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The Art of Songwriting Panel

Are you looking to improve your songwriting skills to create the next chart-topping single? Or looking for tips to help beat writers block?

This weekend, we are joined by award winning songwriters Steff Reed, Sia Amun, Ladidai and Chantae Vetrice to answer all of your questions on how to level up your songwriting skills.

Our speakers have worked with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Lady Gaga, Jhene Aiko, Swizz Beatz, Gordon Chambers, and more.

Our panelists will guide us through songwriting techniques to elevate our songwriting skills and better connect with our audiences, speak on their experiences in the music industry, how diversifying your skill set can lead to a successful career, and how to better understand copyrights and songwriter agreements as an artist.

We will conclude the event with a songwriting and networking session.

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SONGWRITING SESSION

The event will be concluded with our weekly listening session. 6-8 artists will have a chance to play their music in front of a live audience and will receive constructive criticism from our speakers.

To be considered for music play in the listening session, artists must purchase a SUBMISSION REVIEW ticket and submit one song LINK (preferably Spotify) by Friday 8/13 at 5pm ET with subject line "SATURDAY SUBMISSION" to info@finessed.media.

Our team will screen your music for relevancy to audience, quality, and how beneficial the feedback will be. If your submission is not accepted, you will receive a full refund. Submissions that are accepted will have 1:30 to 2 min of their song played in front of the audience.

Must be a Finessed Media VIP Career Development member or purchase a SUBMISSION REVIEW ticket for consideration.

Obtain membership here.

Songs will be reviewed before the listening session and your purchase will be refunded if the song is not accepted.

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Agenda:

12 - 12:10pm ET Introductions

12:10 - 12:45pm ET Interview with Steff Reed, Chantae Vetrice, Ladidai and Sia Amun

12:45 - 1pm ET Live Q+A with Zoom Audience

1 - 1:30pm ET Networking & Listening Session

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Steff Reed is a Musician, Educator, and Activist. As a singer, songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist, Steff Reed is known to affect audiences with his spiritual, uplifting energy and song. He is unafraid to be vulnerable and open in his own story, sharing lessons of resilience, healing, self-betterment. Reed blends genres of folk rock, alternative rock, pop rock to culminate in inspirational, humanitarian messages.

Over the years, Reed has gained national acclaim as a producer and song-writer having worked with the likes of Trey Songz, Jhene Aiko, Eric Roberson, Swizz Beatz, Kenny Lattimore and Gordon Chambers on songs that made it to the Billboard Charts.

As an Educator, Reed has taught thousands of youth between the ages 4-24 over the last 15 years. In 2013, he was nominated for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award and taught a “Power of Love” workshop at NYU/Ed Sullivan Fellows.

Reed is currently building a Brooklyn-based non-profit, Power of Love, in partnership with Judson Memorial Church. His latest music project is of the same name. By using his social capital and influence, Reed is scaling his impact to empower wider audiences and impact real political change.

SIA AMUN is no stranger to the music industry, following in her Billboard charting/Grammy Award-Winning Father's footsteps, she emerged from behind the scenes as a background vocalist-songwriter, working with and penning hits for chart toppers such as Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, and Lady Gaga to name a few.

SIA decided to take center stage as an independent artist after losing her grandmother to colon cancer. In 2017, she released her first EP entitled "The Blue Dream Project" which made its international debut in London. While living abroad in London, SIA AMUN kicked off her first independent promo tour and sold out shows overseas as the headliner.

In 2019, SIA AMUN made her Television debut on the #1 rated VH1 Docu-series, Love & Hip Hop Hollywood Season 6, appearing on a total of 9 episodes. In 2020, SIA AMUN released a full album entitled "Ready for Love" which has received rave reviews from her fans. In 2021 she released another EP and 5 consecutive music videos, showing no signs of slowing down.

SIA has shared the stage with artists such as Ziggy Marley, Keyshia Cole, Eric Bellinger, YG, Lyrica Anderson, D Smoke, SiR (TDE), Tiffany Gouché, and more. With over half a million plays and countless shows lined up around the US and London UK, SIA AMUN is poised for a big year and the best is yet to come!

Ladidai is a multi-genre songwriter from Yonkers, NY, focused primarily on contemporary pop, R&B, and hip-hop music. Her distinct style has caught the ears of music professionals associated with Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, Drake, and Chance the Rapper, among others. In 2018, she was a recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Harold Adamson Lyric Award for Rhythm & Soul. Her music has been licensed to several major networks including Fox and NBCUniversal.

Beyond her craft of songwriting, ladidai is involved in various operations that champion music professionals. She is the Social Media Manager for the Black Women in Media Collective, which highlights and supports Black women in music, television, and film; the Media Coordinator for HRDRV, the world's friendliest indie music creator community; the Head of Customer Service and a contributing editor for Bounce Gvng, an online distributor and publishing administration company for creators and by creators; as well as the Content Manager for Gender Amplified, a non-profit organization that supports and highlights women and non-binary individuals in music production and audio engineering.

ladidai desires to continue to expand her reach in songwriting and creator advocacy. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Chantae’ began her professional career in Atlanta, GA working alongside some of the industry’s top producers such as producer J Rell (Tyrese, Jamie Foxx, Musiq Soulchild, Maroon 5, ​CeeLo Green, Mr. Probz, Andersen Paak, Queen Latifah & others) and landed a production deal with Anthony Dent (Diddy’s Hitmen). After living in Atlanta, she moved to Ibiza Spain where she focused on creating her image and coming into more of her own as an artist. While doing so, she graced the cover of various magazines such as Ibiza Style and featured in Pacha Magazine alongside world renowned DJ Roger Sanchez (who she is still close friends with), Ushuaia Magazine, and being the face of UK based live music venue Ibiza Rocks Musically, she was able to work with producer Rui Da Silva of the famous song titled “Touch Me” and Sonic Vista Studios where artists such as Lady Gaga record when on the island.

Outside of music, fashion and modeling has always been her passion and has allowed her some exposure. She landed a collaboration with Swizz Beats and his worldwide art & music tour called NoCommission in partnership with Bacardi. Her face was on thousands of limited edition Bacardi bottles worldwide and Art Basel in Miami Beach, FL. Also, she has performed for a charity in The Hamptons run by 50 Cent. Currently, She has a partnership with beauty/cosmetics brand Manic Panic NYC (home of Tish & Snooky), getting ready to launch her debut merchandise line, and is also in talks with a major tech company called, Flowcode, for a uniquely exciting project in collaboration with her next single which will surely bring her the attention she so well deserves.

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August 7

Sound Engineering & Production Panel

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August 21

You Are More Than Music