Dylan Willows Foundation for Music

10/15/2025

Today is the last day to get your application in for The Music Lab!

So here’s the quick wrap-up of everything you need to know ⬇️

🎶 What is The Music Lab?
A two-day intensive (Nov 15–16 at Fort Tectoria, Victoria) designed to give emerging musicians the tools, skills, and connections to take their careers to the next level.

🛠️ What you’ll get:
Hands-on experience in production & recording (multitracking, workflows, programming)

Mentorship in artist management, grant writing, marketing, and distribution

Real connections with industry leaders and fellow musicians

🎤 Your Mentors include:
Deadman (Matt Peters & Matt Schellenberg) — award-winning producers & songwriters

Steve Bays — (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties) songwriter/producer

Nick Middleton — (The Funk Hunters) artist & business leader

Colleen Dauncey — songwriter/composer for theatre, TV, and film

Piers Henwood — artist manager & strategist

💵 Cost to you?

Zero. Thanks to the incredible support of our community and $15,000 raised through the DWFM Auction and funding from Creative BC, The Zone, The LakeTown Benevolent Society and Viatec, The Music Lab is completely free for all accepted applicants.

🙋 Who should apply?
Songwriters, performers, producers, or anyone ready to level up their music career. You don’t need to have released music yet — just bring your passion.

⚡ Final Call: Applications close TODAY at 5pm (Oct 15). Don’t wait. Apply now ➤ bit.ly/Apply-TheMusicLab

Together, let’s carry on Dylan’s legacy by giving new voices the chance to grow, learn, and shine. 💙

Supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia

10/13/2025

🚨 Just 48 hours left! Applications for The Music Lab close Oct 15. Don’t miss your shot to get mentorship with industry pros like .

Steve Bays (, ) is bringing his songwriting & production magic to The Music Lab. Imagine getting direct feedback from him.

Apply Now ➤ https://www.dwfoundation.ca/projects

Steve is a singer, songwriter, producer known for his memorable hooks and electrifying stage presence. As the frontman of ‘Hot Hot Heat,’ he was at the forefront of the 2000s indie-rock explosion, touring globally and cementing his status as a defining voice in modern rock.

Also a four-time Juno Award nominee, Bays is a seasoned producer, engineer, co-writer, videographer and director. Along with his big hair and eccentric taste, Bays is a mad scientist of sorts, with a lengthy resume that bridges the past and future of alternative music.

Recently also stepping into his own spotlight, Bays has launched a new solo chapter of his music career, channeling his restless creativity—melding punchy, hi-fi indie pop with raw, unfiltered energy. Whether he’s jumping between high energy live shows, filming an impromptu video shoot, or conducting an all day and night long studio session, Bays is the kind of artist who tends to feel the most at home when he’s wandering ahead, chasing the feeling of something yet to be named.

Supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia

10/09/2025

Meet Savannah Wellman — co-founder of Tiny Kingdom Music, Savannah Wellman has built her career around lifting others up, especially women and gender-diverse artists in BC’s music scene.

Through her work as a label founder, mentor, and community organizer, she’s created space for artists to lead with authenticity, creativity, and confidence.

Savannah’s all about breaking barriers, building equity, and showing that there’s more than one way to thrive in music.

Want mentorship like this?

🚨Only 6 days left to get your application in for The Music Lab ➤ https://www.dwfoundation.ca/projects

Supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia

10/08/2025

🎶 The Music Lab – FAQs

Do I need to have released music already?

Not at all! The Music Lab is open to artists at any stage — from first songs to festival-ready. If you’ve got the passion and drive to grow, you belong here.

Is it really free?
Yes — 100% free. Thanks to support from our incredible partners at Laketown Ranch Benevolent Society, The Zone, Viatec, Creative BC, and the Province of British Columbia.

Do I have to be from Victoria?

Nope. You just need to call B.C. home, with a focus on Vancouver Island artists. You’ll need to make your way to Victoria for the weekend of Nov 15–16.

What happens at The Music Lab?

It’s a two-day deep dive into songwriting, collaboration, and the realities of building a music career. You’ll connect with mentors, get creative in small groups, and leave with new tools, new songs, and new friends.

Who are the mentors?

The Music Lab is guided by an all-star roster of musicians, producers, and industry pros — including members of Royal Canoe, Hot Hot Heat, and The Funk Hunters, plus experienced managers, songwriters, and radio veterans.

How do I apply?
Head to dwfoundation.ca/projects and fill out the short application form. It only takes a few minutes!

How are participants chosen?
We’re looking for a mix of creativity, curiosity, and commitment. Show us your passion and what you hope to get out of the experience.

Is there an age limit?
We welcome adult applicants of all ages, though most participants are between 18–35. If you're under 18 your parent or guardian will need to sign a consent form if you are a selected applicant.

Got a question for us?
Drop it below ⬇️

10/05/2025

Meet Deadman (Matt Peters & Matt Schellenberg) 🎹 Producers, songwriters, award-winning creators.

They’re ready to share their secrets with YOU at The Music Lab. Want mentorship like this?

⚡️Apply now to attend - bit.ly/Apply-TheMusicLab

Supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia

The production duo began their partnership as members of longtime Winnipeg indie-pop band Royal Canoe. After a series of writing trips they relocated to Los Angeles where they have produced and written with artists like Ashleigh Ball, Dan Mangan, Eaj park (day 6) Molly Burch, Ian Sweet, Mouraine and Begonia (including her Juno and Polaris nominated albums, Fear and Powder Blue).

As composers, they’ve scored tv series for CBC and HBO/Crave, as well as NPR’s This American Life. They are the recipients of several Western Canadian Music Awards and are four-time losers at the Juno Awards.

10/03/2025

What even is The Music Lab?
Think of it as a bootcamp for your music career!

A two-day intensive (Nov 15–16 at Fort Tectoria, Victoria) designed to give emerging musicians the tools, skills, and connections to take their careers to the next level.

🛠️ What you’ll get:
- Hands-on experience in production & recording (multitracking, workflows, programming)
- Mentorship in artist management, grant writing, marketing, and distribution
- Real connections with industry leaders and fellow musicians

🎤 Your Mentors include:

Deadmen (Matt Peters & Matt Schellenberg)
Production power duo behind Royal Canoe turned scorers & songwriters — ready to guide you from idea to track.

stevebays
From Hot Hot Heat frontman to indie-pop mad scientist — Steve’s creative vision is yours to tap into.

Nick Middleton Music
Touring artist turned entrepreneur & tastemaker — Nick blends musical grit with business savvy.

Colleen Dauncey
Composer, songwriter, storyteller — Colleen weaves cinematic emotion into every melody she touches.

Piers Henwood
Artist-manager extraordinaire — from co-founding labels to guiding Grammy-nominated careers, Piers knows the long game.

Savannah Wellman [Tiny Kingdom Music]
Label founder & industry strategist — Savannah moves between artist vision and business big picture.

Bryan Capistrano [DJ Boitano]
Radio veteran turned music programmer — Bryan bridges the gap between artists and the airwaves.

Stephen Franke
Victoria’s own seasoned manager & sync guru — he’s gotten tracks placed in Netflix, HBO, and beyond.

💵 Cost to you?
Zero. Thanks to the incredible support of our community and $15,000 raised through the DWFM Auction and support by Creative BC, The Music Lab is completely free for all accepted applicants.

🙋 Who should apply?
Songwriters, performers, producers, or anyone ready to level up their music career. You don’t need to have released music yet, just bring your passion.

⚡ Apply: Applications close Oct 15.

Don’t wait. Apply now ➤ bit.ly/Apply-TheMusicLab

Together, let’s carry on Dylan’s legacy by giving new voices the chance to grow, learn, and shine. 💙

Supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia

10/02/2025

Because of your incredible support in the DWFM Auction, we raised $15,000! 💙

Every single dollar will go directly toward making The Music Lab free for all selected applicants to attend.

That means young and emerging musicians in our community will get hands-on mentorship, production training, and industry insight — all at no cost — thanks to YOU.

Applications for The Music Lab are open now www.dwfoundation.ca/projects.

The deadline for applications is October 15.

Together, we’re keeping Dylan’s legacy alive by lifting new voices and giving them the chance to grow. Thank you for making this possible.

Supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia

09/22/2025

Today is a day filled with many emotions — a day that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. After 10 months of pouring our hearts into this work, we finally get to share it with the world. And yet, it’s impossible not to feel the ache of what’s missing. We are filled with pride, knowing this is for Dylan and everything he stood for, but we are equally filled with sorrow, knowing he isn’t here beside us to see it come to life.

The Dylan Willows Foundation for Music was born out of love — love for Dylan, love for the music that he supported, and love for the community he gave everything to. Dylan believed in people. He lifted voices that deserved to be heard. He gave so much of himself to Victoria’s creative family, and that generosity of spirit is what we now carry forward.

Through this foundation, Dylan’s light will continue to shine. We will honour him by supporting young and emerging musicians, offering them the mentorship, education, and opportunities that he so passionately championed. His legacy is not just in the work he did, but in the lives he touched and the community he built along the way.

This is for Dylan. For the artists. For the community he loved so deeply — and for the countless voices he’ll continue to inspire.

To begin this journey, we’re hosting an online auction fundraiser from September 22–29. All the details can be found at www.dwfoundation.ca

Xoxo,
The DWFM fam

The Dylan Willows Foundation for Music (DWFM) is a local organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of artists through education and connection.