The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project
2026 Songwriters
Lauren Acoba
Lauren is a musical writer and teacher who classically trained in Flute Performance at Indiana University before moving to Los Angeles in 2019. Her most recent produced theatrical work, “The Girl, The Ghost, The Piano & The Moon” premiered at a site-specific venue in February 2023 (workshopped by Kaleigh Howland). Lauren has music directed, arranged, and authored content for her talented friends—her favorite projects include arranging and accompanying the finale musical number “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” for the hit vertical show Eavesdropping, writing and producing Joe Serafini’s (High School Musical The Musical The Series) first original holiday tune, “Evergreen Love,” and guest directing at Los Angeles’s premiere community choir, Community Vocals LA. Her first two albums “Blush 2,” and “Bedroom Music” are streaming wherever you listen to music and she is looking forward to finishing her third while she continues to work with her students at the teaching studio she owns and operates in Santa Monica, Berkeley Street Music.
Indira Biswas
My name is Indira and I am an indie-folk singer-songwriter from Massachusetts and my music explores the space where memory and emotion intertwine. Writing from the in-between, I like to craft songs that blur the line between past and present, capturing feelings that often exist just beyond language.My songwriting is rooted in intimate, detail-driven storytelling, transforming small, personal moments into something universally resonant. With a focus on emotional clarity and nuance, I try to create music that invites listeners to sit with their own experiences, reflecting the quiet complexities of love, loss, and longing.
To be able to create something meaningful is so powerful, and you never know when someone somewhere might just need to hear what your song has to say. I want to make a difference in the industry, to be a part of a community based on creativity and the shared love of music and music making is so special and is a privilege.
I believe that the core of my artistry is my commitment to connection. Rather than simply recounting my own story, I think of songwriting as a shared experience, holding up a mirror for my audience to see themselves within the music. I want my songs to represent recognition and understanding, where listeners can feel seen, heard, and less alone.
Joe Brauch
Joe Brauch is an NYC-based composer, music director, pianist, and energy researcher. His music is centered around communication and storytelling, with an emphasis on music combined with other art forms.
Joe is a composer in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, moderated by Frederick Fryer, Patrick Cook, and Sara Wordsworth. He wrote the music for A Dramatization of a Novel of the Same Name, an original 25-minute musical presented as part of the Lincoln Center’s “Across A Crowded Room” program. Joe was also the co-music director for the off-Broadway production of The Opening at the Players Theatre and wrote additional orchestrations for the show. His concert music has been read, performed, and recorded by the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic, Renaissance City Winds, Carpe Diem String Quartet, and NAT28.
Joe is a proud graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied composition with Nancy Galbraith. At CMU, he also served as Associate Music Director for Into the Woods in 2020, working with Rick Edinger. Joe has studied Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Solfège, and Improvisation at the Marta Sanchez Dalcroze Training Center at Carnegie Mellon University with faculty including Stephen Moore, Stephen Neely, Nicole Brockmann, Leslie Upchurch, and Silvia Contreras.
Outside of music, Joe works as an engineer and researcher at the National Laboratory of the Rockies, focused on energy systems analysis, power grids and clean fuels, and decarbonization strategy.
Olivia “LIIV” Cargile
Olivia “LIIV” Cargile is a Los Angeles–based songwriter, producer, and emerging artist whose work blends indie rock grit with cinematic pop sensibility. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she began playing guitar at age five and found her way into songwriting through punk bands as a teenager, where she started crafting original material. That foundation evolved into a professional songwriting career spanning pop, rock, alternative, folk, and electronic music, shaped by hundreds of co-writing sessions and a deep commitment to the craft.
Now signed to Universal Music Publishing Group and This Is Noise, Olivia has amassed over 80 million streams as a songwriter for other artists, placing her in the top 1% of streamed writers globally (Muso.ai, 2025). Her songs have been featured across major networks and platforms including ABC, FOX, Netflix, Freeform, and TLC. She is a graduate of NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where she developed a belief that great songwriting lives at the intersection of technical rigor and emotional truth.
Now stepping forward as an artist under the name Olivia Kate, she writes and produces her own material. Her debut EP—a dark, intimate four-song collection—blends guitar-driven post-punk with early 2000s electro-clash, pairing raw, emotionally precise lyricism with modern, self-produced textures. The project is scheduled for release in Summer 2026.
Lodie Chong
Lodie Chong is a 19-year-old singer, songwriter, and violinist from Snoqualmie, Washington (the small town where Twin Peaks was filmed). She has roots mainly in classical music, taking violin lessons and singing in choirs throughout her childhood, largely shaping the way she writes today. Throughout high school, she started learning to play the guitar and developed a stronger ear for melodic improvisation, guided mainly by studying and singing jazz through her school’s music program. She is also a big sucker for musical theater, performing both onstage and in the pit orchestra in a few productions. She enjoys writing mainly in the indie-folk/indie-pop genre, with some of her biggest musical influences being Phoebe Bridgers, Adrianne Lenker, and Elliott Smith. Her writing is very lyrically driven, reminiscent of her love for poetry. Lodie is currently attending Berklee College of Music, where she is studying songwriting and production, and working on recording more of her original music. As of early 2026, she has released one song on streaming platforms, titled “Letters”. She feels extremely honored and excited to be able to participate in the 2026 JMF Songwriters Project, and would like to give a special shoutout to her family, friends, and all the music teachers along the way who have helped her grow through music. You can find her on Instagram (@lodiecore) for more.
Kai Fozouni
Kai Fozouni is a folk/pop singer-songwriter based in Nashville who draws influences from the likes of Noah Kahan, Brenn!, and The Lumineers to dive deep into his storytelling and relate to audiences on a personal level. Originally from Connecticut, Kai brings a fresh perspective into Nashville’s songwriting community, while drawing new inspiration from life and opportunities found in Music City.
As a student at Belmont University in the Songwriting program, Kai has found an environment that has challenged and strengthened his artistry while being surrounded by a community of songwriters and mentors who are invested in his growth. While he continues building his career in Nashville, Kai remains focused on writing songs that listeners can connect with through storytelling and a deep sense of authenticity.
Ryan Jacobs
Ryan Jacobs is a 23-year-old musical theatre writer and performer from Kansas City living in New York. He is a composer in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Writing Workshop and is an alumni of Berklee College of Music (’24). His first original musical “Patches” (2023) was commissioned and premiered by Piknik Theatre in Steamboat Springs, CO. Ryan’s standalone song “Duck Suit” was a finalist in the 2025 Write Out Loud competition and he performed the song in the competition’s concert at 54 Below alongside a cast of Broadway performers. He also recently participated in the 2025 Johnny Mercer Foundation Young Songwriters Intensive, led by Adam Gwon and Anna K. Jacobs.
When he’s not writing, Ryan performs in theatre across the country. He recently made his Off-Broadway debut leading the new original musical comedy “The Opening” at The Players Theatre in January. He also did double-duty as both performer and music assistant in the ‘25 NAMT production of Wakeman, directed by Sarna Lapine.
While at Berklee, Ryan won “Curtain Up!”, Berklee’s student/alumni musical theatre writing competition, four years in a row. He also toured the country with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps for two summers (’21 – ’22) playing Mellophone – and notably, the Keytar.
In short, Ryan likes to keep it funky. He likes to keep it fresh, too. You can find him on all socials @ryandavidjacobs or on his website at ryandavidjacobs.com.
Yael Karoly
Yael Karoly is a composer and performer born and raised in LA, now based in New York City. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Music from Point Park University. She just completed her second year as a composer at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and was a finalist in the Write Out Loud songwriting competition. Her work has been featured at venues including 54 Below and Green Room 42 in NYC, where she performs both her own music and the work of fellow composers. She is currently writing a folk-rock musical adaptation of The Scarlet Letter with her collaborator, Emily Everett. They were residents at the Catwalk Artists Residency in the spring. In addition to her theatre work, Yael is a recording artist with several pop singles on streaming platforms, including “Summer ’92” and “East Coast,” with a new single “Blindside” set to release soon. She is also developing a cabaret of all-original songs with her collaborators for BookTalk: The Musical. Weaving together musical theatre and pop, her work blends storytelling with contemporary sound in ways that feel new and distinct. Yael’s songs have garnered millions of views on social media, check them out at @yaeklaroly.
Haley Montelaro
Haley Montelaro is a 20-year-old singer/songwriter from Bellevue, Washington. Being thrown into piano lessons at the age of 4, Haley’s family quickly found that just about every bone in her body was musical. Haley always had melodies and lyrics floating around in her head, which led her to write her first full song in 7th grade. Since then she hasn’t stopped, only growing stronger in her ability to story tell and use her unique, poetic yet comedic lyricism. Throughout middle and high school she was involved in worship team at church and jazz choir/theater at school which led her to develop a strong stage presence and a passion for performing. She is currently attending Berklee College of Music studying voice and songwriting, and is always in the studio cooking up the next big pop hit with her friends. She recently got recognized with a “Songwriting Achievement Scholarship” from Berklee’s Songwriting Department. As for her own artistry, she released her debut EP, “Out of Our Control”, on May 1st, 2026. The EP is a tribute to her pre-Berklee self, staying true to her acoustic roots and clever writing. She brings her whole, true personality into her lyrics, unafraid to hold anything back. Since arriving at Berklee, Haley’s music has taken a turn as she embraces her jazzier influences, infusing her songs with chromatic melodies and scat sections. Haley doesn’t want to be defined by a genre—she just wants to make people smile when they hear her music.
Acey Rain
Acey Rain (YANG YU雨阳) is a bedroom pop singer-songwriter who crafts story-driven songs that are cinematic and emotionally chaotic. Listeners often describe her work as “soda, galaxy, the color blue, quirky”—though she never quite sees it as quirky herself. Still, she takes it as a huge compliment.
Inspired by film, comics, and video games, she approaches music as a visual art form—painting scenes through her lyrics and sound. She is especially drawn to the tension between the ordinary and the otherworldly, transforming mundane moments into portals to fantastical alternate universes. She loves sci-fi and is fascinated by the possibilities of what life could be. She doesn’t necessarily believe in parallel universes, but she loves imagining them.
As a Chinese artist based in New York City, she blends genres the way she mixes spices in everyday cooking, creating a sound that’s both eclectic and personal. Most of her songs are upbeat and danceable, with a pop-soul and funk edge. As a dancer, she instinctively moves with the groove—but she writes slower songs, too.
Sloane Simon
Sloane Simon is a singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist, and performer currently studying at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. A working musician since middle school, she has built an impressive career early on, earning national recognition across both performance and songwriting.
She has appeared on American Idol and The Voice, and is a three-time winner of the National YoungArts Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Songwriting Award, and has won the NYU Ultraviolet Student Talent Competition and the TIDAL Headliners Competition Artist Grant.
Blending lyrically driven pop with an ethereal, summertime sound, Sloane’s music is rooted in confessional storytelling. Her debut EP Cling to an Air (2025) was written in the wake of losing her father, capturing the feeling of holding onto memories and clinging to an empty space. As both a songwriter and producer, she brings a deeply personal and immersive approach to her work.
In 2026, she is releasing one song per month, continuing to build a body of work that is both intimate and expansive. For performance dates and updates, follow @OfficiallySloane on Instagram.
Hank Temple
Hank Temple is a composer, musician, writer, director, and filmmaker. His original musical, Star Machine, premiered at Playhouse Square in Cleveland in April 2026. Star Machine was introduced to New York audiences at an industry presentation at New World Stages on April 14, directed by Daniel Goldstein. As a finalist in the 2025 Write Out Loud competition, Star Machine’s “I Want” song, Red Lights, was performed by Tony Nominee Taylor Louderman and Heathers star Kuhoo Verma at 54 Below. Alongside his best friend and brother, Gideon, he’s released original music on all streaming platforms under the artist name Temple Brothers. Several singles recorded by the Original Collegiate Cast of Star Machine were recently released on streaming.
Hank is a recent music composition graduate of the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts. His first musical comedy, You’re the Worst!, debuted at Pittsburgh Musical Theater in May 2021. In the summer of 2024, Hank worked under many titles at Theatre Aspen, including Assistant Director, Cabaret Writer, Mandolin Player, and Occasional Swing. Most recently, Hank assisted Richard Maltby Jr. on the new musical About Time at both Goodspeed Musicals and in the original Off-Broadway production. Hank was also selected for the 2026 Johnny Mercer Foundation Young Songwriters Intensive at Snow Pond and is so grateful to the Johnny Mercer Foundation for everything!
@hank.temple @templebros @starmachinethemusical
Gideon Temple
Gideon Temple is a composer, writer, music director/pianist, and award-winning filmmaker. His original musical, Star Machine, premiered at Playhouse Square in Cleveland in April 2026. Star Machine was introduced to New York audiences at an industry presentation at New World Stages on April 14, directed by Daniel Goldstein. As a finalist in the 2025 Write Out Loud competition, Star Machine’s “I Want” song, Red Lights, was performed by Tony Nominee Taylor Louderman and Heathers star Kuhoo Verma at 54 Below. Alongside his best friend and brother, Gideon, he’s released original music on all streaming platforms under the artist name Temple Brothers. Several singles recorded by the Original Collegiate Cast of Star Machine were recently released on streaming.
He received his bachelor’s degree in music theater music direction in 2025 from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts. His first musical comedy, You’re the Worst!, debuted at Pittsburgh Musical Theater in May 2021. Gideon recently finished an 18-month stint working on the creative team at Goodspeed Musicals. Gideon was also selected for the 2026 Johnny Mercer Foundation Young Songwriters Intensive at Snow Pond and is so thrilled to be a part of these Johnny Mercer Foundation projects!
@gideon.temple @templebros @starmachinethemusical
Ella Wagner
Ella Wagner is an artist, songwriter, and producer from Richmond, VA with a distinct genre blend of southern rock and bluegrass, sharpened by modern storytelling. A 2026 graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN, she holds a double major in Music Business and Songwriting. Drawing lyrical and stylistic inspiration from the sounds and stories of her upbringing, Ella brings a strong sense of self into her writing, grounding her work in familiar instrumentation, landscapes, and lived experience. In the writers room, she is known for a wit characterized by relatable humor and intense emotion, often balancing sincerity with a sharp sense of irreverence.
This combination of spirituality, honesty, and offbeat perspective has led to writing credits on other artists’ projects, while also shaping a growing catalog of her own. As both a collaborator and producer, Ella has worked alongside other young artists, helping develop songs and refine sound while continuing to strengthen her own artistic identity. Her work reflects a deep respect for traditional influences, paired with a contemporary voice that feels fresh and personal. Bringing the sounds and stories of where she’s from into Nashville, Ella continues to carve out a space rooted in authenticity and craft. That foundation has fortified her own artist project, with her sophomore release expected Summer 2026, marking the next chapter in a body of work defined by strong songwriting, thoughtful collaboration, and a clear artistic point of view.
Mags Worden
Mags Worden is an emerging songwriter, producer, and electronic composer based in Baltimore. They earned B.A. degrees in music and psychology from the University of Virginia in 2025 and are currently pursuing an M.M. in Computer Music at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Their work ranges from various styles of pop-adjacent songwriting to data-driven electronic sound art and delicate electroacoustic composition. Mags infuses their deep love of harmony and layered textures into everything they make, unifying disparate genres into a varied but cohesive sound world. Their love of composition took root in early childhood with silly lyrics and admittedly terrible pop songs, and their songwriting practice began in earnest in their early teens as a form of emotional expression akin to journaling. Over the years, their songwriting has evolved into an intricate balance of poetry, humor, and vulnerability. Having spent most of their life stockpiling songs and not releasing them into the world, Mags is currently working on recording and producing pieces from their backlog, writing new songs, and getting through grad school in one piece. They plan to compile their music into an album of deeply personal songs about their life experiences, a smaller collection of playful songs, and an archive-style album of unpolished songs from their younger years that still deserve to see the light of day.
