Rena Song Fest is a collaboration between the music production industry and INN University, bringing together professional and amateur songwriters, artists, and industry professionals from around the world for a four-day songwriting camp. The municipality is also contributing with venues.
– It is going to be almost like a festival, says Carl-Henrik Wahl about the event, which runs from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 June. He is the manager of the production company The Woods, which is the main organiser of the camp, a music producer, and also a university lecturer at the Inland School of Business and Social Sciences, where he teaches Music Business and Production.
Eurovision success at Rena
The theme for the camp is Eurovision, and the goal is to create 75 new pop songs for the music competition. At least. Among the participants are those who have succeeded in this before – also originating at Rena.
– I introduced Lasse, Benjamin and Linda to each other at Rena, then they went to Berlin and wrote the winning song, says Wahl. He is referring to the three Norwegian songwriters Lasse Nymann, Linda Dale and Benjamin Alsau, who were behind this year's Eurovision winner 'The Code', performed by the artist Nemo Mettler for Switzerland.
Close ties between studies and industry
– It is incredible to see what we can achieve when we bring people together, says Wahl. He believes that the music magic happening at Rena is due to the close ties between the music production programme and the industry.
– I am a proud teacher in the music production programme, but I also work in the industry. This way, I can always bring current industry insights into the classroom. The studies automatically become relevant when students can connect with key players and get to know high-level international production environments, says Wahl, pointing out that all employees at The Woods are former students of INN.
It is not just pop songs that are produced during the songwriting camps at Rena.
– This also contributes to the university's research work. Last year, the camps contributed with four research points to INN, says Wahl.
Free industry day for students
On the first day of the camp there will be a seminar covering a range of topics, from the big question of why we need music, through Eurovision for beginners, to marketing and rights. Naturally, there will also be a lecture on artificial intelligence and music production.
– The seminar programme is free for our students. This also applies to those who have applied for a spot in the music production programme in the autumn, says Jonas Bjälesjö, associate Professor atInland School of Business and Social Sciences. He emphasises that it is a great opportunity to get to know both the study programme, the campus, and the industry better.
Admissions are not yet finalised, so unfortunately the university cannot invite new students personally.
– But please do get in touch with us if you have applied for a spot in the music production programme in the autumn and wish to attend the industry day as an observer, encourages Bjälesjö.
If you have the next Eurovision hit or a great pop song in mind, it is still possible to apply for a spot as a participant at the camp.
- Read more about Rena Song Fest
- Read more about the bachelor's programme in Music Business and Production
Contact
- carl-henrik.wahl@inn.no
- jonas.bjalesjo@inn.no