Usually, it can take songwriters years to write, perform and produce a new song, but could it be done in just eight weeks? Rockit Vocal Studios in Cochrane launched a project to find out.

Write, Record, Release was created to support new Canadian artists in every aspect of being a professional musician. “It's been crazy!” says Emma Harding, Owner & Vocal Coach of Rockit Vocal Studios.  “We've been very, very busy. We have five participants and they've been working really hard to literally write a song, record a song and we are formally releasing them on the 30th of March.”

“A lot of times, songwriters will go into the studio and they've known the song that they've been working on and they've had it in the bank for six months or a year. These guys wrote their song and a week later, we're in the studio having a rehearsal with the band and it's like, go, go, go!”

The program was given funding from Alberta Music and began in February 2022. Five artists were invited to Cochrane to create new music that will be professionally recorded and formally released within 8 weeks. The participating artists range from beginners to experienced musicians but these are the first formal song releases for all of them.

“We had some funding from Alberta Music and the Alberta government and they said, if you come up with a great idea, we'll help you out with it.”

“It has been amazing because I have these fantastic clients that have so much potential and we have this opportunity so let's make it happen.”

Write, Record, Release not only covered the writing and performing aspects of being a professional musician. Marketing, promotion, streaming music, artist branding, and entertainment law were a part of the crash course.

The program wraps up this Wednesday night (March 30, 2022) in Calgary. The five artists will each debut and perform their new single live for an audience at the Blind Beggar Pub on McCloud Trail. 

Harding says the showcase will have something for any music fan.

“We've got every different genre, which you think coming out of the same project, it would all be kind of similar. We've got pop-rock, funk, soul, R&B kind of stuff and some country too. It's a complete mix.”

“I'm so impressed with their songs.”

The five artists making their professional debut include. 

Arlyss Southin - Country -  'Crazy from A to Z' 

Vanessa Wagner - 90s pop vibe - 'I'd Rather Lose You'

Brayden Lowe - R&B /Pop - 'Underneath It All' 

Nicole Byrne - Modern Punk Pop - 'Don't' 

Midnite Gossip - Electro Pop - 'Halos' 

With the success of Write, Record, Release, Rockit Vocal Studios is looking for more artists to join for the next round.