NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Have you heard about Girls Write Nashville? It’s a songwriting mentorship program that pairs aspiring writers with a songwriting mentor. The two work together to prepare for a recording session with professional, Music City musicians.
Jen Starsinic is one of the program’s co-directors. She said teen culture often conspires to steal a young girl’s voice. Girl’s Write helps them get it back.
“A lot of things are being put on them and their just full of self-doubt and there’s nothing really in their lives to necessarily promote their voice remaining loud and expressive.”
One of this year’s participating students is 14-year-old Imani. She said her mentor, songwriter Callie Benjamin, pushed pretty hard.
“Sometimes I would be lazy with my writing, and the she would, like, go over it and then tell me, like, you need to choose different words for this, or this doesn’t sound right with this.”
Imani said she was initially a bit intimidated by the musicians during her recording session, but she was also determined to get her song laid down her way.
“It was stressful, but at the end of the day we go the finished project that I thought was like the best possible instrumentals behind the song.”
Imani and eight other girls recently recorded their tunes. Imani calls her song “Feel the Rain.” You can listen to all nine online.