Cover Artwork — artcyll
“I really am speaking with them as a friend who’s just been around a bit longer.” Reese shared. “I want my mentees to look at me as someone they can trust and as someone who understands their struggles. I may not always have the right answer, but I can share how I did things and how those decisions worked for me.”
With the rise of young artists who are creative, inspired, and talented, the need for mentorship to guide and hone these young talents has never been greater. For artists, mentorship is important because they can have a sounding board on how they can tap into their strengths and weaknesses. Mentorship also allows them to get to know themselves better, learn from experiences of people ahead of them, and be inspired to pursue their own paths.
Since 2015, Levi’s has been a household name in the music community. They provide a safe space to nurture and help aspiring musicians navigate their way in the vast world of music through the Levi’s Music Project, an initiative that lets established artists all over the world support budding musicians by helping them dig deeper into their creativity while finding their own voice.
This initiative was also brought to the Philippines through Levi’s Music Project’s Discord Community where artists from all over the country can meet likeminded individuals, share learnings, and be mentored. Multi-faceted singer-songwriter Reese Lansangan served as the mentor for the Levi’s Music Project in the Philippines. She lent her wisdom and listening ear to several aspiring musicians.
“It was really exciting for me to meet all of the talented artists who took part in this project. The Discord Q&A was extensive, but it was a productive and enlightening conversation for all of us. It was a chance for the artists to connect, promote their work, and exchange feedback.” she said.
“Getting to ask each of my mentees about their musical journeys and their hopes for their career was the fun part of our mentorship journey.” she smiled. “I loved being able to identify with their struggles, pains, and joys because I have lived a similar experience. It’s empowering to know that we are all working towards the same goals and moving in the same space.”
But like all experiences, it wouldn’t be as fulfilling if there weren’t challenges to overcome.
“I think the most difficult part was the fear of not being helpful enough to my mentees. There’s also the fact that most of them are much better and more skilled in terms of production and musicality. However, talking to my mentees made me realize that I have a wealth of experience I can share with them. I’ve learned many things about this industry and I have successfully navigated my way through some challenging aspects of pursuing a music career.”
Reese recalled how she was also a mentee back when she was starting. She considers herself lucky to be part of the Elements Songwriting Camp and experienced mentorship under the most prestigious names in OPM. In addition to giving her unforgettable opportunities, her mentors’ encouragement and admiration were the driving forces in her pursuit of a purely independent music career.
When asked what the most crucial piece of advice she can give as a music mentor was, she simply responded, “Know your own definition of success and happiness, and know that those can change over time, too. Read and review your contracts. And having a day job to help pursue your passion is perfectly normal (and admirable).”
To paint a picture of the complete mentorship journey, WIJI-KUN, Marian Carmel, and UNDERDOGPIANIST, three of Reese’s mentees, joined in the fun of looking back at their Levi’s Music Project experience.
“One of the things that really stuck with me is how true to herself Reese is. It was super inspiring, and I think I needed that boost in morale.” WIJI-KUN shared. UNDERDOGPIANIST agreed and added that as an artist, it’s more than okay to be your genuine self.
To Marian Carmel, the conversations with Reese have been affirming and comforting. “We shared really personal anecdotes about being a musician and the challenges that come with it—impostor syndrome, finances, and even things like music theory,” she recalled.
“It was nice to know that I wasn’t alone in these things, and that it’s possible to have a successful career in music even with these obstacles in place!” she added.
A look at Reese Lansangan’s time with the mentees reviewing their submissions.
All three mentees consider mentorship a valuable part of growing as an artist. In this context, WIJI-KUN emphasized that without mentorship, many of the biggest names in music wouldn’t be where they are now. Without Tomo Fujita, there wouldn’t be a John Mayer.
On the other hand, Marian Carmel felt that her experience came full circle when she was mentored by Reese herself, who was a huge inspiration behind her first single.
Wrapping up our talk, we asked both mentees their thoughts on the importance of consistent mentorship in growing as an artist. Both acknowledged that as aspiring musicians, it’s important to learn how to accept knowledge being passed down to stay grounded while constantly striving to become better at your craft.
As for Reese and her plans in music mentorship, “I would love to be able to do more mentorship if given the chance. I’m learning just as much as my mentees (hopefully) are. And as I grow older and my priorities start to shift, I find their drive and passion ignite my own. I am very thankful for that symbiotic relationship.”
Through the partnership with Reese Lansangan, Levi’s Philippines hopes that aspiring and budding musicians will continue to find their rightful place in the music industry. They consider the Levi’s Music Project their lifelong commitment to giving back to both the scene and creatives alike.
If you want to know more about Levi’s efforts in shaping the music community, check out their website here or you can connect with fellow artists by joining their Discord community.
