Shelley Harland has launched The Songwriter’s Path from The Hut. Photo: Supplied.
Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Shelley Harland has launched a soulful new songwriting program for teen girls in the Illawarra – and it’s about more than just writing songs.
Shelley said the 10-week program, part of her initiative The Songwriter’s Path, aimed to blend music and mindfulness to nurture creativity and true self-expression in a safe and supportive digital-free space called The Hut at her Kiama home.
She said each term would align with the seasons and focus on “working from the inside out”, rather than simply ”songwriting patterns and structures”.
Starting on 29 April, Autumn at The Hut will see participants write and complete an original song, explore music through mindfulness and creative rituals, build confidence through intuitive, emotional expression, and perform their song at the end of the term.
“I’ve been dreaming of creating The Songwriter’s Path for a long time,” Shelley said.
“Life in the studio and family life kept me busy, but this has always been close to my heart.”
The English-born songwriter’s music has graced international stages and featured in popular TV shows like The Voice, Wentworth, Poldark, Love Island, and Home & Away.
She was “discovered” as a musical talent in her early 20s in New York while working as a private investigator.
Since then, Shelley has forged a career at the top of the music industry, with more than 50 million song streams, major label deals with Sony and BMG, country-side tours, and collaborations with legends such as Elvis Costello and John Cale (The Velvet Underground).
Her most recent commission is bringing her back to her roots, writing a song to capture the heart of New York for the city’s iconic Rockefeller Center as part of an ad campaign.
“Songwriting has been my greatest companion and teacher,” she said.
“It’s brought such magic and meaning to my life, and I want to share that with others.
“Nothing feels more valuable these days than creating spaces for true, authentic connection.
“For me, the real magic of being a songwriter has never been about chasing placements or awards – it’s about the journey, the human connections made along the way, and the song reaching the person who most needed to hear it. That’s true value to me.”
Shelley said she had been “chipping away at this vision for a while”, with big plans to grow a connected creative community, offering a range of courses and songwriting retreats.
“Right now, we’re beginning with a very special first course: a songwriting empowerment journey for teenage girls – focused on real connection, building self-trust, and finding their authentic voice,” she said.
“This course is different because we’re working from the inside out.
“Rather than focusing only on songwriting patterns and structures, we’ll be exploring how to truly listen inward – discovering who you are, learning to trust your intuition, and creating from a place of brave, authentic truth.
“The best songwriters aren’t the ones chasing trends; they’re the ones who write from a place of realness.
“Those are the songs where your hairs stand on end.
“They all start with that seed of authenticity. I’ve had that proven to me time and time again in my years as a songwriter.
“That’s the heart of what I hope to teach – that being fully you is the magic. You are the thing.
“And I believe that’s an incredibly valuable lesson for anyone, especially teenage girls.”
Shelley said participants would gather at The Hut weekly, with the first edition deeply tied to the inspiration of the autumn season.
“We’ll be writing with the earth – because our surroundings, our seasons, and the natural world influence us more than we often realise,” she said.
“Throughout the sessions, I’ll be sharing the tricks of the trade I’ve learned over 25 years of songwriting: mindfulness practices, creative visualisations, inspiration drawn from philosophers, musicians, and writers, and practical tools like song mapping to help guide each student’s process.
“By the end of the term, each girl will have created and performed her very own original song.”
Shelley said each season brought a new creative focus and a different approach to songwriting, allowing students to explore a full range of expressions.
She said by completing all four seasonal courses, students could build a complete body of work – an EP of original songs ready to share with the world.
Apply for a place in The Songwriter’s Path classes, which take place on Tuesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 pm starting 29 April at The Hut in Kiama.
