Grenada’s growing music sector is receiving targeted support from local authorities, as the Grenada Office of Creative Affairs (GOCA)—a branch of the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture—recently concluded a two-day immersive masterclass designed exclusively for the island nation’s songwriting community.
Titled “The Write Track,” this new workshop forms part of a sustained, strategic series of development programs rolled out by GOCA. The overarching goal of these initiatives is to foster skills expansion, facilitate cross-industry knowledge exchange, and accelerate professional advancement for both emerging and veteran creative talents working in Grenada’s music ecosystem.
Ananda Johnson, Assistant Operations Manager at GOCA, emphasized that the organization’s focus on music development is no random choice, but a deliberate, long-term strategy. “We recognize that music is already a powerful, high-impact industry in Grenada, with untapped potential for significant growth and global market expansion,” Johnson explained. She pointed to the success of GOCA’s April 2025 music producer workshop, “Bring the Beat,” which delivered measurable improvements in the quality of musical output for the annual Spicemas festival—an outcome that aligns perfectly with the office’s strategic goals. “After gathering feedback from Grenada’s creative community, we identified clear skill gaps for local songwriters, so we developed this masterclass to fill those gaps. Our aim is to provide creators with practical tools, insider industry perspectives, and guided mentorship to help them refine their craft,” Johnson added.
Leading the “The Write Track” workshop was Haile Alexander, a UK-based singer-songwriter with Grenadian roots who boasts an impressive professional resume, including writing credits for Grammy Award-winning artists Chris Brown and Tyla. Over the two-day session, Alexander and participating songwriters dived into both the creative and practical dimensions of songcraft, with a particular focus on narrative storytelling, emotional authenticity, and turning real-life personal experiences into music that resonates deeply with global audiences.
Following the conclusion of the workshop, Alexander shared that the exchange proved mutually beneficial. “The energy in the room was incredible from start to finish. I got to share lessons I’ve learned through my years of professional songwriting, but I walked away having learned just as much from the participants,” he said. “I hope these creators keep building on this experience, keep honing their craft, and stay open to continuous learning.”
The workshop was open to songwriters of all skill levels, and even drew music producers seeking to strengthen their collaborative partnerships with songwriters. For Thamara “Songbird” St Bernard, a Grenadian recording artist, the session was a transformative experience. “These two days were absolutely phenomenal. It showed me that creators are far more alike in our process than we often realize. We learned that there’s no strict ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to write music, and picked up new techniques to get into the right creative headspace to do our best work, all demonstrated clearly by Haile,” St Bernard shared. “I’m so grateful for what I learned, and it also confirmed that I’m already on the right path with my work. That kind of validation means so much to creators. GOCA’s work with these workshops is so necessary—they help us understand how intentional, strong songwriting can advance our entire careers.”
GOCA’s investment in Grenada’s music economy extends far beyond “The Write Track.” Alongside the earlier “Bring the Beat” producer workshop, the office also runs “Sing Grenada,” a targeted music development program for young creators. It also offers targeted funding through the Music Producers’ Project, which allows eligible producers to access financial support to upgrade their home and professional recording studios. For more information on GOCA’s full suite of programs for local creatives, interested parties can visit the official website at creativeaffairs.gov.gd.
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