(Photo: May Truong)
(Photo: Matt Barnes)
(Photo: Matt Barnes)
(Photo: May Truong)
Workshop Term 1: September 23 – October 05, 2007
Workshop Term 2: October 14 – October 26, 2007
There’s always a lot of rubble when the Academy leaves the building. Not just literally, although the team of designers, architects, builders, and visionaries had long since left the converted office space that housed this year’s Academy in Toronto. But certainly the metaphorical bricks and mortar that make up people’s preconceptions and notions of other countries and cultures (and even chromatic structures, in the case of Ethiopian national treasure Mulatu Astatke), were thoroughly shaken to the ground.
Sixty participants from such a varied selection of nations as China, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and Columbia, converged on several studios that looked more like something from 2001: A Space Odyssey than any familiar classroom. DJ and producer of all things raw and funky Theo Parrish teamed up with fellow Chicago native Ron Trent, analogue wizard Russ Elevado, and hip hop torch-blazer Waajeed, to create the kind of atmosphere that few will experience again – whether aspiring beat-maker or pro studio guru.
Toronto also embraced the Academy in a previously unheard of capacity, creating their own Festival Hub – a space where Torontonians could call in and find out more about the Academy and the events, as well as attend work shops by the likes of drum n bass veteran DJ Zinc, and Roman techno voyager Marco Passarani. As well as DJs and jukeboxes, the space was gift-wrapped in a collection of Jamel Shabazz’s most socially regenerative photographs to date. With the weekly guides which yoked young Toronto scribes with off-the-wall illustrators, and the daily blogs and video excerpts that peppered the Academy homepage during term time, Toronto proved an inspiring home for the collective international psyche, and left its mark loud and proud.
The Red Bull Academy Radio played its part, too, broadcasting live shows each evening. Live mixes and conversations with producers like dubstep wobble warrior Benga, and hip hop O.G. Jazzy Jay, brought some block-rocking bass to proceedings. The radio field team also made plenty missions to the clubs, capturing live sets and sounds from the Toronto front line.
Of course the story doesn’t end here. Having planted the seed of collaboration firmly in the hearts and minds of those who attended, we can only hope that whole new projects take root. Artists are always developing their own directions, leaving tracks to be discovered. In the age where continents are just an instant message and FTP server away, all you need is a seed.
www.redbullmusicacademy.com
www.rbmaradio.com
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