Creating Space and Sound: Inside WMN Sessions at Sweetwater Studios

In August 2025, We Make Noise joined forces with Sweetwater Studios to host WMN Sessions, a three-day songwriting and production camp designed to uplift and unite women and gender-expansive creators in music. Held August 29–31 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the camp brought together 21 artists from across the country to write, produce, and collaborate on original music for Brooklyn-based artist Melanie Charles—a visionary known for her soulful fusion of alternative jazz and R&B.

Led by WMN’s own Erin Barra, alongside Samantha Hunter, Nan Macmillan, Marin Wilts, and others, the camp transformed Sweetwater Studios into a creative hub buzzing with creative and collaborative energy. Over the course of three days, participants wrote and produced ten original songs, each reflecting the distinct voices and stories of the artists involved, while capturing Melanie Charles’ signature sound.

Empowerment Through Access at WMN Sessions

For many attendees, WMN Sessions marked their first-ever songwriting and production camp—an opportunity too often out of reach for creators with underrepresented and marginalized identities. By removing barriers and fostering community-centered learning, We Make Noise continues to make space for those too often left out of the room.

Sweetwater provided world-class studio spaces, while Roland and Focusrite equipped each room with SP-404s and Scarlett 2i2s, putting professional gear directly into the hands of the artists. The event also received generous support from Visit Fort Wayne, which offered complimentary lodging at The Bradley Hotel, transportation, and curated local experiences to make the stay immersive and inspiring.

“Every detail…culminated in an impactful camp we’re still buzzing about,” shared INEZ, a Pittsburgh-based artist and participant. “The positive, light, loving energy made it so special. We all left better people than we came.”

Lasting Collaboration

The impact of WMN Sessions doesn’t end here. With ongoing conversations between Melanie Charles and camp producers, the collaborations sparked during those three days continue to evolve. The camp also builds on the success of previous WMN Sessions, including the 2024 edition in Fort Collins, CO, which featured Indonesian pop star Agnez Mo.

In partnership with ONErpm, our network of creators continues to grow as we ensure that each camp becomes a launching point for lasting artistic partnerships and professional growth.

Looking Ahead

WMN Sessions at Sweetwater Studios demonstrates what’s possible when access meets intention—when women and gender-expansive artists are given not just a seat at the table, but the tools and space to create on their own terms. As WMN continues to expand globally, partnerships like this remind us of our mission’s heartbeat: to harness the power of music and technology to advance global gender equity and empower the next generation of creators.

We’re proud to celebrate every artist who took part in WMN Sessions and grateful to our partners at Sweetwater, Roland, Focusrite, Visit Fort Wayne, and ONErpm for helping us bring this vision to life.

Stay tuned for updates on future WMN Sessions and new releases from the incredible artists who made this one unforgettable.

Photos by Joe Etemadi

Written by Ini Obong