CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO 40014605 (IF UNDELIVERABLE PLEASE RETURN TO 129 JOHN STREET, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5V 2E2 $4.95 CDN AND CRAFTOFCANADIANSONGWRITERS ART THE CELEBRATING PUBLISHED BY MAGAZINE S.A.C.’s BLUEBIRDNORTH GOESNATIONWIDE S.A.C.’s JOHN’S CAPEK:STORIESFROMTHETRENCHES SONGWRITERS INTHENEWS ALSO INTHISISSUE: WITH EMBERSWIFT 20 QUESTIONS NASHVILLE CATS CANADA’S “WHISPERING PINES” JASON SCHNEIDER’S A RIVETINGEXCERPTFROM FIRST BREAK JONI MITCHELL’S GETTING AHEADINMUSICCITY … S CONTESTS SONGWRITING O W y ha O FALL 2009, Volume 12Number3 2009,Volume FALL u’ T RE now a WINNER ? EXECUTIVE Director’S MESSAGE EDITOR Greg Quill MANAGING EDITOR Don Quarles DESIGN Ambrose Pottie CONTRIBUTORS Don Quarles, Nick Krewen, Christopher Ward, Dale Leung, Greg Quill MAGAZINE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR All photos courtesy of S.A.C., unless otherwise stated. DON QUARLES WITH INTERNATIONAL Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No. 40014605 CONFEDERATION Canada Post Account No. 02600951 OF AUTHORS ISSN 1481-3661 ©2002 FALL 2009 Volume 12 Number 3 .C. AND COMPOSERS Songwriters Association of Canada A SOCIETIES (CISAC) Subscriptions: Canada $16/year plus GST PRESIDENT ROBIN USA/Foreign $22 CONTENTS FEATURES: GIBB AT THE WORKS COPYRIGHT SUMMIT Songwriters Magazine is a publication of the IN WASHINGTON IN Songwriters Association of Canada (S.A.C.)and is 5 20 QUESTIONS : COURTESY S. : COURTESY JUNE. published three times a year. Members of S.A.C. receive Songwriters Magazine as part of their membership. Ember Swift reveals secrets of song craft HOTO P Songwriters Magazine welcomes editorial comment. Opinions expressed in Songwriters Magazine do not Exciting changes are taking place at the year. The annual week-long workshop was necessarily represent the opinions of the S.A.C. Address 7 NASHVILLE CATS S.A.C. We have moved our offices to a won- held at Ryerson University in Toronto and submissions, inquiries and changes of address to: Canadian blood continually renews itself in Nashville as derful house on John Street in downtown more than 55 enthusiastic songwriters at- Toronto. If you plan to be in the Toronto area tended sessions by songwriting gurus Fergus 129 John Street newbies take their turn in the buddy system, finding a Toronto, Ontario in the next few months, make sure you come Hambleton, Ember Swift, Sara Kamin M5V 2E2 5 welcome, direction, and a couch to sleep on visit for a tour of our new space. and special guests Tomi Swift, Greig Nori, By Tracey Ducharme Some of you may have attended “A Day Stephen Page and others. The event was pro- Phone: (416) 961-1588 of Song”, the June 2 series of four Bluebird duced by Blair Packham and Rik Emmett, or: 1-866-456-7664 with contributions from Bill McKetrick and Fax: (416) 961-2040 North songwriter showcases held in St. E-mail: [email protected] 9 TRUE NORTH HITS THE CONCERT TRAIL John’s, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Allister Bradley. Web: www.songwriters.ca Two major tours in the West and the East this fall Our thanks go to BBN producers Andrea All of these events and activities have not Monro, Ana Miura, Chris Burke-Gaffney slowed S.A.C. down in our continuing efforts All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be showcase the cream of True North’s famed crop reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted and Shari Ulrich for making this cross- to present real options enabling the moneti- of songwriters in any form or by any means without the prior written Canada event a huge success! With the help zation of digital music file sharing, and to permission of the Songwriters Association of Canada. of singer/songwriter Ann Vriend, we are influence copyright reform in Canada. also introducing another Bluebird North in The Minister of Canadian Heritage and BOARD OF DIRECTORS 10 LIFE IN THE TRENCHES Edmonton, starting in September. Look for Official Languages, James Moore and Indus- President: Eddie Schwartz Mega-hit songwriter John Capek recalls a brief and try Minister, Tony Clement, have been lis- Vice-President: Bill Henderson 7 the upcoming dates on our web site calendar. Vice-President: Greg Stephens fateful collaboration It was great to see some of you come tening to interest groups regarding copyright Treasurer: Jim Vallance out to the Annual General Meeting in June, over the summer and hope to introduce a Secretary: Greg Johnston when who we were treated to the fantastic new copyright bill in the fall. S.A.C. was Directors: Joan Besen, Chris Burke-Gaffney, 12 COVER STORY: SONGWRITING CONTESTS sounds of singer/songwriter Luke McMaster invited to attend two of the “round table” Emm Gryner, Marc Jordan, Blair Packham, Jane McGarrigle, Christopher Ward Tens of thousands of entries in dozens of song and elected our new Board of Directors, discussions and two of the town hall events. competitions are submitted by writers around the world which now includes Chris Burke-Gaffney There have been opportunities for public ADVISORY BOARD (Winnipeg) and Jane McGarrigle (Mon- input through an online forum that the gov- ADVISORY BOARD Jann Arden, Randy Bachman, every year, and Canadians win more than their fair share. Tommy Banks, Liona Boyd, John Capek, Tom Cochrane, treal). Special thanks to Stan Meissner, who ernment has set up. One of the items high on What’s the deal? cycled off the board this year. Stan, your the Governments list is to have Canada ratify Lisa Dalbello, Richard Dodson,Rik Emmett, Micky Erbe, Roy Forbes, David Foster, Alan Frew, Dan Hill, Paul By Nick Krewen leadership and guidance have been invalu- WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organi- Hoffert,Paul Janz, Ron Hynes, Ron Irving, Arnold Lanni, able over the last several years! sation) treaties, so that our own legislation Geddy Lee, Mike Levine, Colin Linden, Rita MacNeil, 12 S.A.C. had a booth at NXNE this year complies. I encourage you to engage in these Sarah McLachlan, Murray McLauchlan, Dean McTaggart, 15 JONI MITCHEL STEPS UP and featured “Drop in - Rock out” a place online consultations. Frank Mills, Ben Mink, Adam Mitchell, Gary O’Connor, Declan O’Doherty, Blair Packham, Dave Pickell, Raffi , An excerpt from Jason Schneider’s fascinating history of where musicians and songwriters could play Finally, thanks to our Regional Writers Cyril Rawson, Sam Reid, Tyler J. Smith, Ian Thomas, little snippets of music, hooks and guitar riffs Groups Coordinators, who are helping us to David Tyson, Sylvia Tyson, Shari Ulrich, Valdy, Canadian song, Whispering Pines: The Northern Roots of on video to be available later for everyone to reach more songwriters in more places, and Jim Vallance, Nancy White American Music...From Hank Snow to the Band contribute to a larger piece of work. The ob- to S.A.C. staff, Ania, Justin and Sandra for jective of this initiative is to get more people their hard work over the last few months. The S.A.C. gratefully acknowledges the support of The SOCAN Foundation and the Government of Canada, 18 BLUEBIRD NORTH – CANADA BOUND BY SONG collaborating and sharing music. Thanks also to others that have helped us through the Creators’ Assistance Component The Songwriters.ca website is going off and on in the offices, including Nick, of the Canada Music Fund Reports from S.A.C.-sponsored simultaneous workshops through an overhaul. We’re hoping to allow Yasmin, Alex and those who have helped in four cities for more information and learning tools us at recent events, including Steph and online than ever before, using video and Marianna. audio sessions to link members with their 15 Pro mentors and peers. Keep on writing, The summer songwriting workshop, now Don Quarles called Songstudio, saw a venue change this Executive Director 2 SONGWRITERS MAGAZINE FALL 2009 SONGWRITERS MAGAZINE FALL 2009 3 SONGWRITERS IN THE NEWS Thunderheist, P.E.I. rock band Two Hours SOCAN’S ECHO Traffic and and Toronto pop composer 20 QUESTIONS WITH … EMBER SWIFT SONGWRITING CONTEST Royal Wood also secured song placements in hit television shows as a result of being A: I am always thinking about it. Some- A: I can’t say. There are so many themes The fourth annual ECHO Songwriting Prize, seen by visiting music supervisors at the times the arrangement is what inspires the in my work. It really chronicles the themes which highlights and celebrates the 2008 Café. writing of it. For instance, when you land in my life, which change dramatically from songwriting talents of some of the best City and Colour’s “Sleeping Sickness” on what you can hear to be an excellent year to year. independent and up-and-coming song- ended up on Degrassi: The Next Genera- refrain, lyrically, and so you build a song writers in Canada, is underway. tion. that works around that structure. Other Q: Is there a concept that you have yet to The competition, under the aegis of Thunderheist had songs placed in The times, the arrangement is malleable and it write about that you’d like SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors L Word and Ugly Betty. gets jumbled about in post-production. to write a song about? and Music Publishers of Canada), is THE MOUNTAINS & THE TREES Two Hours Traffic’s “Jezebel” was adjudicated by an independent panel SHOWCASED AT THIS YEAR’S CANADIAN picked up for Castle, and another song for Q: Where do the lyrics come from? A: Not off the top of my head... comprising10 of the nation’s top music MUSIC CAFÉ. PHOTO SUPPLIED The Best Years. community tastemakers, representing Royal Wood’s “Mirror Without” was A: My head, conversations, the newspa- Q: Are there any rules to songwriting that various regions of the country and a Perlmutter, has become e a virtual clear- used in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.