Award-winning Brisbane synth-pop artist Mardi Lumsden has long been known for her ethereal songwriting and shimmering sonic landscapes. But her sophomore album Slow Emotion came to life in a way that was as delicate and intimate as its title suggests—written asynchronously and collaboratively with her husband and producer, Pennay, in the quiet hours while their baby slept.

This episode of The Magic of Songwriting podcast explores the creative journey behind Slow Emotion, and in particular the evolution of its standout track, “19.”

About Mardi and Andrew:

Mardi Lumsden is an award-winning synth-pop charmer from Brisbane. Mardi spent 2020 writing happy music resulting in her sophomore album "Slow Emotion", an 8-track delight written in IHSC that transverses disco, indie pop and stargazer anthems. The title track was added to Double J and was called "another stellar success" by Obscure Sound.

Andrew Pennay has spent his days teaching music in schools, lecturing in music education, and slowly working through a PhD in (not surprisingly) songwriting education.

Contact Mardi : Facebook / Instagram

Song Credit: ‘19’ Written by Mardi Lumsden and Andrew Pennay and Performed by Mardi Lumsden.

Ready to deep dive into songwriting? Join our 10-week online intensive course to write 10 new songs with lessons, personalised mentorship and practical tools to refine your craft. Learn more at iheartsongwritingclub.com/songwritingcourses.

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community.

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses.

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence

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Francesca introduces the podcast theme for Season 8: turning consistent creative practice into a powerful body of work. She shares how members of I Heart Songwriting Club—from remote communities to bustling cities—have written full albums inside the Club. Each episode this season includes a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, sharing a song from demo to final production.

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide.

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly!

Ready to deep dive into songwriting? Join our 10-week online intensive course to write 10 new songs with lessons, personalised mentorship and practical tools to refine your craft. Learn more at iheartsongwritingclub.com/songwritingcourses.

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass.

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club:

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Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

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Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.

Thank you for joining us.

Collaboration in the musical realm often focuses on the process of writing a song together. But as Francesca de Valence and Emma Bosworth shared during the recent co-production of their songwriting retreat, collaboration can extend far beyond just crafting songs - it can foster professional partnerships, exchange a diversity of skill sets, and create innovative growth opportunities for both people and their communities.

Join our next Songwriting Retreat here and find out more about our online co-writing course here.

About Emma Bosworth:
Emma is a singer-songwriter, founder of Wild Mountains Songs and National Project Manager of Green Music Australia. Emma is a long time friend of Wild Mountains Trust. In her teenage years, she attended multiple earth education camps managed by the Trust, and she says it was a major turning point in her life. In 2016, Emma had a yearning to create time and space to create new music; she knew Wild Mountains could provide a space with big creative impact. Using her collaborative heart, she asked some friends to join her on a weekend away amongst the trees to co-write and take some deep breaths. It was the start of something really special.

Find out more about Wild Mountains Songs
Find out more about Wild Mountains Trust

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community.

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses.

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.