DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DIVISION
DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
LUIS P. SALAVERIA
DIRECTOR
GEORJA SKINNER
CHIEF OFFICER, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DIVISION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 24, 2017
CREATIVE LAB HAWAII ANNOUNCES PARTICIPANTS AND COACHES FOR 2017 MUSIC IMMERSIVE
CONNECTING SONGWRITERS WITH FILM & TV INDUSTRY
Nā Hōkū Hanohano Winner, Amanda Frazier, Among Participants to Collaborate with Top Music Producers and Entertainment Executives from STARZ, Fox Broadcasting and More
HONOLULU – Opening new revenue and creativity channels for Hawaii’s musicians, Creative Lab Hawaii (CLH) is proud to announce 11 finalists for its annual Music Immersive program that pairs up songwriters with professionals in the entertainment industry.
Selected from both established and promising songwriter applicants, the participants will be partnered with leading entertainment studio executives, hit-making producers and music industry insiders to collaborate on songs for specific TV and film projects. The CLH Music Immersive, spearheaded by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) Creative Industries Division, is held on Hawaii Island at the Hapuna Prince Hotel from Sept. 11-15 following the Hawaii Songwriting Festival.
“There’s a demand for quality compositions to be licensed in movies, television and new media, but these lucrative opportunities are challenging to tap for talented local musicians without a network,” explains Georja Skinner, chief officer of DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division and founder of CLH. “Through this specialized immersive, we are empowering participants with the kinds of connections, creative tools and business insights necessary for success.”
Admittance to CLH’s free Music Immersive is highly competitive. Among this year’s participants are Nā Hōkū Hanohano winners, including Amanda Frazier (Amanda Frazier and the Keepers) and Chaz Kaiolohia Umamoto (Streetlight Cadence), along with:
• Patricia Bahia (Santa Monica, CA; has place songs with NBC, TVLand and Freeform/ABC Family)
• Liv Cargile (Honolulu, HI; Nā Hōkū nominee)
• Josh Jones (Kapolei, HI; co-writer of Coca-Cola global anthem)
• Kimberly June (Kailua Kona, HI; signed writer with Tom Leis Music)
• Carl Kauhane and Chase Kauhane (both of Kamuela, HI; winners best original song at KMF)
• Keilana Mokulehua (Honolulu, HI; 1st prize winner Open Mic 2017 at Hawaii Book & Music Festival)
• Tim Rose (Honolulu, HI; two-time Nā Hōkū nominee)
• Zoë Zelkind (Santa Monica, CA; has placed songs with HBO and CW)
Grammy and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winner, Charles M. Brotman, directs the program, and was instrumental in the selection process of the participants and securing the coaches. Adds Brotman, “It’s rewarding to offer talent of this quality a chance to expand their creativity and business opportunities through the help of world-class mentors and a truly unique collaborative process.”
Among the coaches for the Music Immersive:
• “Hookman” Marlin Bonds (songwriter/producer; co-writer with Jordin Sparks, Kelly Rowland and more)
• Janine Scalise Boyd (VP Music, Creative & Business Affairs – Starz)
• Susan Dolan (SVP Creative Music and Production – Fox Broadcasting)
• Michael Eames (President, Association of Independent Publishers)
• Richard Harris (songwriter/producer of chart-toppers including #1 Billboard hit “Lie to me”)
• Andre Merritt (Grammy-winning songwriter; hit-writer for Rhianna, Kanye West and more)
• Chris Mollere (music supervisor on more than 700 TV episodes and 30 films)
• Steven B. Ray (feature film music supervisor; manager for songwriter and fellow coach, Andre Merritt)
• Adam Zelkind (songwriter/composer/producer with credits on feature films and almost 800 TV episodes)
The participants will work with their mentors on songs for a specific TV or film project each day of the CLH Music Immersive. In addition to composing, participants will gain a deeper understanding of licensing, publishing, intellectual property protection, and other aspects of the business. Following the completion of the 5-day intensive, attendees will receive year-round mentoring support.
A participant in last year’s inaugural Music Immersive, 2016 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning musician, Kimié Miner, will return in a different role this year—continuing to build on her connections while encouraging the new participants. Her prior experience with the program helped to inspire both a new hit song and to start Haku Hawaii, a full-service music, audio, and talent production group through which she also fostered her own mentorship program for Hawaii’s emerging performers. Miner co-wrote “Bamboo” with her friend and fellow participant, Izik, along with Los Angeles songwriter Jesse Epstein from Secret Road Publishing. Additionally, Kimie and Izik each separately sold a song to a major entertainment studio following the CLH Music Immersive.
“As artists, particularly in Hawaii, we embrace a sense of community— the CLH Music Immersive provides new connections and extends our community by bridging the gap to mainland music industries,” says Kimie Miner. “By participating in the CLH Immersive, we develop a new sense of direction. Though many of us have already launched our own creative journeys, what is so powerful about the program is it allows us to share a vessel and bring new opportunities into view.”
About Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)
DBEDT is Hawaii’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawaii economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawaii’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments, and promotes innovation sector job growth.
About Creative Industries Division (CID)
CID, a division within DBEDT, is the state’s lead agency dedicated to advocating for and accelerating the growth of Hawaii’s Creative Economy. Through initiatives, program development, and strategic partnerships, the division and its branches implements activities to expand the business development, global export and investment capacity of Hawaii’s arts, culture, music, film, literary, publishing, digital and new media industries.
About Creative Lab Hawaii (CLH)
Creative Lab Hawaii (CLH) was founded in 2012 by the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic, Development and Tourism (DBEDT)’s Creative Industries Division to accelerate the growth of Hawaii’s creative entrepreneurs through immersive, hands-on training in broadband/new media, producing, screenwriting, interactive media, music and design/fashion. CLH, a key facet of DBEDT’s HI Growth Initiative, is developing an ecosystem to increase export, attract investment and build the State’s creative entrepreneurial capacity. CLH features three program components: 1) Immersive Programs; 2) Ideation Workshops; and 3) Public Keynotes. Website: creativelab.hawaii.gov
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