Level Up mentoring for emerging musicians

Katie Thompson is a self-managed artist and has opened for Sir Elton John and most recently Don McLean. She was a finalist for Best Country Song and Best Country Album in 2020. The Level Up workshops will be held via Zoom. Picture supplied

Emerging artists looking to enhance their knowledge and take their music career to new heights can now apply for the Level Up comprehensive five-part series of online workshops.

Led by artist development consultant Katie Thompson, Level Up will offer 10 participants the opportunity to take part in five online group workshops and two one-on-one mentoring sessions.

This programme is designed to provide participants with the tools they need to up-skill and succeed in the competitive music industry.

The workshops will be held over the span of 11 weeks and will cover a range of essential topics, including goal setting, music industry insights, image and branding, funding options and single release checklist.

The Level Up programme is for artists who are based outside of main centres that demonstrate talent and are currently working towards releasing original music.

Participants will benefit from the opportunity to gain insights into the music industry from a seasoned professional, receive feedback on their progress and set actionable goals for their future.

“The workshops are designed to help emerging artists develop their skills, gain knowledge and confidence,” said Thompson.

“I’m excited to be leading this programme and working with a group of dedicated and talented artists.”

This programme is free to the 10 chosen applicants thanks to the capability grant, NZ Music Commission.

For Thompson’s musical repertoire, she has been a music business consultant with over 15 years of experience in the music industry.

She has worked with a diverse range of artists, from emerging talent to established musicians, helping them to develop their skills, build their careers, and achieve their goals.

The artist hails from the West Coast and channels the timeless fragility of folk while embodying the visceral energy of Americana, country, rock and blues influences. Katie performs at her best live, in front of an energised crowd.

She connects with the audience through the intimacy of her storytelling, as well as with her elegant, understated arrangements that can be tastefully bare, or richly uplifting, depending on the mood of the song.

The independent Christchurch-based musician now has three full-length studio albums under her belt, the most recent being Bittersweet (2019), which she recorded with award-winning producer Ben Edwards at Lyttelton’s The Sitting Room.

The result is an unpretentious, confident and personal release that adeptly covers many qualities that draw fans to classic country music.

Thompson has been a well-respected figure in the New Zealand music scene since the release of her 2009 debut album, Tall Poppy. Her talent was quickly recognised by Global Rockstar and the young musician was soon flown to Vienna to write and record with other artists around the globe.

Thompson is a self-managed artist and has opened for Sir Elton John and most recently Don McLean and was a finalist for Best Country Song and Best Country Album 2020.

Applications for Level Up opened on June 5 and close on June 30. All sessions will be held via Zoom and dates can be found on the website.

■ For more information, including application criteria and to apply, visit quirkymusic.co.nz/level-up-2023/