Red Bull Music Academy drops by the SAT with heavyweights Martyn and Egyptrixx

If you think the Red Bull Music Academy involves chugging innumerable cans of the potent energy drink to compete in a ruthless, winner-takes-all dance floor battle, you perhaps need to keep that rampant imagination in check. Since 1998, this expertly curated international workshop has taken place in a different city each year – namely Madrid, Berlin, Cape Town, Toronto, and Melbourne. This year’s edition will unfold next fall in New York, hands down one of the most iconic music cities on the planet.

What’s it all about? Each year, the Academy’s producers invite a carefully selected crop of musicians, producers, DJs and vocalists to take part in a five week creative whirlwind of lectures and workshops by music veterans, precious work time to conceive their own tracks in custom-made studios, and performances in a handful of iconic clubs and concert halls. In sum, the RBMA is designed to inspire, enlighten, support and promote a fledgling crop of promising talents. In recent years, the Canadian contingent at the RBMA has been incredibly strong. Notable alumni include up-and-coming Montreal house/RnB frontrunner ANGO, splintered bass meister Lunice and Poirier, the undisputed champion of tropical riddims.

A big draw for potential applicants are the invited lecturers to these Academy sessions, which have year in, year out, included some of the most acclaimed beatmakers and musicians around (i.e. Biz Markie, Gilberto Gil, Kode9, M.I.A., Mark Ronson, and Philippe Zdar). In support of this year’s Academy, multifarious Dutch DJ/producer Martyn (who now calls Washington home) and Toronto’s own genre-tweaker Egyptrixx are co-headlining a national tour with MUTEK. They’ll be giving potential applicants as well as the Canadian public at large a peek at what the RBMA’s session lectures, Q&As and – of course – concerts are all about. The new partnership with MUTEK will culminate with a Red Bull Music Academy stage at the next edition of MUTEK, from May 30 to June 3.

Red Bull Music Academy & MUTEK present Martyn and Egyptrixx
Friday, March 2 at 7 p.m. S.A.T. | 1201 St-Laurent Blvd.
redbullmusicacademy.com | sat.qc.ca