Australia Council sending Ben Wright Smith to Nashville

Australia Council has selected folk rock musician Ben Wright Smith to spend three months in the US later this year as part of its Nashville Songwriter Residency.

The initiative, now in its second year, will see him mentored by Aussie expat producer Mark Moffatt who will assist on the recording of his third album.  Moffat says, “Ben’s music is a perfect fit for the burgeoning Nashville pop/rock scene.”

The Australia Council’s Director of Music, Paul Mason, explains, “The aim of the residency is to enable songwriters to develop their writing skills, build creative and business networks and connect with other artists to co-write and collaborate.” The $15,000 residency covers transport, accommodation and living costs.

25-year old Smith first visited Nashville in 2012 where he played at the Americana Music Festival alongside Kasey Chambers and Justin Townes Earle. A year previously, after the release of his debut album Autumn Safari, he visited Los Angeles, Havana, New York and Mumbai to write and perform. His singles If Living The Good Life Is Easy (Why Is This So Hard?) and Fictional received triple j and community radio support.