Join the spirit!

60 DJs, producers, singers and MCs meet up starting on September 24 for the 9th Red Bull Music Academy, and their spirit will reach out from Melbourne to the like-minded all around the world. And at www.redbullmusicacademy.com, everyone who’s interested can click their way into community and become a part of it.

It’s not about looking for a new pop idol. It’s not about conjuring a show, a CD or a style up out of nothing. And it’s not about creating new hype. At the Red Bull Music Academy, which takes place in Melbourne from September 24 to October 6 and from October 15 to 27, it’s about one thing and one thing only: music.

Show me yours, I’ll show you mine

When 60 music fanatics—14 women and 46 men—from 33 countries, equipped with mics, turntables and hardware, are let loose on each other, then the result just has to be something exciting: that’s the whole philosophy that underlies Red Bull Music Academy. In workshops, sound studios and clubs, songwriters from Hong Kong, DJs from Iceland and MCs from Pakistan will meet up to do “earstorming” and toss around ideas, as well as to exchange CDs and files with samples, beats and melodies. This unique event has no set schedule, no winner or loser, and no plan-able output. The only goal common to all participants is to return from the Red Bull Music Academy having had an unforgettable experience, with broadened horizons and, hopefully, a few new friends.

By freaks, for freaks

A bit of order in the creative chaos of Red Bull Music Academy is provided by the tutors, who pass on their skillz and experiences in lectures and workshops. This year’s lineup includes Biz Markee, Adam Freeland, Jeff Mills, Westbam and Patrice, along with numerous DJs from important clubs, media folks, producers and musicians from the most diverse stylistic schools. At the center, however, are the creativity and enthusiasm of every person present, and not his or her status in the music universe. For this reason, the participants in Melbourne have been chosen based solely on the quality of the mix and/or demo tapes they submitted.

The virtual academy

It’s not just the 60 participants on location who can experience the spirit of the Red Bull Music Academy. At www.redbullmusicacademy.com, you can watch live streams, listen to Red Bull Music Academy interactive radio, and download podcasts. And additional daily news, updates and photos will be sending the Academy’s vibes all over the world for the duration of the event.