I’m Now President Of SCALA

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Corey Stewart

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Since 1992 I’ve been a member of a global songwriting organisation based in Adelaide called SCALA (which stands for Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association). Its goal since its incorporation in 1987 has been to “encourage original music of any style and genre no matter where you are in the world.”

Now, with the retirement of SCALA’s founder and inaugural President Robert Childs OAM on March 15th the path has been made clear for me to take over the role of leading a songwriting organisation that has been so very instrumental in the shaping of the performing songwriter and professional musician that I am today.

Since I was made President-elect on January 31st I’ve been working very closely with Robert to ensure that the transition from one President to another hasn’t drastically affected the day to day business of running a songwriting organisation that has been a labour of love for Robert for the last 25 years.

Now that I’ve taken the reins fully, I’m very mindful that I’ve essentially been put in charge of Robert’s legacy and because of that, I’ll be doing my very best to make sure that the essence of SCALA, being a grassroots songwriting organisation remains intact while at the same time, have a hand in guiding SCALA into the 21st century and growing its relevance within the general songwriting and music business communities locally, nationally and globally.

This is a role in which I’m extremely humbled and at the same time very proud to be undertaking. I’m deadly serious about making SCALA work and the potential for the organisation to make a difference in the lives of all of it’s members is staggering.

I’ve got some big shoes to fill. Wish me luck and watch this space.

Peace,

Corey

CS Gigs: W/E Sunday May 6th, 2012

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Corey Stewart

Here are the gigs that I’m doing for the week ending Sunday May 6th, 2012.

Make sure you mark these gigs in your diary in BOLD RED PEN.

Wed 02 – Open Mic @ The Dan (8pm – 12am)
Thu 03 – CS @ Higher Ground (SCALA) (8pm – 11pm)
Fri 04 – FJ @ Mick O’Sheas (7pm – 11pm)
Sun 06 – AF @ Kentish Arms (2pm – 5pm)

Hope to see you there,

Corey

CS Gigs: W/E Sunday September 4th, 2011

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Corey Stewart

Here are the gigs that I’m doing for the week ending Sunday September 4th, 2011.

Make sure you mark these off in your diary with a BOLD RED PEN.

Wed 31 – Open Mic @ The Dan (8pm – 12am)
Thu 01 – SCALA @ Higher Ground (8pm – 11pm)
Fri 02 – Hotel Royal (7:30pm – 10:30pm)
Sat 03 – Hotel Royal (7:30pm – 10:30pm)

For more information please go to my gigs page.

Hope to see you there,

Corey

Gig Alert: SCALA Songwriters Showcase – July 28th, 2011

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Corey Stewart

Today I’m preparing for my first originals gig in a couple of months.

It’s a gig I organise for SCALA (Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association) showcasing songwriters who perform through my Open Mic Network and it happens tonight. It’s a great way to keep my songwriting chops up to speed.

As a musician who makes a living playing other peoples music, playing my own music is a real breath of fresh air for me. Even though I always put my own individual spin on the covers that I play, the greatest artistic satisfaction I get as a musician is through performing my own songs in front of a crowd that want to be there.

If you’re in the area the gig is at the Higher Ground Arts Cafe located at Light Square in Adelaide and the night kicks off between 8pm and 8:30pm finishing at around 11pm.

I’ll be sharing the stage with 3 other talented songwriters Bryan Foley, Martin Mount and Steven Fotineas with entry being $5 waged, $4 concession and $3 for SCALA members.

It’s going to be a great night so wish me luck.

Peace,

Corey

CS Gigs: W/E Sunday July 31st, 2011

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Corey Stewart

Here are the gigs that I’m doing for the week ending Sunday July 31st, 2011

Make sure you mark them in your diary in BOLD RED PEN

Wed 27 – Open Mic @ The Dan (8pm – midnight)
Thu 28 – SCALA Songwriters Showcase (8pm – 11pm)
Fri 29 – Bridgewater Inn (8pm – 11pm)

For more information please go to my gigs page.

Hope to see you there,

Corey

Radio: SongCatcher On Radio Adelaide (101.5FM) Tonight

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Corey Stewart

I’ll be appearing tonight on the SongCatcher songwriting program on Radio Adelaide (101.5 on the FM dial) with Clayton Werner and Claire Thackeray.

Wooo Hooo!

I’ll be playing a couple of tunes live, talking about my song “Billboard Angel” which appears on the latest SCALA CD “A Guided Tour” plus, the SongCatcher crew will be playing a couple of songs from other artists that have influenced me over the years.

So tune into Radio Adelaide between 9 and 10pm to hear the program or, you can listen to the SongCatcher program online.

You’ll be glad you did…

Peace,

Corey

Gig Alert: “SCALA – A Guided Tour” CD Launch

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Corey Stewart

I have the pleasure of playing at the “SCALA – A Guided Tour” CD Launch this Thursday night, December 16th at the Higher Ground Arts Cafe starting at 8pm.

I’m going to be in fine company too, playing with the likes of Andy and Marta, Kenny Green, Adrian Miller, David Robinson and Mick Kidd.

I’ll be playing my SCALA exclusive song “Billboard Angel” on the night plus other tunes that will be on my upcoming CD “Out With The Old, In With The New” set for release in the first quarter of 2011.

Hope to see some familiar faces there, it’s going to be a fantastic night.

Peace,

Corey

SCALA Songwriting Workshop Tonight

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Corey Stewart

I’m going to be one of the special guests along with good friend and songwriting partner Adrian Miller, for the last SCALA Songwriters Workshop for 2010 starting at 7:30pm sharp tonight at the Higher Ground Arts Cafe.

It runs for about 2 hours or so and in the first hour of the workshop, Adrian and I will talk about “The Joys Of Collaboration” in which we’ll feature two of our songs we’ve recently written together.

In the second hour all attendees will get a chance to play one of their original songs to the group for constructive feedback and encouragement and it’s all for a gold coin donation.

It happens tonight at Higher Ground Arts Cafe at 7:30pm sharp. If you’re in Adelaide I’d love to see you there.

Peace,

Corey

Mountain Top – Live

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Corey Stewart

Mountain Top is the second song I played at the SCALA Open Mic Network Showcase last Thursday night (October 28th) that was put to video by Rob Childs of SCALA. This song is a few years old and I wrote soon after my band “FunkStar” broke up in 2001.

All the lessons that I’m learning
Are all lessons of the self?
A wise man once said “If you don’t love who you are
How the hell can you love anybody else”

I’m on a mountain top baby
Looking down on all I see
I’m on a mountain top baby
360 degrees

Some days I feel quite angry
And some day I feel quite sad
I can’t believe what has happened
To the best times a guy ever had

Chorus

It’s not a waste of time
Coz these times will come back again
But it’s up to me this time
And that means it’s gonna be right

If you believe that other people
Are for your happiness and how you’re perceived
Then when they let you down at the end of the day
There’s nothing left for you to believe

I’m on a mountain top baby
Looking down on all I see
I’m on a mountain top baby
360 degrees
I’m on a mountain top baby
With the sunlight over me
I’m on a mountain top baby
360 degrees

It’s always good to look at any situation from the perspective of being on top of a mountain, looking down on it all which is something I’ve been experiencing vividly of late.

This song tries to encapsulate that feeling.

Peace,

Corey

(When You Gonna) Stop Tearing Me Apart – Live

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Corey Stewart

Last Thursday night I performed at the SCALA Open Mic Network Showcase and I was fortunate enough to have two of my songs put to video.

This first song “(When You Gonna) Stop Tearing Me Apart” is a C. Stewart/A. Miller collaboration which deals with a different way of approaching a relationship based song by the protagonist wishes a relationship to end rather than the cliched concept of wishing an unrequited relationship to begin.

Enjoy…

Why is it taking you so long to leave me?
Why have you let this thing drag on for years?
Why do you keep giving me this feeling
That I can’t wash away with my tears?
Instead of saying goodbye

When are you gonna stop tearing me apart?
When are you gonna stop breaking my heart?
All I want to know, are you going to let go?
When are you gonna stop tearing me apart?

When did you stop even wanting to love me?
Was there not something that I could have done?
And what makes you keep wanting to stay here
When you know that all meaning has gone?
Instead of saying goodbye

Chorus

When I look into your eyes I see nothing
I can’t even recognise who we were
As we walk down this road leading nowhere
Will you ever realise where we are?

Must I wait for another lifetime
To escape from all this misery?
Is there a chance that you might reconsider
And make up your mind to leave?
Is it time to say goodbye?

Chorus

Stop tearing me apart
Stop tearing me apart

This song was inspired by the title which suggested the overall story which then suggested the lyrical content.

I’ll put up the second video “Mountain Top” tomorrow.

Peace,

Corey