From September 6–10, Jakobstad will transform into a creative hub for the global music industry. An international songwriting camp will gather songwriters, artists, producers, and music publishers from Finland, South Africa, Sweden, Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, Norway, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom.
With 10 participants from the University of Cape Town, including both students and staff, South Africa’s music industry—one of the fastest-growing in the world—meets the Finnish music sector. Students from Novia University’s master’s programme in music, representing several European countries, will also participate. Furthermore, the interregional project Nordic Music Creators, funded by Interreg Aurora for regional development in northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway, will contribute songwriters and producers from across the Nordic countries and Europe.
This creates a unique platform where young music creators can build international networks, create new music across borders, and open doors to export opportunities for the Finnish music industry.
Top South African Artists on Site
From South Africa, Active Music Publishing, led by founder John Fishlock, will participate. He brings along the artist Amy Tjasink, known from The Voice South Africa.
Also participating is a well-known jazz singer and lecturer from the South African College of Music (University of Cape Town), strengthening the link between education, research, and music creation.
In addition, the multi-award-winning artist Nomfundo, who has released two albums on Universal Music Group, will join the camp. She is among the top names on the South African music scene.
Collaborations at the Highest Level
As part of North and South Songwriters (NOSS), the camp closely collaborates with Musikmakarna in Sweden—an education program recognized by Forbes as Europe’s leading songwriter school. Through their Global Songwriters Team, participants will work side by side with international songwriters and producers, further strengthening global connections and deepening the networks built during the camp.
This means that participants in Jakobstad will not only write new music together, but also work directly with publishers, producers, and artists at an international level—an opportunity that can shape their future careers.
A Unique Project in Finland
The camp is organized within the North and South Songwriters (NOSS) project, funded by Team Finland Knowledge (TFK) via the Finnish National Agency for Education. It is conducted in collaboration with Nordic Music Creators, funded by Interreg Aurora.
Together with educational institutions such as Novia University of Applied Sciences and Yrkesakademin i Österbotten (YA), Ostrobothnia is becoming a hub for the international music industry and a fertile ground for the next generation of songwriters and creators.
“This is the first time such a collaboration takes place between Finland and South Africa, and we are proud that it happens here in Jakobstad. We are building bridges between continents and creating music that can reach the whole world,” says the project management team.
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