Kat Harlton
Photo Credit: Lia Hansen
Music Publishers Canada (MPC) recently announced the seven talented producer-songwriters selected for its 2025 Women in the Studio National Accelerator, which supports the professional growth of music producers from across Canada.
Now in its seventh year, the training program provides music producers with a series of curated sessions and workshops that focus on skills development as well as networking opportunities with music industry leaders that may otherwise be inaccessible to them. The accelerator targets mid-career producers who are already producing for others and equips them with skills and connections vital for them to take the next step in their music industry career.
There are 40 past graduates of the program and MPC is proud to invest in this community and to witness the collaborations and professional relationships that grow out of the Accelerator each year.
I had the opportunity to chat with Lila Gray, a Women In The Studio 2025 participant about why this program is important, what she looks forward to learning, and the biggest challenge she’s faced in the industry thus far.
Kat: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the creative work you do?
Lila: I am an alt-pop artist, producer and engineer based out of Vancouver, BC. I love producing music in all its forms; whether that be for myself, for other artists or for film and TV. I’m open to working in any genre, and I strive to produce with “the path of least resistance”. I don’t want the artists I work with to be having to justify their creative decisions; I am here to make your vision come to life, and make it be the best version it can.
Kat: What does it mean to you to have been selected as a participant of Music Publishers Canada’s 2025 Women in the Studio National Accelerator?
Lila: I am so honoured to be included in the accelerator, and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of such an impressive cohort. The accelerator is such a well known, and highly regarded, program that I have been eager to be a part of ever since I got into production.
Kat: The program focuses on topics including technical and songwriting skills, branding and financial literacy, and will offer opportunities for creative collaborations. What are you most looking forward to?
Lila: At my core, my favourite piece about music is songwriting. I love listening to the different ways in which people voice their feelings and artistry. So for that reason I would have to say that I am the most excited to be sitting in, and partaking in, the various songwriting workshops that we have on the agenda.
Kat: What have you learned along the way in your career that you would like to share with other aspiring creatives?
Lila: The biggest lesson that I have learned, and continue to keep learning is to persevere. Having perseverance will take you far; whether that is just continuing to work in the music industry, or continuing to work on writing a song that just feels like it’s never going to be done being written.
Kat: What are you currently working on now, and what can we expect next from you for the balance of this year?
Lila: I am working on a plethora of collaborations, with artists from all across the globe; both as a producer and as an artist. I’m so excited for all of those projects to start releasing towards the end of this year. I am hoping to continue making a name for myself in the Canadian music scene, and I aspire to start making waves as a creative in other countries too.
Connect With Lila Gray
Facebook: /lilagraymusic
Instagram: @lilagraymusic
Website: https://lilamckechniemixing.square.site
To learn more about the Women In The Studio program visit: https://www.musicpublishing.ca/women-in-the-studio