Nashville Songwriting Camp Returns With Hitmakers and Hands-On Sessions
A summer songwriting camp in Nashville is once again opening its doors to writers who want more than casual workshops. The Between the Lines Songwriting Camp returns from July 24 to 27, offering a structured, in-person experience built around real collaboration and industry access
Hosted by American Songwriter, the four-day program targets intermediate to advanced songwriters who already have a foundation but want to improve their process. Sessions are not built around lectures or passive learning. Instead, participants are placed into small, curated groups where they spend hours co-writing, testing ideas, and refining lyrics and melodies into finished songs.
Each group works through the full creative cycle, starting with early concepts and ending with demo-ready tracks. That extended time to write is a key part of the format. Many similar programs move quickly from one session to another.
This setup allows writers to stay with a song long enough to shape it properly. By the end of the camp, attendees are expected to complete up to four songs while gaining practical feedback they can use right away.
Mentors bringing real industry experience
Guidance comes from a mix of established and active industry figures. Among the mentors are Sam Hollander, Dasha, Tushar Apte, and Stephanie Davenport. Their combined experience covers chart success, live performance, production, and artist development.
Hollander's background includes work with artists such as Katy Perry and blink-182, along with multiple global hits. What can decades of hit-making teach about writing songs that last? Focus on strong melodies, clear ideas, and emotional honesty that people remember.
Dasha brings a more recent perspective, having gained attention with her breakout track "Austin (Boots Stop Workin')" and building momentum through touring and collaborations with Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown.
Building connections and taking the next step
Connections are another focus throughout the program. Nashville's reputation as a songwriting hub shapes the experience, and participants are encouraged to build relationships that can continue after the camp ends. Those connections often become as valuable as the songs themselves, especially for writers aiming to enter or expand within the professional scene.
The Songwriting Camp also includes practical benefits tied to the Hutton Hotel, where attendees receive more than $2,000 worth of studio time, performance opportunities, and hospitality support. These extras help bridge the gap between writing and real-world production.
Admission is selective, requiring applicants to submit three original songs for review by a professional panel. Successful candidates are offered different package options, including tiers with private lodging and one-on-one mentorship or simpler access without accommodation.
Writers looking to move beyond solo practice and into a collaborative, feedback-driven environment will find a clear pathway here, with the camp designed to reflect how songwriting often works in the industry itself.
"What to Bring" list to ensure you are prepared for the intensive co-writing sessions:
Essential Creative Gear
Instruments: If you are an instrumentalist, bring your primary acoustic guitar or portable keyboard. The camp is built around live collaboration in writing rooms.
Laptop or Tablet: Essential for lyric writing, looking up references, and light production if you are a producer-focused songwriter.
Recording Device: A smartphone with a voice memo app or a portable digital recorder to capture "work tapes" and melodies during your 2–4 writing sessions.
Headphones: High-quality over-ear or in-ear monitors for listening back to demos or working in shared spaces.
Songwriting Tools
The "Hook Book": A notebook or digital file containing your current song titles, "block-style" concepts, and lyrical fragments to jumpstart co-writes.
Charging Station: Portable power banks and long charging cables to keep your devices running through 12+ hour days of creativity.
Professional & Personal Needs
Business Essentials: Digital or physical business cards (or a QR code to your portfolio) for networking with mentors like Scott Graves and Sam Hollander.
Travel Documents: Information for your stay at the Hutton Hotel and any confirmation emails regarding your Diamond, Platinum, or Gold tier registration.
Comfortable Clothing: Nashville’s July weather is hot, but writing rooms and studios are often kept cool with heavy AC. Layers are recommended.
Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated during long sessions to keep your voice and focus sharp.
Pre-Camp Preparation
Music Portfolio: Have your three submitted original songs easily accessible on a streaming link (SoundCloud, Dropbox, etc.
The Collaborative Mindset: Be ready to write 2–4 fully realized songs from scratch—bring an open mind and a willingness to compromise on creative directions.Essential Creative Gear
Instruments: If you are an instrumentalist, bring your primary acoustic guitar or portable keyboard. The camp is built around live collaboration in writing rooms.
Laptop or Tablet: Essential for lyric writing, looking up references, and light production if you are a producer-focused songwriter.
Recording Device: A smartphone with a voice memo app or a portable digital recorder to capture "work tapes" and melodies during your 2–4 writing sessions.
Headphones: High-quality over-ear or in-ear monitors for listening back to demos or working in shared spaces.
Songwriting Tools
The "Hook Book": A notebook or digital file containing your current song titles, "block-style" concepts, and lyrical fragments to jumpstart co-writes.
Charging Station: Portable power banks and long charging cables to keep your devices running through 12+ hour days of creativity.
Professional & Personal Needs
Business Essentials: Digital or physical business cards (or a QR code to your portfolio) for networking with mentors like Scott Graves and Sam Hollander.
Travel Documents: Information for your stay at the Hutton Hotel and any confirmation emails regarding your Diamond, Platinum, or Gold tier registration.
Comfortable Clothing: Nashville’s July weather is hot, but writing rooms and studios are often kept cool with heavy AC. Layers are recommended.
Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated during long sessions to keep your voice and focus sharp.
Pre-Camp Preparation
Music Portfolio: Have your three submitted original songs easily accessible on a streaming link (SoundCloud, Dropbox, etc.
The Collaborative Mindset: Be ready to write 2–4 fully realized songs from scratch—bring an open mind and a willingness to compromise on creative directions.
The Between the Lines Songwriting Camp in Nashville has emerged as a premier incubator for melodic storytelling and professional collaboration. Founded to bridge the gap between raw talent and the rigorous standards of Music Row, the camp provides an immersive environment where creators refine their "block-style" lyricism and harmonic structures. Participants engage in intensive co-writing sessions led by industry veterans, focusing on genres ranging from Americana and Folk to Indie Rock. By emphasizing the "why" behind the word, the camp fosters a community of songwriters who prioritize emotional resonance and authenticity, turning Nashville’s creative energy into a refined, career-defining craft for its attendees.
The Between the Lines Songwriting Camp in Nashville offers intermediate to advanced songwriters a structured, in-person experience focused on collaboration and industry mentorship.
- Impact – Attendees can significantly improve their songwriting skills and gain valuable industry connections through intensive, curated sessions.
- Action – Participants should prepare by submitting their best original work and be ready to collaborate and refine their craft over four days.
- Empowerment – Writers can leverage the camp's resources and mentorship to produce demo-ready tracks and establish a network that can propel their career.
