

Ancheta cut her teeth playing keyboards with such acts as Khari McLelland, Kimmortal, iskwē, Buckman Coe, Ashleigh Ball, Dutch Robinson, Francis Arevalo, Jill Barber, Tonye, Marlie Collins, Alex Flock, Missy D, and on recordings with the production duo Cookie Cartel. Notable shows include opening for John Mayer, the Warped Tour, performance for Director Michael Moore during Grammy week, performance for Coco Lee, Roger Federer, performance at the MET, Central Park for Summerstage, performance for the Premiere of Bermuda at City Hall, and acting as Musical Director for Da Kink in My Hair at the Arts Club.

Mary has a passion for storytelling and the human condition. She enjoys collaborating with other artists and her aim is to help tell more diverse stories through her music.Her band the Mary Ancheta Quartet have released an EP entitled 'Level Up'. In 2023 they played the Mainstage of Jazz Festivals all across Canada on festivals including Herbie Hancock, Su Ra Arkestra, Domi & JD Beck, George Benson, and more.

Kristina Lao

Kristina (she/her), is an Artist-Advocate from Hong Kong with over 15 years working internationally as a consciously multi-faceted creative, curator and Event Producer. She is the first person from Hong Kong to graduate from the London School of Musical Theatre, and holds a degree with honours in International Business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. As a creator, Kristina is a podcast host, a nationally touring theatre, film and voice actor, and musician and songwriter.

With over five years’ Board and Committee experience on local, Provincial and international organisations, Kristina has also juried, moderated and curated panels around Creative Career Pathways in Media & Entertainment. She is currently consulting independently for select clients, including re:Naissance Opera, Pooni Group, Vancouver Asian Film Festival, DigiBC and Music BC.

Kristina believes in creative hybridity, active community engagement, and the relevance of highlighting and operating in more than only the forward-facing and glamorised careers in entertainment.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Warehouse Studio, 100 Powell Street, Vancouver, Canada