GIRLS WRITE NASHVILLE ANNOUNCES SING THROUGH THE QUARANTINE

GIRLS WRITE NASHVILLE ANNOUNCES 

SING THROUGH THE QUARANTINE  

A FOUR-PART VIRTUAL ALBUM RELEASE CELEBRATION  

 & FUNDRAISER 

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Nashville-based, nationally-acclaimed 501c(3) Girls Write Nashville* is thrilled to announce Sing Through The Quarantine, the program’s newest student-written and produced album, set for release in early 2021. Each season, students enrolled in the program work with professional female artist mentors, learn to write and produce original music in a supportive community of peers, and are guided through the vulnerable process of releasing that work into the world. 

Due to the onset of COVID-19, the program, like countless others, was forced to adapt as Safer-At-Home initiatives began when the students were preparing to record. Girls Write Nashville pivoted and arranged a remote-recording project, created a full suite of low-cost virtual classes for K-12 students, and coordinated a Teen Takeover edition of Nashville’s social justice street newspaper The Contributor. 

“So much of the value of Girls Write Nashville is in learning leadership skills: becoming artistically resilient, speaking authentically, advocating for your voice, and overcoming self-doubt and fear of rejection,” says program co-founder Jen Starsinic. “Not making a record this year really wasn’t an option to us. It just didn’t seem within our mission or what we try to teach and model for our participants.” 

Students each wrote a “song from quarantine,” then worked, for the first time in program history, on recording their own songs at home, using a cloud-based recording app. Songs were then sent to local female studio musicians to help complete the tracks. The result is an inspiring, entirely remotely-recorded album of youth-written songs about life in 2020 that ranged from rap and spoken word pieces about racial justice to a cheeky trance-pop take on toxic relationships and social distancing, a screamo-metal catharsis about the pandemic, and bittersweet, beautiful embraces of the full emotional range of loneliness and isolation.  

Girls Write Nashville also transferred its programming to an original distance learning model which includes a new gender-neutral wing of programming called Loudmouth Community Music. Through Loudmouth, the Girls Write Nashville was able to offer free online songwriting classes to all Nashville students during the month of May and will continue programming in the spring semester. 

“Being in this program brought so much excitement to my day,” commented one young participant. “I really looked forward to this safe space where I could be creative and have a good time. I learned more about music and how much effort it really takes. I really appreciate music more now. I have had the opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings in my melodies and verses. Girls Write Nashville is the best program yet! Thank you to all the loving and amazing people involved.” 

Sing Through The Quarantine kicked off on October 14th with the launch of a crowdfunding fundraiser and the opening of free registration for a four-part virtual release celebration that will take place on November 8th, 15th, and 22nd with the last virtual event occurring after Giving Tuesday on Sunday, December 6th.    

Click HERE to reserve free tickets to the virtual events. Supporters can make direct donations HERE .  

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Girls Write Nashville’s scholarship fund which allows the organization to provide free, equity-based programming to Nashville students. Supporters will receive an advance copy of the album, merchandise, perks, and access to additional virtual concerts and workshops.  

Registration is now open for programming starting in January 2021. Girls Write Nashville and their co-ed wing Loudmouth Community Music currently offer free Girls Write Nashville programs to certain MNPS schools, their Girls Write Nashville All-City Mentorship program open to all students in Davidson County, and low-cost ($20-40/month) co-ed Loudmouth Community Music K-2nd, 3rd-5th grade, and middle and high school classes. All programs are taught by the organization’s trained trauma-informed teachers using original modernized music education curriculum focusing on songwriting and production and guided by the values of equity and empowerment. Interested students should go to www.girlswritenashville.com to complete a basic registration information form and will be contacted by a staff member to coordinate enrollment.    

*ABOUT GIRLS WRITE NASHVILLE:  

Girls Write Nashville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to empower expression and build a creative music community and mentorship for girls. Started in 2016 as a community arts project on a $2,800 Metro Arts THRIVE grant, it has since grown into a vibrant small nonprofit start-up serving over 200 students and has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, USA Today, The Tennessean, The Nashville Scene, and American Songwriter Magazine, amongst others. It is proud to be one of the only music education organizations nation-wide designed from the ground up to ensure the values of equity and empowerment in its program structure and curriculum.  

By focusing on community-building, authenticity, and the vulnerability of creative risk-taking, Girls Write Nashville participants not only receive a world-class music and songwriting education, but they find their voice: building the confidence, leadership, self-advocacy, and social-emotional skills needed to truly thrive as human beings in any arena.    

The organization is honored for support from partners such as Morris Light & Sound, USA Today Network/Gannett Foundation, Hattie B’s, Predators Foundation, Bart Durham Injury Law, Fanny’s House of Music, Green Iris Records, BMI Foundation, D’addario Foundation, and Alphagraphics.