Red Bull Music Academy 2008



For the past ten years, Red Bull NZ have been sending some of  New Zealand's finest upcoming talent off shore to attend the internationally renowned Red Bull Music Academy, a platform for the exchange of ideas between those who shape our musical future. In essence, a think tank for musicians and their like-minded friends, fit to burst with vital insights and information for participants to further their musical careers.

A travelling event that has taken over cities like London, Sao Paolo, Cape Town and Rome, this year's RBMA took place this month in Barcelona, Spain. Pitching its “bass” camp in the heart of Catalonia, the tenth edition of the select event saw two groups of aspiring, inspiring music makers, vocalists and DJs from around 30 different countries come together to hear music wisdom straight from the source. Since the very first session back in '98, when Jeff Mills revealed his transglobal hotel secrets, the Academy lectures have offered a chance for participants to glean those pearls of renegade wisdom.

New Zealand has always been represented strongly in the past at the RBMA, with a list of alumni that includes Riki Gooch, Rio Hemopo, Jeremy Toy, Isaac Aesili and this year's lucky attendees, Jessica Hansell AKA Coco Solid and Will Ricketts, percussionist with 2008 Silver Scroll and NZMA-nominees The Phoenix Foundation. All of the participants have returned brimming with the enthusiasm that can only be gained from hearing people like DJ Premier, Arthur Baker, Hank Shocklee, Earl Gateshead or Howie Weinberg wax lyrical about their most fervent passion, and how they came to live their dream.

As always the Academy is a meeting of minds, whether they be digital or analogue, vocalists, DJ's, producers or performers. Each year two groups of participants cherry-picked from all over the world - there have been House DJs from Khazakstan, hip hop producers from Colombia and multi-instrumentalists from New Zealand - are accepted into the Academy for a fortnight-long term. It's a chance to broaden your musical mind-map, share your tricks and learn  some new ones. Participants learn as much from the legendary speakers as they do from their talented peers; it's a global conference on the cutting edge of music for the inspired and the passionate.

Wherever they may pop up, the Academy studios are fully equipped with a range of acoustic instruments such as drums and guitars, plus analog synths, vintage mics and the very latest software installed in computer set ups in around eight smaller studios. Participants learn from the undisputed champions of their chosen genres and have all the tools on-hand to go forth and express their inspired creativity. Also, the Academy is not solely open to those of the dance music/DJ community, you have equal chance whether you are a trumpeter or violinist.

Keep checking back here for more details about how to apply, and coming in November: interviews with this year's lucky recipients of an all-expenses paid trip to do what they do best, Jessica and Will, about their experience, Barcelona style.

For more information check out: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/