Neverland Retreats: Music Workshops

When you leave the comfort of what you're used to, you find out how much more you can grow...

Neverland Retreats is the only music workshop that couples up-and-coming talent with current hit-making Producers, A&R's, Music Supervisors, Songwriters, and other Industry professionals for a week long mentorship program in the beautiful surf village of Nosara, Guanacaste in Costa Rica.

Our workshops contain only the highest caliber of Mentors & Attendees.

Submit to join us in the beautiful jungles of Costa Rica for an exclusive music workshop on the Pacific Coast. Our event is for the top tier of up-and-coming singers, songwriters, producers and other aspiring music industry professionals. The Neverland Retreats experience offers daily activities and advice on how to become successful in the music industry, while taking in the jungle & beach experience.

Overview

• Experience songwriter tutorials and critiques.

• Group open mics at local jungle venues.

• Mentor sessions from industry professionals.

• Venture on your own! Nosara is world renown for it's amazing beaches, surf and jungle surroundings. Take a horse ride on the beach, rent an ATV, or zipline above the trees. This is YOUR RETREAT!

A post shared by Neverland Retreats Music (@neverland_music_retreats) on Jun 18, 2017 at 4:42pm PDT

The Gilded Iguana

Nosara, Costa Rica: Nov 12th - 17th, 2019

Our host hotel is centrally located within the vibrant jungles of Nosara, Guancaste and just a quick walk away from the beach!

With broad and unobstructed western exposure to the Pacific Ocean, large tide swings, a sandy bottom and prevailing off-shore winds, Guiones is diverse beach break that always has waves.

Yoga studios, shopping, restaurants, bars, and board rentals are all within walking distance as well.

Official Gilded Iguana Website
Gilded Iguana Instagram

Why Nosara?

Nosara is a gem hidden on the Pacific Coast of beautiful Costa Rica. It's a vibrant paradise where you will get to experience jungle living at it's finest!

• It has recently been named the #1 Travelers Choice Costa Rican destination by Trip Advisor for 2017.

• Nosara was also recently covered as one of CNN Travel's top 20 travel spots not to miss!

ANDREW GOULD, Senior VP & Head of A&R, Downtown Music Publishing

Gould oversees Downtown's A&R, writer relations and creative development operations in North America, focusing on contemporary pop songs and songwriters.

With over 17 years of experience in the music industry, Gould started his career as an assistant, then talent scout, at Epic Records, before moving to EMI Music Publishing, where he was an early champion of Sia and hit-makers Savan Kotecha, Jim Jonsin, and Toby Gad. Gould, a classically trained pianist, received his MBA from The Wharton School and remains passionate about music industry advocacy. This past June he was elected to the L.A. Chapter of the Grammy Board, where he co-chairs the Advocacy Committee.
Links: Downtown Music Publishing, Instagram

NASH OVERSTREET, Multi-Platinum Songwriter & Producer

Nashville born artist, songwriter and producer, Nash Overstreet, is a multi-platinum, American Music Award, and two-time BMI Pop award winner who had early success with his band Hot Chelle Rae. The band had hits with major pop songs like “Tonight Tonight,” “I Like It Like That,” and “Honestly,” among others while signed to legendary Sony imprint Jive, and later, RCA records. The band went on to sell over 7 million singles worldwide.

Nash has toured the world opening for acts like Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber as well as headlining tours on every continent in the world in Hot Chelle Rae. As a songwriter, Nash has co-written songs like "Liar" for Britney Spears, "Woman Up" for Meghan Trainor and "Angels in Chelsea" for Rachel Platten, not to mention collaborations with Mike Posner, Taylor Swift, Gavin Degraw and others. .
Links: Nashoverstreet.com

SIDNEY SWIFT, Grammy-Nominated Producer, Songwriter & Engineer

Sidney Swift is a Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, and engineer, as well as the founder and CEO of Swift Songs, a successful music production company that’s been on the forefront of the music industry for many years. As an award-winning producer, his instinctive feel for music has seen him work with some of the world’s greatest artists - Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Future, Miguel, among others. He’s contributed to hits such as Beyoncé's "7/11", Jason Derulo's "Don't Wanna Go Home", and Major Lazer's "Light It Up"; projects that have defied genre and reshaped the industry, captivating and entertaining millions.

Sidney also runs Defi Entertainment, a publishing, management and record label challenging the status quo and standard ways of doing things in the music and entertainment world. Sidney has collaborated with some of the largest and most successful artists, companies and brands on the planet, impacting how people connect to and experience artists, music, film, television and multimedia. His forward-thinking approach to the fast-changing world we live in is incredibly compelling, thought-provoking and immersive.
Links: Wiki Page

AUTUMN ROWE, Songwriter & Premiere Vocal Coach

Autumn's career as a songwriter began to take flight in 2009 after many years honing her craft on New York's session scene. Signing with B-Room/Water Music Publishing, led her to a joint publishing deal with Steller Songs/Stargate Productions (Rihanna "Rude Boy", "Only Girl In The World" "Diamonds" Beyoncé "Irreplaceable")/EMI UK. The result of their collaboration was the first single, "Happiness", on Stargate's artist, Alexis Jordan, in a co-venture with rapper Jay-Z's new label, Star Roc/Roc Nation/Sony. The song was written and produced by Stargate in conjunction with dance music DJ/Producer, Deadmau5. FiFa and Sony Music Entertainment named the single, "Happiness" the Official Song of the 2011's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. Autumn also penned Jordan's second and third singles from her debut album "Good Girl," which charted at #1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart and "Hush Hush" respectively which were again co-written and produced by Stargate with French producer Sandy Vee.

Autumn also co-wrote the Billboard US top 20 pop single "Hello" with duo Karmin, longtime collaborators Stargate and Claude Kelly for Sony Music. In addition she was a featured vocal coach on Fox's "The X Factor USA", Season 2, working alongside Simon Cowell, LA Reid, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, as well as America's Got Talent where she coached the 2016 winner, Grace VanderWaal.
Links: Songwriter Discography

Co-Founders & Additional Mentors Attending

ADAM MCINNIS, Singer/Songwriter & Music Consultant

Adam McInnis is a Singer/Songwriter most known for his work on tv/film (Leap, The Voice, Hart of Dixie, EndGame etc) as well as collaborating with top dj's in EDM. Adam was a winner of Russel Simmon's "Race To Be: The Next Music Entrepreneur". Adam's online platform, where he gives out mentoring information and advice regarding the music industry has gained a vast following. He truly loves to help upcoming artists understand the blueprint for success.
Links: Instagram: Music Industry Contact, IMDB

SAM "HEIGHTS" GARAY, Mixer, Music Producer & Songwriter

Sam Garay has over a decade of experience producing, writing and recording music for TV/Film and licensing placements. He has produced for such media companies as Lionsgate, Blumhouse, NBC Universal, MTV, E! Networks and various other media companies.

He also has had writing placements with various labels such as Source/Spinnin' Records, Trap Nation and Sony Germany.
Links: IMDB, Instagram: Sam Heights