The Northern Rivers Conservatorium approached me to write a fundraising and theme song for 2026.
While creating it, I found myself reflecting on my own year studying there — running barefoot through the grass between classes, learning music theory, discovering my voice as a musician, and growing into myself creatively.

This song became a love letter to that feeling of possibility, community, and artistic becoming.
Writing it brought me so much joy.

“Bare feet runnin’ through the world…
Your bare feet are running towards your dreams…”

The lyrics speak to hope, growth, and keeping something precious alive through music and connection:

“Light a candle in the window of your heart…
Light some love, light some growth, light some knowing…”

At its heart, the song is about the power of places like the Con to shape lives, hold stories, and help people “let the stars align.”

As I left my year at the Lismore Con, circa 1998;
my friend Adam said to me – Don’t change.
I think of that more than you know, Adam.
x

Shelly and Dan wrote this song together – through improvising, brainstorming and creative decisions, this song arrived through quite a unique journey.

Light a Candle

By Shelly Brown and Dan Brown

2026

Mixed by James Boundy

Written for The Northern Rivers Conservatorium https://www.givenow.com.au/eofy_nrc_fundraiser

Bare feet runnin, Through the world
Let me tell you now, little girl,
Your Bare feet are running, T-wards your dreams
Is keeping something, alive in me.

These rooms, Hold you
This story’s told by you and me, let the stars align…
Through the tide,
don’t you change you’re your way, don’t sway,
don’t change your way.

Light a candle in the window of your heart
Light a candle in the hope of your heart.
Light some love, light some need, light some growth, light some knowing,
Light a candle in the window of your heart.

Let the stars align

Written by Shelly Brown

Performed by Shelly Brown and Dan Brown

Mixed by James Boundy

2026