Artist and music student Lani, has been on a transformative journey with Tileyard Education. Starting with a series of songwriting camps, these have acted as stepping stones to her later career successes.
Joining Tileyard songwriting camps
In March 2023, Lani, along with other songwriters, arrived in Marrakesh at their very first international songwriting camp. “The London camps were really great for me to do first, but Marrakesh was a very natural progression that worked for me.”
The setting was perfect for creativity, with the Atlas mountains as a breathtaking backdrop. The first day of the camp led to the creation of their song, “Boys Are Just a Waste of Time”. This was a feminist, girly pop track that emerged naturally from their shared experiences.
Working alongside producer Jonny and writers Sophie, Aman and Sarah, Lani’s bond with the group was natural. “It was just a real meeting of minds,” Lani elaborates. “The surroundings made the session easy, and we were trying to tap into the feeling of getting ready to go out. It felt very natural, and in no way forced.”
Building Friendships and Creating Hits
One of the highlights for Lani was the sense of community and friendship that developed during the camp. “One thing I really like about Tileyard is if you do quite a few camps, you start to see the same faces and regularly work with the same people. We ended up becoming friends on that trip,” Lani shares. This was translated through the music, creating an authentic and fun vibe in their music. Lani adds, “We were just having such a good time. I’ve not done anything like it, before or since.
The Journey to West One Music Group
Six months after the Marrakesh camp, Lani received an exciting email from Jamie, MD of Tileyard Education. They had pitched “Boys Are Just a Waste of Time” to West One Music Group, who loved it and wanted to sign the song. “It wasn’t originally written to that brief; we just wrote it off the cuff,” Lani recalls. The signing process was smooth and transparent, with Jamie carefully guiding them through each step. Lani shares how it felt to reach this milestone, “Having that affirmed by someone is a lovely feeling. It’s a reminder that you’re not just making music into a void.”
Goals from Songwriting Camps
In September 2023, “Boys Are Just a Waste of Time” was released as part of the West One production album, Pop Hits II. This was Lani’s first cut, and the excitement was shared among the group. “I told everyone I knew, and the group chat was blowing up!” Lani shares. As a result, the song’s release on Spotify brought attention to Lani’s other music, providing a significant boost to her career as an artist.
“In Marrakesh, you forget it’s work because you’re on holiday,” Lani says. The friendships and connections made there continue to influence her music even now. “It’s really nice to have these achievements as a student and to have stuff coming through upon graduation”, she shares as she nears the end of her course.
Life post Songwriting Camps
Lani’s story is a testament to the power of career dedication, the magic of creative environments, and the importance of perseverance. Her journey from songwriting camps to becoming a music student has not only resulted in a hit song, but has also set the stage for a promising career in music.
Interested in experiencing our songwriting camp in Marrakesh?
