SongSeeds Guest Speaker
At SongSeeds Online Songwriting Retreats, we believe that sharing practice can both motivate and demystify the songwriting experience.
As part of the new framework for our residential retreats, you can expect 3 music industry faces who will take a deep-dive into their process, answer your questions and set a tailored songwriting challenge for the day. Our guests range from commercial industry to underground and DIY practitioners, all of whom are established, experienced songwriters.
You can check out our previous guests in our Guest Speaker Gallery
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We are absolutely thrilled to invite Jill Jackson, Paque and Josephine Sillars to provide workshops at our September retreat!!
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September 2023
//Masterclass from... Jill Jackson
Jill Jackson is one of Scotland’s leading singer songwriters and an acclaimed artist within the thriving international Americana music scene. Her latest album 'Yours Aye' released in May 2022 was the highest new entry on the Official UK Americana Chart as well as rocketing to No.1 on the UK Country iTunes Chart.
"The opening song of her latest album ‘Hurt’ is straight out of the mould of Dolly Parton and is a piece of classic country that stands alongside anything her heroes have written." American UK
Her sensitive and sympathetic storytelling, heart-rending vocals, and sheer love of Americana music, have earned her a loyal fan base around the world and not surprisingly, drawn comparisons to the likes of Brandi Carlile and Joni Mitchell. A natural born storyteller and award-winning artist, Jill effortlessly marries swinging American charm with Scottish heart.
As former front woman of noughties pop-rock group Speedway, she has enjoyed an illustrious 20-year career – from signing to major record label Virgin EMI and topping the UK singles chart, to performing on Top of the Pops and stages around the world such as T In The Park, Party In The Park, Glastonbury and Wembley Arena, writing for Mel C and touring with the likes of Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart.
Country and Americana music have always been Jill’s creative home, after falling in love with the holy trinity that is Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris as a child. Growing up in Glasgow, she picked up a guitar aged 9 and was determined to teach herself, spending hours diligently recording Chet Atkins on VHS and watching him over and over until she could lovingly recreate the remarkable sounds.
"There are singers who can make the emotions rise in your heart, Jackson is one of them." Folding.com
Joining a country band at 16, Jill left school to pursue a musical career and began performing relentlessly across the UK. Feeding off the unique energy and transformative experience of playing to a live audience, her confidence grew.
It was perhaps during her time living in Nashville that she cemented her “easy American country swagger” (Louder Than War). In Tennessee the discerning crowd of The Bluebird Café’s famous In The Round deemed Jill’s performance worthy of a standing ovation and today, the connection Jill builds between her and her audience at live shows is mesmerising. Immersed in her audience’s experience, Jill creates a warm, interactive space for her fans. And in return, she feels understood and seen in a way only possible through music.
With five solo records under her belt, Jill’s 2018 album, Are We There Yet? was released to critical acclaim, reaching number 3 in the iTunes UK Country Charts, and racking up more than 1 million views on YouTube.
Despite her many career achievements and undeniable credibility, Jill is an artist who has often – until now – felt like the underdog. However, as the tide slowly starts to change in music and an undercurrent of female talent begins to dominate the Americana scene, Jill stands proudly at the heart of that incredible swell.
//Workshops from...
PAQUE is one of Scotland’s leading Hip Hop artists, having released dozens of singles and projects, as well as performing across the country, over his exciting 10-year career. His love for; 90’s Rap, 2000’s Hip Hop, modern Trap music, along with R’n’B, Pop and Alternative Rock, create and drive the influences on his music.
PAQUE has supported many big names in the Hip Hop world from; A$AP Nast, The Game, Hopsin, AJ Tracey, Lil Tjay, 67 and more. He has also headlined performances to his own fan base over the last few years – only being stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic – and he is aiming to jump back on stages in 2023.
Over the last 3 years PAQUE took some time away from releasing music to take care of his mental health, find new inspiration and expand his art. He is currently working on brand new projects and just generally enjoying the process of mastering his craft, with a lot of new music being recorded and released this year.
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