Making music was the objective of the day way back in 1994, when Writer's Bloc (originally known as The Writer's Workshop) began as an exercise in producing quality new songs in the relaxed and creative Mount Macedon environment. Obviously no 'blocs' have been encountered by the writer's attending these workshops, though, as Mushroom Music has continued this unique and creative concept, with the last one being held in October 1999.
Pairing up each writer with another makes for some unbelievable collaborations - "Cry" (performed by the Mavis's) was a 1996 Writer's Workshop creation between Barry Palmer (Deadstar) and Matt Thomas (The Mavis's), and our last Writer's Bloc in '99 inspired Pound System and Sarah McLeod's (of Superjesus) "More Than You Need", released to rave reviews and airplay mid-2000.
In addition to our excellent demo studio, October's Writer's Bloc saw the introduction of a new electronic studio for our daring musicians to explore their electronic alter-ego. This gave some of our songwriters an opportunity to experience a user friendly way and with the help of engineers, a new and exciting take on their brand new songs.
The initial concept of the workshop that grew from a desire to keep Mushroom Music setting the pace in Australian Music publishing, remains intact today. Mushroom Music welcomed the opportunity to again host an event for writers both new and established to collaborate and create new music of quality and excellence.
The Mushroom Music Writer's Bloc - 1999 CD of rough demos (not for sale):
More Then You Need
Sarah McLeod (Superjesus) & Paul Annison/Jim Love (Pound System)In Between Worlds
Suzie Higgie & Damian Robinson/Dave Carnovale (Wicked Beat Sound System)Black Belt & Fairies
Cameron McKenzie (Horsehead) & James Reid (The Feelers)Sleep Walkin'
Royce Doherty (Kiva) & Damian Robinson/Dave Carnovale (Wicked Beat Sound System)Don't Take It Personal
Alan Glass & Marcus Knight (Soul Class)Happiness
Matt Thomas (The Mavis's) & Matt Ford (Machine Gun Fellatio)We Got It Made
Alan Glass & Royce Doherty (Kiva)A Place In The Sun
(Simon Austin & Josh Arnold)Films About Morons
Matt Ford (Machine Gun Fellatio)Whatever Gets You By
Michael Spiby & Dan Hall (Taxiride)Waratah Street
Mark Seymour & Matt Ford (Machine Gun Fellatio)Time You Came Home
Ross McLennan (Snout) & Glenn Dormand (Machine Gun Fellatio)My Billy Joe
Wendy Matthews & Rob Snarski (The Blackeyed Susans)Faking Flight
Sean Miljoen (Violetine) & Nick BarkerOr Something
Helen Cattanach (Moler) & Glenn Dormand (Machine Gun Fellatio)The Velvet Fog
Phil Kakulas (The Blackeyed Susans) & Ross McLennan (Snout)And The Mirror Ball Started To Rock
Glen Dormand (Machine Gun Fellatio) & Chris Arkley-Smith (Frontside)Waiting
Lamar Lowder (Jerk) & Glenn Dormand (Machine Gun Fellatio) & Royce Doherty (Kiva)Naimh
Chris Arkley-Smith (Frontside) & Dean Turner (Magic Dirt)
All songwriters are published by Mushroom Music and its associated companies except Sarah McLeod (EMI Music), Josh Arnold (ABC Music Publishing), Dean Turner (control).
