The Songsmith's Atelier Curated by Kirsty Almeida
The Songsmith's Atelier Curated by Kirsty Almeida
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This retreat is designed for songwriters who are already walking the path — whether you’re launching your career, firmly established, or somewhere in between.
It’s for those who are ready to treat songwriting not just as a passion, but as a profession. Whether you’re looking to create a fresh body of work, rediscover your creative spark, refine and elevate what you’ve already written, or simply reconnect with the joy of writing, this space is for you.
You might be:
- An established songwriter seeking a creative shift or a new perspective
- A working professional ready to go deeper into your craft
- Someone on the cusp of turning your craft into a career
- Creatively thriving and ready to dive deeper and go further
- Feeling stuck or in need of reigniting your passion
Wherever you are on your journey, this retreat offers the time, tools, coaching, and creativity to support your next chapter — creatively, professionally, and personally.
What’s Included in Your Weekend
You’ll have your own bed in a cosy house shared with fellow creatives. (There’s one ensuite room — and in the spirit of fun, it’ll be gifted via retreat lottery!) Please note: the value of this retreat lies not in luxury accommodation, but in the creativity, coaching, connection, and guest artists you’ll be immersed in throughout the weekend.
All meals are included, and we’ll ask for your dietary preferences in the form we’ll send after booking. There’ll be plenty of snacks, teas, coffee, and a glass of wine (or two) to wind down with in the evenings. The full programme of workshops, songwriting sessions, and guest writer teachings is included.
The retreat centre is filled with inspiring nooks to write solo, rest, or take a walk in nature. There’s a lovely garden café just across the road if you feel like a little time out. We’ll have several beautiful pianos available, a spare guitar if needed, and a few playful instruments to experiment with during some of the sessions.
The creative workshops are designed to ignite your spark — offering you powerful tools to access inspiration quickly, bypass judgment, and step into full creative flow. We’ll include metaphysical practices and inner work to help release blocks and ego patterns, as well as journalling and stream-of-consciousness writing. There will also be a session on resetting music industry beliefs and we’ll touch on the business of music.
Link to Our Retreat Accommodation and Creative Spaces at the Gorgeous and Artist-Friendly Bottom’s Farm in Todmorden
Rewriting the Inner Script
One of Kirsty’s core teachings is exploring how the mind shapes the reality we experience — including our place in the music industry. Our beliefs act as filters, subtly colouring every interaction and opportunity.
If we carry the belief that the industry is stacked against us, or that we don’t quite fit, we’ll unconsciously seek out evidence to confirm that. But what if we could choose a different lens?
During the retreat, we’ll take time to gently examine the stories we’ve been telling ourselves — and begin to let go of the ones that no longer serve us. Then, together, we’ll plant new beliefs rooted in confidence, creativity, and belonging. Beliefs that align with the songwriter and artist you’re becoming — and the reality you’re ready to create.
This isn’t about pretending things are perfect. It’s about reclaiming the power to shape your experience from the inside out.
In one of our weekend’s sessions, you can try your hand at writing from a commercial brief, a medicine song, a children’s song, and lots of other writing prompts — and don’t worry if that feels new; we’ll support you every step of the way. These are aside from the guest writing sessions. We will also look at collaborative writing and will refine a song you have already written to take it to your new level.
Above all, expect an expansive weekend where you will leave an old version of yourself behind and return home a new self, with new songs, new tools, and a new songwriting self.
Once you’ve booked, we’ll send a short form to help tailor the experience to you. If it turns out this retreat isn’t quite the right fit, we may offer you a place on the October retreat instead — or a full refund.
Kirsty Almeida is a professional songwriter, creative mentor, and soulful catalyst for artistic and creative transformation.
With a career spanning major label signings with Decca Records and Universal, international performances, film scores, and critically acclaimed albums, Kirsty brings a rare blend of industry experience and deep emotional intelligence. Her music has featured in over 50 TV shows and 4 films. Over the past decade, Kirsty has turned her focus toward the inner world of the artist — exploring the rich intersection of creativity, healing, and mindset. Her work gently but powerfully supports others to dissolve creative blocks, awaken their true voice, and write from a place of deep authenticity and freedom.
At the heart of Kirsty’s teaching is the belief that when we shift our inner beliefs, our outer reality begins to shift too. This retreat is an invitation into that transformation — a space to grow as a songwriter, artist, and human.
For songwriters ready to take their craft — and their work — to the next level
This isn’t a retreat where you’ll sit around waiting for inspiration to strike. In this retreat, you’ll learn (if you don’t already know) how to access inspiration on tap!
This is a working weekend. A place to show up, dig deep, write hard, and leave with something real. Whether you’re reigniting your voice, sharpening your tools, or building the next body of work — this is time carved out for the songwriter in you who’s all in.
Friday – Arrive, Reset, Begin
3:00–5:00pm – Arrival & Check-In
Land, breathe, find your room, and get your bearings.
5:15–6:00pm – Opening Session: Why Are You Here?
Not in the cosmic sense (unless that helps) — in the writer sense.
What’s on the table for you this weekend? What do you need to make, finish, shift, or begin?
6:30–7:30pm – Dinner
8:00–9:30pm – Evening Writing Sprint: No Preciousness
Timed exercises to shake the dust off and bypass the critic.
Write quickly, messily, honestly. Get out of your own way.
Saturday – Deep Writing, Honest Feedback
8:00–9:00am – Breakfast
9:30–11:30am – Workshop: The Engine of the Song
What makes a song work — not just sound nice?
We’ll break open structure, lyrical purpose, melodic direction, and emotional through-lines.
11:30–1:00pm – Solo Writing Block 1: Draft or Die
Start something new or commit to building out a rough draft.
This is where you start to make choices that count.
1:00–2:00pm – Lunch
2:00–4:00pm – Co-Writing / Constraint Challenge
Work with another songwriter or take on a specific brief.
Sometimes creativity shows up better with a fence around the field.
4:00–5:30pm – Solo Writing Block 2: Edit or Expand
Pick up the thread. Keep going. Sharpen what you’ve started.
5:30–6:30pm – Dinner
7:00–9:00pm – Song Share: Brave Space, Real Notes
Play something you wrote today. Get thoughtful, respectful feedback — not ego-strokes, not ego-bruises — just what helps the song get better.
Sunday – Finishing Moves & Forward Motion
8:00–9:00am – Breakfast
9:30–11:00am – Workshop: The Art of the Rewrite
Finishing a song isn’t polishing it — it’s knowing what to cut, where to dig deeper, and when to walk away. Tools and instincts for smart editing.
11:00–12:30pm – Final Writing Block: Bring It Home
Pick the song that’s asking for your attention and give it everything you’ve got. This is the last push — not perfect, but purposeful.
12:30–1:30pm – Lunch
2:00–3:00pm – Final Share: One Song, One Take
Play your strongest piece. No disclaimers, no apologies — just the song.
3:00–4:00pm – Closing Session: What Now?
Leave with momentum. Define your next steps. This doesn’t end here.
Keeping It Simple & Accessible
We know songwriting retreats can be expensive — and that can be a real barrier. We’ve chosen to keep the cost of this retreat as low as possible, without compromising the depth of the experience. We want it to be truly accessible, so the investment goes into what really matters: the creative space, the guidance, the community, and your growth.
Accommodation is in shared twin rooms. A couple of people might land in a single room — but that’s part of the luck of the draw. We could’ve charged more for private rooms, but we’ve deliberately chosen not to. This retreat is about more than comfort (although all the rooms are lovely and cosy!!) — it’s about shaking things up creatively, internally, and energetically.
Sometimes, our attachment to space, privacy, or routine can become louder than the creative voice trying to come through. Sharing a room — even if it’s unfamiliar — can gently loosen those patterns. It’s a chance to notice where our identification with comfort, control, or ego may be holding us back. And sometimes, simply being in a different environment (even just in where you sleep) can unlock something unexpected — and lead you straight to the gold in your songs.
Who This Is For
This retreat is for songwriters who are already in it or have been in it — writing, creating, exploring their voice — and who want to take it further.
You might have:
- Been writing songs for years and feel ready to raise your standard
- Been writing on your own and want to take your songs out into the world
- Shared work in the world — maybe some releases, gigs, or demos — and want to refine your sound or elevate your writing
- A desire to write a new body of work and want structured, supported time to do that
- A creative life that’s active but hasn’t yet reached the level you know you’re capable of
- A need to reconnect with your why — not in a fluffy way, but in a way that fuels your next chapter
You’re someone who takes songwriting seriously — even if you do it with humour, soul, and messiness.
You want honest feedback, connection with other driven creatives, and time to actually do the work.
You’re not afraid to re-commit to your creativity — even if that means writing badly before you write brilliantly.
Who This Is Not For
This retreat probably isn’t right for you if:
- You feel uncomfortable being in shared creative spaces or around new people
- You struggle to receive feedback — even the thoughtful, constructive kind — or tend to shut down when challenged. (We are, however, going to support you with all sorts of blocks and dealing with fear!)
- You need to be praised more than you want to grow
- You’re looking for a spiritual-free zone — we might talk about the metaphysics of creativity, intuition, or the weird and wonderful ways songs arrive
- You find it hard to stay open when things get hard or uncertain — this is a place for people who keep showing up, even when it’s uncomfortable
This is not a retreat for coasting.
It’s for creatives who are curious, committed, and ready to dig deeper — whether you’re reigniting the flame or fanning one that’s already burning.
