Global Network for Women & Non-Binary Music Producers

Canadian record producer and JUNO Award winner Hill Kourkoutis led a two-day workshop this week with two emerging women/ non-binary producers, part of our @globalproducersprogram and the Empowering Women in the Music Industry conference. Merci à @axeworldfest pour cette excellente conférence au cours des trois derniers jours ! À l’an prochain !

Tallinn Music Week @tallinnmusicweek is a major multi-genre music and culture festival held in Tallin and runs from April 9 to 12. It’s one of Europe’s leading new music discovery festivals and our Executive Producer Heather Gibson is there along with members of the Global Network for Women Music Producers from Canada, Colombia and Estonia. 🌎 La Tallinn Music Week (TMW) 2026 est un important festival de musique et de culture multi-genres qui se tient à Tallinn du 9 au 12 avril. C’est l’un des principaux festivals européens de découverte de nouveaux talents musicaux. Notre productrice exécutive, Heather Gibson, y est présente aux côtés de membres du Réseau mondial pour productrices musicales provenant du Canada, de la Colombie et de l’Estonie.

Gather round. This fireside chat with @thejunoawards -winning producer @hillkourkoutis and @hg.livemusic will be followed by a feedback listening session co-presented by the @globalproducersprogram . Saturday, May 2 — 2 p.m. at the @nac.cna Fourth Stage. Part of the sixth edition of the Empowering Women in the Music Industry conference — open to all. The conference runs April 30, May 1 & May 2. Free with registration — reserve your spot: 🔗👆🏽 #WomenInMusic #WomenInMusicCanada #OttawaEvents #OntarioCreates #FACTOR

This week in Toronto! NAC Popular Music, Women In Music Canada Global Summit, and SOCAN Music partnered to host a Songcamp. Three of the producers in the Global Network for Women Music Producers took part in the Songcamp, producing and writing music for film and television. The producers involved: Jinting Zhao, Mica Hourbeigt, Brenley MacEachern The NAC Popular Music Executive Producer, Heather Gibson was also a panelist on Meaningful Outreach and Sustainable Change in the Music Industry.

Women and non-binary music producers from around the world met in Calgary and Banff last summer as part of the NAC's commitment to address inequity within the music industry. The third annual creative summit allowed these producers from Australia, Sweden, Estonia, Mexico, Wales, and Canada to learn and grow their craft. 🇨🇦 When only 6% of Canadian producers are women, we build a network and watch them flourish. Watch on Youtube! (Link in story) ****** Des femmes et des personnes non binaires du monde entier spécialisées en production musicale se sont rassemblées à Calgary et à Banff l’été dernier dans le cadre d’une initiative du CNA pour lutter contre les inégalités dans le milieu de la musique. Cette troisième sommet créative annuelle a permis à des artistes d’Australie, de Suède, d’Estonie, du Mexique, du pays de Galles et du Canada d’apprendre et de se perfectionner. 🇨🇦 À peine 6 % de femmes dans le milieu de la production au Canada… Nous avons mis en place un réseau et les avons vues s’épanouir. Voyez-les en action à Calgary sur YouTube! (Lien en stories)

Weekend Recap – Calgary Folk Music Festival What an unforgettable weekend at the Calgary Folk Music Festival! Pahua, (@pahuamusic ) Caracol (@caracolmusic ) and Maia (@maiadaviesmusic ) had powerful showcases, sharing the stage with some of the festival’s headline artists in inspiring jam sessions. During her final presentation, Maia invited fellow artists and producers from our program to join her on stage — a beautiful moment of collaboration and shared energy. Our Producers Program was featured in the official festival catalogue, and we wrapped up the weekend with a special dinner alongside the festival’s director — yet another amazing woman leader among the many we had the chance to meet throughout the week. This week has been all about growth, learning, and a powerful reminder of the strength of women and sisterhood. Grateful for every conversation, every connection, and every song. __ Attendees of this edition: - Canadá: @fountainsofsound @denisedeion @maiadaviesmusic @jintingzhao @caracolmusic - Australia: @aphir_ - Sweden @katharinanuttall - Wales: @malgola_no , @natalieroemusic , @freya_dooley - Estonia: @kelly.vask -México : @pahuamusic The Global Network for Women Music Producers is possible thanks to the National Arts Centre @nac.cna and its partners: the Adrian Burns Fund for Women Leaders in the Performing Arts, Fred and Elisabeth Fountain, and the Leacross Foundation. Program partners: @waicymruwales , @tycerdd , @eisteddfod (Wales), Music Estonia, and Sounds Australia.

Sound Sisters: A Week at Studio Bell 🧚‍♀️ With a little help from our friends at Calgary National Music Centre—Graham, Jason, Eric, and Anika—women music producers and sound engineers from around the world came together for a week immersed in sound, collaboration, and creativity. Everyone got to work on their own music and contribute to each other’s projects, exploring three different studios and experimenting with all kinds of pianos and synths—including some legendary gear. Blending so many styles, cultures, and personalities made for something truly special. Each artist brought her own voice and vision, and we’re all going home richer for it—musically, emotionally, and creatively. Studio Sessions Highlights: 🎶 Denise – Recorded two tracks, including one with piano support from Katharina and Kelly. 🎛️ Maia Davies – Worked on a heartfelt Christmas song, mastered by Carole, and on Pyramid, engineered by Katharina. 🔊 Live Jam with TONTO – Everyone got involved in an open, experimental session featuring Jinting, Katharina, Natalie Roe, Małgola, and Carole. 🌍 Jinting – Created a reggaetón-inspired track using TONTO sounds—“Reggetonto”—Featuring Pahua on drums and worked on a track in the style of New Jack Swing (the upbeat, synth-heavy fusion of hip hop, R&B, funk, and pop from the late ’80s), featuring Małgola on synths. 🎹 BECKI – • Co-created an experimental track with Katharina and Katharine using TONTO. • Produced a solo piece using the Optican synth. 🎤 Final Track – A collective creation: Małgola, Katharina, BECKI, Maia, and Kelly joined forces.With guitar by Kelly, a second verse by Katharina, Radiohead-esque textures, and Małgola on drums, the track “Give” brought the week to a powerful close. © National Arts Center and participants. All rights reserved. 📸 @waynekto

Calgary Week | day 6 : Session on Lovers’ Gothic: Maia Davies Shares Her Experience Working on the Juno Award-Winning Album. She shared insights into the making of the record — starting with the first song she wrote: OK I’m Not OK. Maia walked us through her emotionally driven, collage-style process: recording too much, then peeling layers back based on what the song needs — always letting the emotion lead. ~ Three pianos doing different things ~Bass synths to thicken without crowding the piano ~Strings added by instinct, not pre-arranged ~ Doubled vocals where the lyrics needed vulnerability ~Final puzzle piece: Christmas bells “Nothing is more important than getting the right vocal. If there’s no emotional communication with the audience, there’s nothing.” She also spoke candidly about reclaiming space in male-dominated environments: “I did everything — songwriting, production, management. When I was overlooked, that motivated me to push forward. I took up space.” Maia shared how doing, focusing, and fully dedicating herself to her work helped her rise from her lowest point to lead her own project and manage all aspects of it. Reflecting on her career, Maia said: “I love what I do. It’s fun and fulfilling. Every day, I want to expand my creativity and surround myself with inspiring people. Taking it one day at a time is how I move forward toward my goals.” Thank you @maiadaviesmusic ! #MaiaDavies #LoversGothic #JunoAwards #AdultContemporaryAlbumOfTheYear #ProducersProgram #WomenInMusic #OKImNotOK #BehindTheAlbum #MusicProduction #CalgaryMusicWeek

Day 5 Recap – Calgary Week Powerful Women & Rising Voices (the movement) Today we had the honor of welcoming three incredible women leaders into our space: 💫 Roselyn from the Leacross Foundation, one of our most cherished supporters, 💫 Heather Gibson, Senior Director of Programming at the National Arts Centre, 💫 and The Honourable Tanya Fir, Minister for Arts, Culture and Status of Women in Alberta. Roselyn spent the day with us at the studios, connecting personally with each producer and learning about their creative work. We also shared a powerful group conversation, where she reminded us of the importance of community, collaboration, and legacy: ✨ “Now you’re in this program, and you have the power to help other women.” – Roselyn Here are a few reflections from that moment: 💬 “You can’t aspire to something you’ve never seen, is important to have role models “ 💬 “In this program I feel: I’m allowed to take up space.” 💬 “It’s not about being perfect. Allow yourself to grow.” 💬 “We were raised to stay quiet. But now we lead.” Together, we explored: 🎙️ Representation across generations 🎙️ How to challenge unconscious bias 🎙️ The need for safe spaces to share, create, and grow Later in the evening, we gathered at the iconic King Eddy for a Networking and Showcasing Event hosted by the National Arts Centre (@nac.cna ) and SHE-Q Audio (@sheqaudio ) 🎶 Live Showcases: • @kelly.vask (Estonia) • @fountainsofsound (Canada) • @denisedeion (Canada) 🎛️ And special sessions recorded at the legendary Rolling Stones Mobile Studio by: • @malgola_no (Wales) • @natalieroemusic (Wales) Welsh producers suported by @tycerdd @waicymruwales @eisteddfod Music professionals from across Calgary joined us to connect, exchange, and support emerging voices. Minister Tanya Fir (@tanyafirab )shared with us her comitment to the cause; 👉 “We want to help people make a living from their music.” Day 5 reminded us that we’re not just building careers — we’re building a movement. #CalgaryWeek #WomenInMusic #RollingStonesMobileStudio #KingEddy #LeacrossFoundation #NationalArtsCentre #tanyafir

Where Instruments Come Alive: A Week at Studio Bell At Studio Bell in Calgary, instruments carry stories, spirit, and sound. Petit récap ;) > TONTO – Iconic 1960s synth used by Stevie Wonder. Feels alive. > Synth 100 – Rare modular synth for deep sonic experimentation. > Optigan – 1970s loop-based keyboard with nostalgic imperfections. > Rhodes – Electric piano with soft, emotional tones. Solar Drones – Sound sculpture made from flood-damaged pianos, powered by sunlight. > Piano 1 – “The poet” Light wood, with a poem by Samuel Rogers inside. > Piano 2 – Heavy custom Steinway, once played Rhapsody in Blue. > Piano 3 – 1924 theater piano used for silent film scores.

Calgary | studio time - day 2. | Mayor Jyoti Gondek (@jyotigondek ) Visited Us — and She Loves Playing Bass. How Cool Is That? Ph: @waynekto

Calgary Week – Studio: Day 2 🎶 Different projects, different genres, all kinds of gear and so much creative genius in one place.From beats to brainstorms, today was full of fun, flow, and inspiring collaborations. We welcomed Pahua (@pahuamusic ) a music producer and performer from Mexico, who just arrived and jumped right in. 🇲🇽✨ We even had a special visit from the mayor, who’s genuinely into music and was impressed by the talent in the room. 👏🎧💪 📍Tomorrow: Showcase at the legendary King Eddy (@kingeddyyyc ) don’t miss it. —.-.- Attendees of this edition: - Canadá: @fountainsofsound @denisedeion @maiadaviesmusic @jintingzhao @caracolmusic - Australia: @aphir_ - Sweden @katharinanuttall - Wales: @malgola_no , @natalieroemusic , @freya_dooley - Estonia: @kelly.vask -México : @pahuamusic The Global Network for Women Music Producers is possible thanks to the National Arts Centre @nac.cna and its partners: the Adrian Burns Fund for Women Leaders in the Performing Arts, Fred and Elisabeth Fountain, and the Leacross Foundation. Program partners: @waicymruwales , @tycerdd , @eisteddfod (Wales), Music Estonia, and Sounds Australia. #CalgaryWeek #StudioSessions #Pahua #KingEddy #WomenInMusic #MayorSupport #CreativeCollab #LatinMusic #behindthescenes