What happens when you commit to writing one song a week for 100 weeks? For songwriter and producer Joel Riley, it led to his debut album The Fruits of Labour. In this episode, Joel takes us inside his imaginative practice. He shares how consistency built his confidence, how feedback helped him hear his songs differently and how living in Dubbo inspired him to embrace creative limitations as opportunities. Joel’s journey is a reminder that songwriting doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs you to show up.

About Joel: Joel Riley is an artist, songwriter and producer making music in Dubbo, Australia. He writes songs about things he cares about, things he worries about, and the occasional dinosaur. He loves to take adventures into genres he loves, like electronic music (with The Synthesizer Wizards of Dubbo), ambient jazz (with The DM) and indie rock (with Tomorrow Forever). His first album The Fruits of Labour was released in early 2025 to great acclaim in the family group chat. He is always keeping his eyes open for the next musical adventure!

Song Credit: “Bet Against Myself" - Written by Joel Riley. Performed live by Joel Riley.

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

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Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence

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