CALLING all budding producers, musicians, MCs and DJs in the Ballymena and Antrim area - the Red Bull Music Academy will teleport to London in early 2010.
The Red Bull Music Academy is a musical workshop that travels the world in search of budding musicians, producers, musicians, MCs and DJs.
The application phase has just started in preparation for the next academy that touches down early next yea
r in one of the world's greatest cities: London.
Somewhere in the heart of that sprawling metropolis, a fantastic complex full of studios and instruments will be built, where the most original and creative minds in music will come together to share ideas and work on tunes. Musical legends as well as brand new talents will take the inspiration they gain there and run with it, performing every night at showcases in the best vibe-filled venues London has to offer.
Two years ago 26-year-old Connor Dougan (Producer/Guitar/Keys/DJ) from Templepatrick jetted off to join other musically inspired and talented people from over 35 countries around the World, at the Red Bull Music Academy workshops in Toronto.
Commenting on his time there Connor explains how gobsmacked he was when he'd heard he'd been accepted.
"After filling out the application form, I included a CD of some of my stuff and posted off. I thought my application was as strong as it could have been, but I still didn't hold out too much hope of getting in because I knew there'd be thousands of applications and that people as talented as Flying Lotus and Aloe Blacc had been among last year's students," Connor explained.
He added: "When I got word to say that I'd been selected from thousands of applicants - I was truly shocked. I was I was well aware that the academy would be, by no means, a free pass into the music industry but it was still a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was buzzing.
"The whole experience was amazing from the people I met to the things I learned while we were there - I even got to do a gig on RBMA Radio! I'd definitely encourage anyone who was interested to give it a go and don't be put off by the (truly massive) application form."
Connor describes his music (recorded under the name 'Defcon') as spacey hip-hop electronica and ambient-ish instrumentals that are soundtracks to box-office flops that don't exist. His musical influences are myriad… current favourites include Jan Jelinek, The Ink Spots, Burning Spear, Chris Clark, J Dilla, Tom Waits and Young Holt Unlimited.
So if you feel you can cut it at an international level then get your application in straight away, the deadline is July 27.
For more information, check out the website www.redbullmusicacademy.com
