Performing Arts

2023 CASP SERIES TALK

Telling regional stories through songwriting

Songwriters Clinton Hoy (Dubbo) and Helena Pastor (Armidale) talk with Orana Arts’ Executive Director, Alicia Leggett about how they approach the telling of regional stories through their songwriting.

Clinton’s CASP project was the title of his album, Soundtrack of Our Lives, with the CASP funding going towards supporting the launch of the album with shows, professional promotion and workshops. Clinton was keen to take his music to new areas and audiences and pass on what he’s learned as a regionally-based musician.

Helena’s project, Stories in Song was about recording 10 original ‘storytelling songs’ to build her capacity and professional skills as a songwriter and lyricist. Helena has written over 50 songs as a composer and lyricist. She worked with fellow musician, Chris Purcell on the project.

Recorded on Zoom on 17 April 2024.

Older talks

 

STUDIO CO!LAB TALK

Writing for performance

Regionally-based performing artists Lusi Austin (Cowra) and Jude Bowler (Gulgong) come together with Orana Arts’ performing arts producer, Camilla Ward (Dubbo) to talk about writing for performance in an entertaining, insightful and at times vulnerable discussion about the life of a performance artist and where writing fits into the process.

Recorded on Zoom on 13 September 2023.

2022 CASP SERIES TALK

Developing performing arts audiences

Erifili Davis (filmmaker), Anna Bloomfield (ballet studio principal) and Clinton Hoy (musician) talk about audience development for the performing arts with Orana Arts' Executive Director, Alicia Leggett. Covering film, music and dance, these three performing creatives discuss why regionally-based performing artists need to move beyond their home base to find new audiences and opportunities for their artform. Each of these artists used their 2022 Country Arts Support Program (CASP) funding to do just that.

Recorded on Zoom on 12 July 2023.

ARTIST LINKS

Tim Moxey

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/timmoxeymusic

Video made about recording the drums https://youtu.be/Tn1MNrZ3iog

Mick Davis

Studio 138 (Dubbo) - http://studio138.com.au

Songwriters & Original Musicians Dubbo Inc. - https://somad.org.au

 

STUDIO CO!LAB TALK

Behind the words and music

Musicians Mick Davis (Dubbo) and Tim Moxey (Helensburgh) speak with guest facilitator and music journalist, Ken Smith, about their work and what drives what they do as songwriters and musicians.

Mick Davis received an Orana Arts Studio Co!Lab Members Grant in 2021 to work with a returned serviceman to write music and record it. The project also involved mentoring through the collaboration with experienced musician, Wez Thompson, with the aim of recording and releasing the finished song.

The idea of working with a non-musician to tell their story through song is something that I would like to explore as a creative.

Tim Moxey was the recipient of an Arts Restart grant in 2021, funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW. His project at the time was an album he'd been working on for over 10 years, involving solo and collaborative songwriting and exploring what it means to be an Australian singer-songwriter.

I want to draw others into my stories to show them they are not alone in their own struggles, and they are never too old or too different to tell their own stories, whether it's through music or another medium.

Recorded on Zoom, on 23 February 2022.

STUDIO CO!LAB TALK

Jex Lopez

Juggling multiple disciplines in the gig economy and creating a creative path outside the confines of traditional conservative capitalism.

Jex Lopez is queer artist and performer whose practice spans avant-garde music, visual art, performance art, story telling, puppetry and teaching. Lopez draws inspiration from her Mestiça, Portuguese Indian heritage and the heart and spirit of the Northern Rivers on Bundjalung country where she lives. She has a unique ability to tap into collective emotions and confront uncomfortable social truths with dignity and love. Jex recently won an Australian Council grant to tour her upcoming album around NSW and was an Arts Restart Grant recipiient through Orana Arts.

Recorded on Zoom, 4 August 2021.

 
 

STUDIO CO!LAB TALK

Gabbi Bolt

How my silly online music videos accidentally gave me a real-life career.

Gabbi Bolt or @Fettuccinefettuqueen is famed on TikTok for her blend of comedy, political commentary and songwriting. Her song for Ratatouille, the TikTok musical, brought her creativity into the worldwide spotlight. She has since moved to Sydney from her hometown of Bathurst to pursue various writing and performing opportunities.

Recorded on Zoom, 19 May 2021.

From the garage to the stage with the founders of SOMAD

We caught up with Clinton Hoy, Fred Randell and Tim Hosking of Songwriters & Original Musicians Association Dubbo to find out how they went from the garage to the stage…and then a festival. These guys are the movers and shakers behind Dubbo's Under Western Skies Festival too.

This video interview was conducted and recorded with the assistance of a Create NSW Restart Arts grant.