HEART OF ME SONGWRITING CIRCLE
Welcome to the heart of the circle
Welcome singer-songwriters! If you would like to be considered as a Mentee for the first Heart of Me Songwriting Circle being held March 7-9, 2025 in Edmonton, here is the link to the Mentee Registration form.
Please scroll down the page to discover the vision, purpose, and values of the Heart of Me Songwriting Circle. We hope you take a moment to meet the six local singer-songwriters who will be your Mentors as well as the other collaborators.
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As Luke would say, more are always welcome.
Contacts
Coordinating
OUR VISION
Love your song!
The Heart of Me Songwriting Circle wants to create a future where Edmonton and Alberta singer-songwriters are more in tune with their own voice, their own stories and feel ready and supported in sharing them with the world. Although its humble start will be with a love for folk music and that community, it knows a great song does not want to be constrained by a music genre label.
OUR PURPOSE
Bring the heart of you into your songwriting!
Each year a circle of singer-songwriters will come together to spend uninterrupted time songwriting in a retreatful setting. We hope there is joy and connection from creating music in a shared space . Musicians will play one of two roles – Mentor or Mentee. Creative, dynamic and encouraging Mentors will support the Mentee’s songwriting development over the weekend, as the Mentees explore their own voice, their own stories to a new level in their songwriting.
The weekend closes with each mentor and mentee performing at least one of their original songs at “The Heart of Me Sessions” in front of an in-person audience. The general public can purchase tickets to attend.
In the first year, each Mentor will support two mentees in their songwriting journey.
We plan to support six Mentees aged 16 to 20, and six Mentees 21 years and up. Two Mentor Supports will also be available all weekend to support both mentors and mentees, and coordinate musical needs throughout the weekend, including getting everything performance ready for the Heart of Me Sessions.
The Heart of Me Songwriters Circle
2025 Mentors
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2025 Mentor Supports
WE VALUE
We aim to create a warm, safe and inviting place of comfort and authenticity for songwriting.
We understand, respect and appreciate the unpredictable and nonlinear journey of creating art and music.
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We value creative collaboration, community building and health for all involved, enhancing equity and inclusion.
We celebrate and amplify the strengths and talents of local, independent musicians, artists, creators and their supporting systems (music venues, public radio, event coordination, recording studios, music stores, volunteers, and the dear audiences who love their songs).
Musicians are welcomed, heard and honoured for their uniqueness and creativity.
OUR INSPIRATION
Inspired by a special person
March 9th of 2025 will mark what should be Edmonton musician Luke Jansen's 30th birthday. Luke was the lead vocalist and bass player for the band North of Here. In October 2017 Luke died suddenly in a pedestrian collision at 22 ½ years old, breaking our hearts and leaving many special people in his Alberta music community. Over the last 7 ½ years Luke’s family and friends have created a Mentoring and Music-Making legacy to carry on the energy he had for his music community.
One of Luke’s many mentors, Rhea March, suggested a few years back we do a songwriting circle in his honour, something she knew he’d love. Here we are now working together to create the first Heart of Me Songwriting Circle on his 30th birthday weekend March 7-9, 2025; creating a time of energy, music- making and creativity just like Luke had hoped would be his life at 30.
Luke was unique, creative, questioning, open to others, willing to risk making the world a better place and yet being human with his own strengths and weaknesses like each of us. We hope to bring into the Songwriting Circle qualities Luke embodied or appreciated: welcoming, witty, unique, down to earth, playful, honest, genuine, humble, creative, a mix of energetic and reflective, and interested in bringing more amazing thoughtful and joyful songwriting into the world.
