The world of DJ'ing is constantly evolving, and a new generation of artists is pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a DJ.
At the forefront of this revolution is the Pete Tong DJ Academy, a pioneering institution that has been shaping the future of DJ'ing since its inception in 2022.
The academy boasts a world-class roster of teachers, including industry legends like Pete Tong, Adam Beyer, Nicole Moudaber, Jamie Jones, Carl Cox, TSHA, Sama' Abdulhadi, and The Reloud.
These renowned DJs and producers bring their personal experience and expertise to the table, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive and cutting-edge mentoring.
The Pete Tong DJ Academy is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of DJs and producers. With over 6,000 students worldwide, the academy has become a hub for discovering and developing fresh talent in the electronic music scene.
To further their mission of fostering talent, the academy offers a scholarship program for deserving students who may not have the financial means to pursue their education. Additionally, the Future Talent Awards recognizes and celebrates the achievements of outstanding students, providing them with valuable opportunities to further their careers.
The Pete Tong DJ Academy has formed strategic partnerships with some of the biggest names in the electronic music industry, including Drumcode, Pacha, Detected, IMS, Beatport, and Intense Radio. These collaborations provide students with access to exclusive resources, opportunities, and networks that help them succeed in their careers.
In today's digital age, fostering a strong online community is crucial for aspiring DJs. The academy's Discord community offers students a platform to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another, creating a supportive environment that encourages growth and development.
The Pete Tong DJ Academy is more than just a school for aspiring DJs. It is a comprehensive ecosystem that supports and nurtures emerging talent, providing students with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to succeed in the competitive world of electronic music. With it's world-class faculty, commitment to fostering talent, and strong industry partnerships, the academy is truly shaping the future of DJ'ing.
We conducted interviews with students from the academy to gain insights into their experiences both within the academy and in the industry.
ANNIE HILL
Hi Annie.
How has your day been and where are you now?
Hi Techno Culture Magazine! My day has been busy so far, and it's only midday here in Italy where I'm doing this interview. I've send some demos, painted walls and cooked some lunch. My days are split between parenting and work and I'm lucky to be able to work from home.
You grew up in a family of musicians and artists. How did this environment shape your musical journey?
Growing up in a family of musicians and artists was incredibly influential in shaping my musical journey. My biggest influence has been my father, who was a DJ in the 70s. He had a vast collection of vinyl records, and some of my earliest memories involve playing and dancing to these records.
In my early teens I started to experience a wide range of musical styles, from rock to eurodance, finnish pop and folk to electronic music. These early experiences not only nurtured my love for music but also gave me a deep appreciation for different genres and the creative processes behind them.
Starting your career in 2018, how have you seen your style evolve over the years?
When I started my career in 2018, like many artists, I was often booked to play warm-up sets. This required me to adjust my sound to suit those slots, focusing on creating the right atmosphere and gradually building energy.
As I began to secure more peak-time slots, my sound naturally evolved to match the higher energy and intensity of those performances.
Now, after taking some time off for maternity leave, I've had the opportunity to fully embrace my artistic vision. This break allowed me to deeply explore and refine my true sound in both DJ'ing and production.
Today, my style reflects a more authentic and developed artistic identity, shaped by my journey and experiences over the years.
You began producing music in 2019 and have since released tracks through various labels. Could you tell us about your creative process and what inspires your productions?
When I start a new track, I usually already have an idea in mind, which helps me focus on the kind of energy I want to build in the production.
My inspiration primarily stems from life experiences and spirituality, guiding me in determining the most suitable setting for my tracks.
I believe music has the power to provide therapeutic and healing experiences by connecting us to the deeper parts of ourselves and lift the energy inside and around us.
My creative process typically starts with the groove. I begin by getting the kick drum and bassline to work together seamlessly, then I add percussions and hi-hats to create an engaging rhythm. Once the foundation is set, I layer in other elements like synths and effects to enrich the track and bring my vision to life.
This structured yet intuitive approach allows me to channel my inspirations effectively into my music.
You founded the label We Are Existence and co-founded WAE Music Group. How has running a label influenced your perspective on the music industry, and what are your goals with these platforms?
My first label was Heyoca Musik, where I primarily released my own music and hosted a guestmix series on Finnish-Estonian DoubleClap Radio.
Running this label provided me with crucial insights and a solid understanding of the music industry’s inner workings.
In 2021, I met my partner Danny Fontana, who also had experience in running a label. Together, we founded We Are Existence in 2022.
Since then, we have integrated other labels under our management and expanded our services to include label -and artist management, as well as mixing and mastering services for artists.
Our goal with We Are Existence and WAE Music Group is to build a supportive community for artists. We have a forum on our website to facilitate connections, networking, and mutual assistance among artists.
Running these platforms has broadened my perspective on the music industry, highlighting the importance of collaboration and support in helping artists thrive.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career, and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I've faced in my career is shaping my signature sound. In an industry where trends are constantly evolving, it can be tempting to follow the latest trends to stay relevant. However, I believe it's crucial to stand out with a unique sound. I've dedicated a significant amount of time to searching for records and experimenting with different styles to find what truly resonates with me.
Overcoming this challenge requires patience and a willingness to go against the grain. By staying true to my artistic vision and not being afraid to diverge from trends, I've been able to develop a sound that is distinctly my own.
What motivated you to sign up for the Pete Tong DJ Academy, and how has the experience impacted your career and skills?
When I heard about the Pete Tong DJ Academy, something just resonated with me, and I felt a strong pull to join. I had just given birth to my daughter and was taking some time off, which inspired me to study something I truly loved.
The academy's promise of learning from legendary teachers and potential opportunities from the Talent Pool were particularly appealing.
While I had taken some courses on music production before, I had never pursued formal training in DJ'ing. I felt it was the perfect time to deepen my knowledge in this area.
The course was incredibly insightful, providing me with confirmation of things I already knew and exposing me to new technical aspects of DJ'ing.
One of the most impactful elements was seeing step-by-step sets from the teachers. This inspired me to expand my setup by adding a third and then a fourth deck, which significantly transformed my sound, style, and creativity.
Through the academy, I discovered the true artist within me, and it has profoundly influenced my career and skills, helping me to refine and elevate my craft.
Congratulations, you are one of the 10 winners of Future Talent Awards 2024.
How do you envision this recognition and your training at the Pete Tong DJ Academy shaping your future projects and career goals?
This recognition and my training at the Pete Tong DJ Academy have significantly boosted my motivation in both production and DJ'ing.
Although it's still a bit early for me to pursue a touring DJ career due to my current focus on family life, I now have the opportunity to concentrate on creating tracks that align with my setup and artistic vision.
At the same time building our company WAE Music gives me a feeling of fulfillment because I know I can pass on my experience to other artists and provide services to help them grow.
When the time is right, I would love to start touring because I have a deep passion for DJ'ing for a crowd. Clubs and festivals have always felt like home to me — I attended my first festival at 11 years old, and clubs have been a significant part of my adult life.
Combining these experiences with electronic music and the unity of the community is my dream job and career. This recognition reassures me that I am on the right path and gives me the confidence to continue pursuing my dreams.
MISS LOUIE
Hi Miss Louie.
How and when did you first get into DJing, how it all started?
In 1998, I started DJing after attending my first Psy trance party, where I had an epiphany that this was the style of music I wanted to play.
I had been contemplating the style of music I wanted to play since DJing had already been on my mind at the age of 16.
You are also a vinyl DJ.
Can you tell me what are some of the challenges you have faced in today's digital age, and how have you overcome them?
The technology of using all those different effects while playing can be a bit too much for me. I'm more into the simple way of mixing, but I'm still open to learning what's new and what I can incorporate in my way of mixing.
In your opinion, what makes vinyl DJing unique and special compared to other formats?
It makes it more special and unique because you are much more in contact with the music when you put on a vinyl and can touch the vinyl, compared to just scrolling through a lot of music files from USB.
Can you share some of your favorite memories or experiences from your time as DJ?
Definitely, it was when I played at the first Universo Parallel festival in 2002 in Brazil and on the beach in Tulum, Mexico, before it got all hyped up like it is today.
What has been the most challenging event or gig you've played, and how did you handle it?
It must have been Universo Paralello, where I was playing for quite a big audience. That was challenging for me because I was not used to playing for so many people.
How do you prepare for a DJ set, and do you have any rituals or routines that help you get in the zone?
I like to prepare one week in advance, deciding on the style and track selection for my set. I start looking for tracks that could fit the story I want to tell.
Before my DJ set, I take a power nap to tune into the frequency of DJing. You could say it's a kind of DJ meditation.
Can you talk about the role of networking and building relationships in the music industry? How has it impacted your career?
It's a huge impact; without a network, you go nowhere. Now that I want to restart my DJ career, I'm grateful to have met like-minded people through the communities out there. Networking today is so much different than when I started, due to the digital world. The music journey takes time because networking is about building relationships within the community.
It all comes down to who you know in the music scene. Back in the day, I had my own record label, and that's how I got my gigs around the world when I first started in the early 2000s. We did the networking through the record label.
How do you stay inspired and find new music to keep your sets fresh and exciting?
I like to hear a lot of new music from upcoming artists because they have a fresh energy in their music production. Their sound inspires me to search for others, and now that it's okay to mix styles together, it makes keeping the sets exciting more fun.
In your experience, how has the DJing scene evolved over the years, and where do you see it heading in the future?
Today, everybody can be a DJ, and techno has become mainstream, undergoing significant development.
However, I believe it's too easy to claim you're a DJ when technology does most of the work, resulting in many not-so-good DJs, so to speak.
Being a good DJ also involves understanding good music and skillfully combining songs to create a personal history for the audience.
Looking ahead, I hope people will prioritize quality over quantity in music listening, especially with the increasing presence of AI in our world.
Do you have any plans to venture into producing your own tracks in the future?
Yes, very much, it's a must. I have already begun using Ableton. I'm learning every day, and we have our first collaboration ready with Annie Hill. Soon I will be able to include my own tracks in my DJ sets.
Can you share your journey to joining Pete Tong DJ Academy and what motivated you to pursue education in DJing?
I became interested in applying to the PTDJA because I wanted to become more involved and be part of a community that shares my interests.
After moving from my home country Denmark to Italy, it hasn't been easy to build a new network. I saw PTDJA as a good starting point, and I also felt the need to refresh my memory of DJing, as I am an old-school vinyl DJ.
Can you discuss some of the key lessons or experiences you've had at the Academy that have impacted your approach to Djing?
To be reminded on how important it is to select the right tracks and arrange them in the correct order, rather than relying on the newest equipment and effects.
What are your goals and aspirations as a DJ, and how do you plan to continue growing and developing your skills with the help of the Pete Tong DJ Academy?
I want to continue improving technically and evolve my skills further through experience, because playing in front of an audience is the real test.
That's why I'm excited to grow with the PTDJA community, where we can all learn from each other and get better in our craft together.
What legacy do you hope to leave in the DJing world, and how do you want to be remembered by your fans and peers?
To be remembered as one of the first female pioneers who entered the world of electronic DJing with vinyls.
At that time in Denmark, very few other females were DJing techno and trance.
I also aim to leave behind my own produced music so that future generations can enjoy and dance to it.
SHADOWSTAR
Hi Dylan.
Can you tell us where you are and how your day has been?
Hello Techno Culture Magazine! It is my pleasure to speak with you. I am currently in Austin, Texas. It's the end of the month, so I am keeping busy teaching production online. I also have a house call later this evening before prepping for the week ahead. All while getting summer shows negotiated and my own production around.
How did your journey as a DJ and producer begin, and what inspired you to pursue a career in electronic music?
Everything in my life has been a stepping stone in the right direction for me to arrive where I am.
My mother and father are die-hard artists in one fashion or another. My parents were still jamming in their band when I was a young one so I would literally fall asleep in front of the kick drum of my uncle's drumset many times while the family rocked out into the late hours playing originals and covers of (what I consider some of) the best songs in history.
Fast forwarding to the late 90's you would find me with roughly 12 of the neighborhood kids I call my brothers playing air guitar while blasting all kinds of music using our imaginations to BE a rockstar (or at least what we imagined a rockstar to be) leading us to all try one instrument out while trying to write our own songs.
As life would have it, influences and our respective life journeys would slowly have us drift apart and music became something that I would do alone.
Keeping a band together consistently is something I respect deeply because I never had it and know that it is no easy task.
Around the time of my teenage years, I pretty much had what I think is an early life crisis and just made the choice that I would fully commit to my dream of art and music, even if that meant I would have to wear every hat and do every job myself to see it through come hell or high water.
After that choice slowly and surely people came into my life like puzzle pieces, bringing valuable information like a rare gem into the pathway of my dreams.
Some are still in my life today and others are long gone. regardless in my life, I loved them all.
This ultimately led me to electronic music at a relatively early age considering how fast technology had progressed from 1992 - 2010 where I got my first DAW and attempted to become the all-in-one band.
Few years into my craft I met the person who would change my life forever, Mitzi. She came into my life with flying rainbow colours and showed me a world I didn't even know existed in the way the scene did in Austin. This is where I began my DJing learning from some of the best OG DJs from Houston.
What are some of the most memorable moments from your career so far, whether it's a particular performance, collaboration, or achievement?
For production, it had to be the moment I was picked by Deadmau5 to join Mau5trap for the "We Are Friends Vol.11" compilation. Which was the springboard to put me on the radar as a producer who was worth their engineering salt so to speak.
My favourite performance to date is when I was called by the people in my city to play for Deadmau5 at The Concourse Project in ATX for Real Music Events.
After 15 years of teaching myself, finding a mentor, meeting Deadmau5, and ultimately playing support for the GOAT himself I felt a sense of humbling respect for everyone who ever put time, trust, and encouragement into my life to do this crazy thing we call music.
It was a win for me because my city became my voice and called for me... It was a win for everyone in my life to see me deliver on all the love and contributions of those who helped shape me into who I am today as a producer/DJ.
Can you share any upcoming projects or collaborations that you are excited about?
Yes, however, collaborations at this stage are always TBD on final releases.
Firstly is EMSKI an amazing person and very talented musician in her own right, she is in the ATX as well, and at the beginning of the year she won the Chainsmokers contest to live in NYC for the year to work on making her music dreams come to fruition. I am hoping that we can find common ground to make something new and exciting that will speak to both our respective audiences.
The second is Dianthe, this woman is going to be making waves across the US in no time. She has an amazing underground sound and is constantly improving her technical abilities while performing in the West Coast scene consistently with quality. We both have our own take on the deeper techno and psytech realms so I am excited to see how our signature sounds and stylistic imprint fuse together into some magically dark beauty that driver dancers to the next level.
How do you see the electronic music scene evolving in the coming years, and what role do you hope to play in that evolution?
The scene itself is night and day from when I started participating.
What once was PLUR and Candie Kidds doing it for the love of is now commercialized festivals and with that comes all the positives and all the negatives that can and will have a lasting effect on those who came before and those just now getting into it.
As a mentor, I hope that I can aid the new wave of producers to be authentic and find their voice as a true artist, and do the things that no one else can or has before. Which is actually a simple answer if you look inside yourself.
As an artist, I intend to follow the path which has heart. That means for me to take the audience I have on a journey that is both within and without the listener's body, to be a vehicle for the R.A.V.E experience, and provide some visceral introspective development that comes from the true state of joy of ordinary and non-ordinary states of reality through sound.
How do you handle challenges and setbacks in the music industry, and how do you maintain motivation and passion for your craft?
Ultimately I have to be all in regardless of fame or success, this is a state of being, and it has to be in its totality.
I must remain impeccable even when my best will change minute to minute.
However, it is every little grain of sand that makes up my island that gives me terrain to explore and express myself.
Every person who listens to my music and reaches out or every genuine interaction that happens in my life through the vehicle of music that fans the flame of the deepest ember of my heart.
Much like my city calling for me or rallying on socials to share my name via word of mouth. That is the key, to changing ONE person's life every day.
If I am capable of this with a dash of luck there will be a person who recognizes me and my path to which then they will extend the same blessing unto me.
How do you stay inspired and continue to grow as an artist in an increasingly saturated market?
Sometimes I have to ask myself if it really is saturated. It's either with quality or quantity. When I see the balance through my limited perspective I know what I am doing either needs to be calibrated towards originality or to make a calculated risk towards standing out as a lonely pioneer, both seem to overlap often.
There will always be a second-rate artist to someone else first-rate. The first time I got to speak with Deadmau5 I was like any Westerner going to the Zen master looking for enlightenment. He told me point blank with his no-filtered ways (which I love) "Sure I could teach you all my tricks and workflows but at what point will you be a second-rate me and not a first-rate you?!" (paraphrasing).
This struck a chord in me and I will be forever thankful to have this realization that I am supposed to be true to myself and the way I hear and shape sound.
What are some of your favourite pieces of equipment, software, or tools that you use in your creative process?
I will always be a fan of the tools that do the damn thing it's supposed to. I love Smexoscope, Serum, and all Ableton stock.
These tools are enough to make anything wild to react to. I also have been enjoying the original Moog my parents had from the early days and anything.
Resampling is the joy of painting to me it's all happy accidents until you find your sound and style which then gives you direction and intent.
How important is networking and building relationships in the music industry, and how have these connections influenced your career?
I don't do this well enough to be fair. I simply follow my calling and in time I meet the right person(s) whether it is through a direct connection or one degree of separation.
It will always be the most important thing for any artist to have true human interactions, period.
This can take form in many different ways but will always be the defining factor of my journey or success in this life.
Had Deadmau5 not been a force in my life musical speaking and then physically I probably would have lost steam along the way and burnt out before my time.
At the same time had I not met Francis Preve chances are I would be miles behind my own sound design development.
This goes for every connection they are in essence the piece to the grand picture puzzle of my life and its work.
It's unamendable but the form in which it takes will be different archetypically speaking.
Can you tell us about your experience at the Pete Tong DJ Academy and how it has helped your career as a DJ/producer?
So I joined the PTDJ academy because I was getting complacent, I have always been inspired by Pete Tong and all the other amazing mentors that are involved. To me, this was the chance to become a student again and be open-minded like a white belt in martial arts. I had to get the starter courses just to see what I might have overlooked or forgotten.
I found little things that stood out to me that I have now implemented in ways that have only increased the aptitude of my workflow and performance style.
Can you discuss any unique or innovative teaching methods used at the Pete Tong DJ Academy that stood out to you?
History, know your roots and know where those before you came from to get where they are now. This is the tradition and the secret is looking everyone alive in the face if one has eyes to see it.
That being said it's a chance to spend a day with the pioneers that we otherwise would never have the opportunity to pick their brains.
What role do you think the Pete Tong DJ Academy plays in shaping the future of electronic music and nurturing new talent?
It really just depends on how inclusive the community and mentors are. At the end of the day, there are hundreds of outlets to learn how to DJ and produce. Plenty out there that have big names but very little interaction on a personal level.
I learned more from a no-name sage than a headliner in my formative years. So this is to say that the more hands-on (which is very hard) with each member the mentors can be we may see actual talent and groundbreaking growth, maybe even the next prince or Sara Landry come from this community.
I believe it comes down to high fulfillment vs low fulfillment - go at your own pace that makes a difference.
We don't need another 10 million DJs that will suffer as an artist in today's times. What I feel we need is quality over quantity.
Regardless of what I personally experienced with non-linear learning, if we look at the ethos of PTDJA and how they seem to listen to the needs of high-performing students while integrating feedback I think we will see them as a staple for the next generation of artists.
In what ways did the academy challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, and what did you learn from those experiences?
Documentation is something I do very diligently with production but hadn't really done it with DJ:ing as it seems like second nature to me.
As soon as I started to document everything in the ways they would recommend and the formula I use for production I saw a massive boost in productivity, creativity, and calibration.
How has the Pete Tong DJ Academy influenced your long-term career goals and plans as a DJ/producer?
I think most of us want to use PTDJA as a springboard, with the promise of being added to a roaster to potentially play gigs and its incentive to be a part of the community as an outstanding member.
A challenge to every member to be impeccable and support our fellow musicians/performers. This is directly in line with my daily life so in a way it is another reinforcement to the cause and path I chose to walk.
What would you say to someone considering enrolling in the Pete Tong DJ Academy who might be unsure if it's the right path for them?
There is no silver bullet you can buy outside of purchasing your own career than doing the work and being all the way in. If you want to learn the history and know your roots, learn a solid beginning to adept workflow, and participate in a community of like-minded individuals PTDJA is for you.
Just remember it's what YOU do that makes a difference with the tools provided. Plus it's all the information in one place and easily digestible in short spurts, kinda like a proper initiation for those looking to learn for the first time or to refine the skills that you already possess.