Navigating life after graduation can be daunting! But AIM is here to help you make a smooth transition. Two pillars of our courses stand out – collaboration projects and one-on-one sessions with our academics (who also happen to be industry professionals with decades of experience). These opportunities not only allow you to work closely with peers but they also provide personalised guidance tailored to your unique questions and projects. Whether you’re seeking specific advice or looking to develop essential skills, AIM’s resources are designed to support you every step of the way.
We sat down on the Sydney rooftop with Chrystal Nerissa and Mahila Berry, both songwriters and proud AIM alumnae, to discuss their experiences. They shared insights into how one-on-one sessions and collaborations with peers and professionals shaped their journeys and helped them grow both personally and professionally.
Supporting your unique journey
“At AIM everyone has their own journey, you have DJ’s and music producers, and then you have singer/songwriters like me. So, I felt like the one-on-one sessions were really good for me to get personal feedback about my own lyric writing and musical journey. And I didn’t feel afraid to ask as many questions as I wanted when it was just one-on-one with a teacher.” Says Chrystal, who found her one-on-one lessons hugely beneficial to her music creation process, especially with mentor Ken Francis. “Ken helped me get better at playing guitar. He helped me with keeping up a rhythm as I’m singing, staying on time. Finishing a song is a really hard part of songwriting, but having a mentor made it a lot easier”.
Collaboration to build confidence
Collaborative projects are an integral part of the AIM’s experience, designed to immerse you in the real-world dynamics of the music industry. From day one, you’ll start building confidence and making valuable connections with fellow students and industry professionals. These relationships are not just for your time at AIM, they will support and enhance your music career long after graduation. Unlike many other colleges, AIM offers these unique opportunities, which are essential for thriving in the competitive music industry.
Mahila Berry described herself going into AIM as “more of a shy person” but she found the collaborative projects and performances helped her build more confidence as a solo artist, “a lot of people at AIM already had quite a bit of experience in the industry already, and some were just starting out, like me. Learning from people who had the experience was really helpful, and just jamming with my friends helped me build confidence. Since I’ve left AIM, I feel even more confident because I have had that experience now doing live gigs in a duo and a band. Working with other people at AIM really helped me”.
Preparing for your future career
Chrystal discovered that the collaborative projects at AIM effectively prepared her for future endeavors beyond the institution, giving her a clear understanding of what to expect in the professional world. “I’ve worked with music producers and audio engineers. So, I’ve learnt how to record my vocals, the mixing stage, the mastering, how to release the song, and the marketing as well”. Chrystal is currently working on a Liquid Drum & Bass track titled “Hands of Time” with one of her friends. They have just finished shooting the music video and are now in the final stages of preparing for its release. We can’t wait to hear it!
Just like everyone here at AIM, Mahila is also proud to announce she has just released her debut single titled “Endless Cycle”. “It’s about a time in my [then] relationship that was a little bit rough. It was just an endless cycle of fighting and then making up, which can get a little bit tiring! And I think a lot of people can relate to that. Hearing a band play it for the first time, my song, that I wrote on my own guitar, at home, is surreal! It’s so cool.”
As we wrap up our conversation with Chrystal Nerissa and Mahila Berry, their stories paint a vivid picture of the transformative power of the AIM experience. From one-on-one sessions with industry professionals who have years of experience and wisdom, to collaborative projects that foster confidence and camaraderie, AIM equips its students with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the music industry.
Stay tuned to witness the musical journeys of Chrystal (@chrystalnerissa_) and Mahila (@mahila_b_music) as they navigate the dynamic landscape of the music industry, releasing their own captivating tunes along the way.
