Songwriter and producer John Fortis will be sharing a platform with producers Youth and Andrew Levy at the annual Pro7ect 2017 songwriters retreat hosted by Hotel Pelirocco in Brighton.
Fortis has worked with artists as diverse as Paolo Nutini, The Prodigy, Laura Marling and Lana Del Rey, and is renowned for discovering and developing some of the hottest emerging artists in the UK. His writing credits include Ellie Goulding’s Explosions (also producer) and Guns & Horses, as well as the single Rock N Roll Lies on Razorlight’s double platinum selling album Up All Night.
‘We’re delighted to have John on board for Pro7ect 2017,’ says singer/songwriter Lisa Fitzgibbon, who co-founded Pro7ect with Ivor Novello nominated producer/composer Ian Wallman. ‘John is what I call a 360 degree artist. As a writer, producer, engineer, musician and all rounder, he is an incredible addition to the Pro7ect 2017 team.’
Fortis has recently been working with new acts such as Matt Wills (Virgin), Leo Stannard (Black Butter), Yellowdays (Virgin), Tom Walker (Relentless), Dakota, Ria Mae, Ashley Campbell and Grace Lightman. Commenting on his Pro7ect 2017 residency, he says: ‘I am looking forward to collaborating with some new people and making great songs in a very cool place.’
Pro7ect 2017 runs from the 12-17th March 2017, giving songwriters and artists the opportunity to work with A-list producers to write, record and produce great music. The stimulating setting of the Hotel Pelirocco adds an additional element of creativity to the experience. The hotel has 19 individually themed rooms, each reflecting a different aspect of rock’n’roll culture, and since its inception it has attracted many celebrity and music industry guests including the Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, Scissor Sisters, New Order, Chrissie Hynde and the Chemical Brothers.
The Pro7ect experience is highly collaborative and often results in a large volume of material being written and recorded in a very short pace for time. In 2016, for example, 14 participating songwriters and artists wrote and recorded 15 songs in four days. ‘What makes it even more impressive is the quality of the material produced,’ Fitzgibbon adds. ‘Pro7ect is not just another songwriting retreat – with production and A List producer involvement we aim to sell the tracks that are written at the event to help propel P7 artists into the sync and publishing arena. Two songs from our 2015 retreat have been releases by UK artist Elle Exxe and we have several sync options on songs from this year’s event.’
For the duration of Pro7ect, four pop-up recording studios are installed in the hotel suites. Each studio is equipped with the latest recording technology and participants work in producer-led teams to write a track a day for four days. The teams are changed each day and the songs are either written for one of the artists in the room or to spec using tip sheets. Every evening there is a feedback session where teams play the result of their day’s work to the group.
The cost of participating in Pro7ect 2017 is between £789 and £969, which includes food and accommodation for five nights. Places are limited.
