A Gentle Call for Our Secret Musicians, Hidden Poets, and Shower Singers

Hello Quieteers,

This is a callout to any musicians, poets, writers, or performers who might be reading this. And more specifically, I am writing to those of you who are right now questioning whether you are “good enough” to call yourself a musician, poet, writer, or performer.

Have you ever written a poem no one has read, or sung a melody only your shower walls have heard? Perhaps your songs live in notebooks, voice notes, or half-finished drafts that never quite made it beyond your own four walls. If that sounds familiar, this may be for you, and there is more than one way to be part of what is unfolding.

My name is Zoe Zalick, and I run the Liskeard meet-ups alongside Ellie Zalick. I am also a singer-songwriter, music educator, vocal coach, and gigging musician. One of my greatest joys is helping self-conscious performers grow their confidence and find comfort on stage.

As preparations for HushFest 2026 gently unfold, I am delighted to be contributing to our festival in two ways: through a specially written song celebrating quietness, and a gentle concert featuring our community this July at St Cubert’s church.

I am reaching out because I need your help to bring this to life, and there are two ways you can choose to join in.

1. Share a Gentle Performance

With the right encouragement and support, are you willing and able to perform something?

You could sing, play an instrument, read something you have written, recite a poem, or even offer a comedy act. You are welcome to share this on your own or with others. If you have written something but would rather not perform it yourself, we can also explore someone else sharing it on your behalf. Please know that you do not need to be highly skilled or give a flawless performance; simply having a willingness to share something important to you is enough.

If you would like to have a go, I am here to help. I can accompany you musically, or offer you coaching and preparation so that you feel completely ready and supported.

If this interests you, please click on the link below. Exploring this does not commit you to anything, but it helps me to understand the beautiful possibilities within our community.

Please share your interest in performing here.

2. Help Shape Our HushFest Song

If stepping into the limelight does not appeal to you, what about writing?

I would love to hear your ideas for the lyrics of our HushFest song. I am hoping we can create something heartfelt that celebrates quietness and presents who we truly are, so that quieteers everywhere will recognise themselves in it and the rest of the world will understand us better.

I have created a short form with a few questions to get you started. Please treat them simply as gentle journaling prompts, and complete as many or as few as you like. If there is enough interest, we can even hold a relaxed co-writing session together. And to the musicians who do not want to be visible but still want to contribute – the shower singers and secret instrumentalists – this includes you, too!

Share your lyric ideas or musical contributions here.

I see both the HushFest song and the performance as ways of sharing something true about quietness with the wider world, in a way that honours our strengths.

I am so looking forward to hearing from you.

Warmly, Zoe Zalick