Application For Red Bull Music Academy ’14 @ Tokyo is Open!

By Alif Omar Mahfix  •  04 Feb 2014 in News

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To the uninitiated, there isn’t a more perfect summary of what Red Bull Music Academy (RBMA) is than their own explanation; “A place that’s equal parts science lab, the Hang­ing Gardens of Babylon, and Kraftwerk’s home studio.” Obvious, considering its resume of speakers that includes the likes of Nile Rodgers, Flying Lotus, M.I.A, Chuck D of Public Enemy, James Murphy, and the Moog synthesisers’ namesake himself, Bob Moog – music erudition just doesn’t get any more legit than RBMA. Hell, even its alumni consist of acts such as Aloe Blacc, Nightwave, Hudson Mohawke, Jesse Boykins III, Oddisee, Ta-ku, and more. RBMA isn’t one for fluffy musicians, only (aspiring) luminaries need apply.

This year’s RBMA is heading to Tokyo, Japan, a land that beyond the j-pop association, is also bubbling with a thriving alternative scene. From one of the finest DJs responsible for making beats a separate genre from rap, DJ Krush, to the weird conflagration of Chicago dance genres by bizarre band Satanicpornocultshop, Japanese musicians have always found humanity in the postmodern world of electronic instruments. This is the original techno city after all, it’s only logical that its inhabitants embraced Roland drum machines, Akai samplers, Pioneer mixers, and what have you, making it as fitting of a city as the one that started it all for RBMA in 1998; Berlin.

As a participant, expect a series of workshops and festivals with fellow budding producers, vocalists, DJs, instrumentalists, and musical mavericks of all disciplines. Each edition of RBMA features a central building decked out with workspaces, high end recording and radio studios, and communal spaces. Not limited to disseminating musical knowledge, by night RBMA hosts a slew of events – parties, concerts, gigs, all in tuned to the city’s individual subcultures. Imagine what a cultural cesspool like Tokyo would have to offer!

To date, there hasn’t been a single Malaysian alumnus to have come out of RBMA. With a growing beat scene in KL, JUICE wagers it might just be a matter of time before there’d be one. Help expedite this and find out how you can apply by visiting apply.redbullmusicacademy.com!

Submission is valid until Tuesday 18 March ’14. Need more info? Follow the above link for a detailed FAQ.