Troye Sivan guides songwriters at first-ever Pride SongHubs

"Coming back to learn from, collaborate with, and celebrate Australia’s songwriting talent is so fulfilling and exciting to me," said Troye Sivan.

The five days of collaboration will be curated by two of the industry's Queer heavy hitters: Sivan and Lucas Keller, CEO and Founder of LA-based management company Milk & Honey

Troye and Lucas have selected a roster of the ‘who’s who’ and who-will-be-who from across the spectrum of LGBTQ+ music creators which includes New Zealand's Luca George.

We are celebrating the 90^th SongHubs songwriting camp and the flagship ‘The Tower’ sessions with the first-ever Pride SongHubs – The Tower. The five days of collaboration will be curated by two of the industry's Queer heavy hitters: pop superstar Troye Sivan and Lucas Keller, CEO and Founder of LA-based management company Milk & Honey. The sessions are underway from Monday 20 February - Friday 24 February at Sydney’s Studios 301.

Pride SongHubs – The Tower is supported by major sponsor Marsh, and partners Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Abbey Road Institute Australia and Soho House.

As curators, Troye and Lucas have selected a roster of the ‘who’s who’ and who-will-be-who from across the spectrum of LGBTQ+ music creators, including special international guests Leland (Troye’s co-writer for ‘My My My!’), Persian pop experimentalist Gia Woods, and Stockholm-based songwriter/producer Mona Khoshoi, whose recent credits include Wrable and Ella Vos.

Local special guests flowerkid and uber-producer Lucy Blomkamp (6black, Mallrat, Sycco) will join successful applicants including Cub Sport’s Tim Nelson, ARIA-winner Montaigne, folk-pop singer/songwriter Alex the Astronaut, Keelan Mak, June Jones, Charley, producer duo Middleman (Lara Frew and Phoebe Sinclair), Vetta Borne and New Zealand up-and-comer Luca George.

A previous APRA Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year and APRA AMCOS Billions Award honouree for his multi-platinum hit ‘Youth’, Troye’s sophisticated pop style makes him a sought-after collaborator. He has released songs with Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, Charli XCX and Lauv. Ten billion global streams is a milestone only a few artists can claim. Doing it by age 26 is another thing entirely.

A past SongHubs participant in London 2014, Troye was hailed as “the perfect pop star” by TIME, and his numerous awards include a Billboard Music Awards trophy, three MTV Europe Music awards, two ARIA Awards and two GLAAD Media wins just to name a few. ‘Revelation’, his collaboration with Jónsi for Boy Erased, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture and shortlisted for an Oscar.

“I was lucky enough to be a part of one of the earliest SongHubs writing camps, almost 10 years ago in London – I learned so much and wrote a song that I still love on that camp. Coming back to learn from, collaborate with, and celebrate Australia’s songwriting talent is so fulfilling and exciting to me,” said Sivan.

Keller’s Milk & Honey is one of the world’s biggest management companies, representing top songwriters, producers, DJs and athletes. His clients are behind mega-hits including Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitate’ and Justin Bieber’s ‘Despacito’. He was named to Billboard’s Top 100 Change Agents list, its Pride 100 most influential LGBTQ+ list and its 40 Under 40.

“I’ve long been a fan of Australian and New Zealand talent. What an honour to bring opportunity and to shed light on all of the incredible LGBTQ+ talent in our community. It’s amazing personally to be in Sydney for the 90th SongHubs, and at the same time as Mardi Gras and Pride celebrations. Thanks to APRA AMCOS for all they do for songwriters and for having me as a curator,” said Keller.

"SongHubs has always been about inviting songwriters, composers and producers into an inclusive, safe and creative environment. I’m proud that our 90th event ties in with our first Pride SongHubs – The Tower. Not only is the The Tower our ‘headline’ SongHubs of the year, but through a lot of planning, tenacity and care, we are bringing together an incredible group of Queer music creators to collaborate at an exciting time in Sydney’s LGBTQ+ history. No doubt new friendships will be formed, and I can’t wait to hear the diverse stories and sounds that'll be created in such a short and intense time” said Dean Ormston, Chief Executive, APRA AMCOS.

Since SongHubs launched in 2013, the program has helped to generate over A$4m in performance royalties for the initiative's collaborators across its 90 events worldwide. SongHubs has produced commercial releases for the likes of Briggs, Troye Sivan, Tayla Parx, Morgan Evans, Peking Duk, Tkay Maidza, Ainslie Wills, The Chainsmokers, Guy Sebastian, Ecca Vandal, Chaii, Kaylee Bell and many more.