San Diego musicians are leaving San Diego. Let's talk about it, shall we?

The industry exploits. + The city extracts. = Artists exit.

I don't think it has to be this way, but I also don't think we can gig or grant-application our way out of it.

Songwriter Sanctuary San Diego's new Artist Access Network is all about connecting our roster of 100+ (& growing!) artists with sustained community care. Think light lifts, immediate impact, and reciprocal relationships.

If you or your company can extend a service, resource, or access point (from business, to creative, to wellness, to basic needs, and beyond), there is a place for you here.

Offers are on your terms and your term limits. Examples include:
Comps, consults, discounts, education, gear, gift cards, housing/rental discounts, memberships, products, rentals, repair, services, sessions, waived fees, etc.
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Benefits of making an offer:
The obvious benefit is generating leads via a growing community of ambitious, talented professionals. Then there's also the extended digital and physical reach via endorsement within our greater network of attendees, email subscribers, social followers, etc.

Submit an offer now, or scroll down to our FAQ to learn more!

Artist Access Network FAQ
Q: What is the Artist Access Network?
The Artist Access Network (AAN) is an ecosystem of local businesses, creatives, and community partners offering tangible support to Songwriter Sanctuary's growing roster of over 100 artists, and if they choose, to the broader creative/local community at large. It’s built on the simple fact that local musicians need more than gigs and grants to afford life in San Diego, and the understanding that creative and caring people can come together to build new systems of care.

Q: Why now?
We've witnessed far too many of our friends pack up and move, disillusioned by an industry that extracts and a city that is too expensive to survive. At the same time, arts funding is often first on the chopping block when it's time to trim the deficit. If we can't trust our public officials to protect us, we need to protect each other.

Q: Who is able to access these offers?
Offers can be shared privately with Songwriter Sanctuary’s artist roster (the community we directly serve), and/or made public for the broader network of creatives and patrons. Public-facing offers help reach more people, but we understand that flexibility matters for different types of contributions.

Q: What kinds of offers are accepted?
Anything goes! Think: comps, consults, discounts, education, gear, memberships, products, rentals, repairs, services, sessions, waived fees, etc. Offers are completely on the business owner's terms: private or public, evergreen or limited by date or quantity - it's totally up to the business how and when to contribute!

Q: Can I submit multiple offers at once?
Yep! Feel free to submit a few offers at a time, various offers for different services, one public and one private, etc. We do our best to keep the AAN streamlined and easy to navigate, so we may group or limit similar offers to avoid overwhelming the space.

Q: If I contribute an offer, does that automatically grant me access to all the other offers from other businesses?
If you are a Songwriter Sanctuary artist, you will have access to any private offer. If you are not a Songwriter Sanctuary artist, you will be able to see all other offers in the public-facing AAN Resource Hub. Beyond that, the specifics of each offer will vary, so make sure to read terms carefully.

Q: What's in it for businesses who contribute an offer?
In addition to listing you on our AAN Resource Hub, we will use our marketing and communication channels (socials/newsletters, etc.) to put your business in front of hundreds of local creatives, arts patrons, and community members. More than that, we will be using our relationships and community connection skills to hype you up in our daily conversations with other local artists and consumers. It's not your typical coupon book. It's a trust-building exercise between folks who know and care about each other. As much as we want to help our artists and creatives thrive in San Diego, we want to help you connect with them and develop new, long lasting relationships with new customers and potential collaborators.

Songwriter Sanctuary alum Ben Parks continues to prove that authenticity is its own art form. Raised in the South and rooted in gospel music, Ben has spent the past few years reshaping his sound and sense of self. His latest release, Ecotone, Pt. II (out November 7), captures that evolution with shimmering indie pop production and lyrics that balance vulnerability with quiet confidence.

The new five-song EP follows Ecotone, Pt. I, expanding on its themes of faith, identity, and belonging. Tracks like “All My Love” and “Attachment Theory” reveal an artist who has grown more grounded and self-assured without losing the emotional depth that first drew listeners in.

We’re so proud to see Ben carving out space in the San Diego music scene and beyond. Make sure to stream Ecotone, Pt. II, follow Ben on your favorite platforms, and check out the next Songwriter Sanctuary event to discover your new favorite local artist.

Stream ‘Ecotone, Pt. II’

San Diego-based indie artist, Songwriter Sanctuary alumni Mariela will release her debut LP The Underglow on October 10. The ten song collection from Rachel Hall (the singer-songwriter/producer behind the moniker) is a raucous gender-affirming revelry that invites anyone who’s ever been ostracized to report to the dance floor for some rock candy pop music therapy.
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New tunes include:

• “Fall in Love Again” (party starter co-written with The Voice contestants Leah Colon and Sav Walters of the indie-pop duo MisterMoon.)
• “The Underglow” (sexy closer co-written with Grammy-winner Melody Walker).
• “Dust” (nostalgic confessional, co-written with Brenden St. Gelais).
• “Don’t Pretend” (razor sharp callout to the ones who pretend to care).

Fans may also recognize previously released singles including: 

• “Santa Ana” (early single signaling Hall’s arrival as Mariela).
• “Don’t Fence Me In” (bold closer co-written with Latifah Alattas of Page CXVI).
• “Brandy” (flirty romp produced by longtime collaborator Tommy E. Nixon). 
• “Therapist Said” (vulnerable breakup ballad co-written with Lily Wecks).
• “Moriah” (triumphant rejection of evangelical bigotry, another Walker co-write).
• “The Girls of Summer” (playful queer twist on a Don Henley classic, reimagined with Songwriter Sanctuary curator Lindsay White.)​

The album’s sound comes to life through a network of trusted friends and collaborators. Producer Tommy E. Nixon and guitarist Luke Gibson anchor much of the record, joined by an ensemble of musicians and friends who’ve helped shape The Underglow into both a personal capstone and communal celebration.