W and burn studios Unveil Week-Long DJ Boot Camp at W Retreat & Spa Bali ? Seminyak and Announce First Ever DJ Lab Participant Selected through Global Online Talent Search
W Hotels Worldwide (NYSE: HOT), in collaboration with burn studios, an innovative music platform developed by burn?, a globally leading energy drink from The Coca-Cola Company, today unveiled the second annual W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab. Taking place at W Retreat & Spa Bali ? Seminyak, the week-long DJ ?boot camp? brings together the most exciting emerging DJ talent from around the globe and provides them with unprecedented mentorship and valuable tools in preparation for a global tour to select W Hotels.
?Now in its second year, we are proud to bring this year?s W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab to W Bali, in the heart of Seminyak, one of the world?s leading electronic music destinations,? said Vincent Gillet, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le M?ridien. ?Music is intrinsic to the W brand, and together with our partner burn studios, we can provide emerging talent with a platform for global exposure while showcasing what?s new and next in music to our guests.?
“Through our burn studios partnership with W Hotels, we’re continuing to develop exciting programming that connects up and coming artists with some of the industry’s leading voices,” said Prinz Pinakatt, Global Director, burn, The Coca-Cola Company. “With this year’s DJ Lab heading to Bali, we’re nurturing and supporting aspiring DJs looking to break onto an international stage.”
First Ever DJ Lab Participant Selected through Global Online Talent Search
W Hotels and burn have also announced the eighth and final emerging DJ, representing Asia, to participate in this year?s DJ Lab. The winning DJ was selected through an online talent search held by W Hotels Worldwide, in partnership with MIX.dj, which launched earlier this summer. More than 125 DJs from Asia uploaded their exclusive mixes, which were automatically entered into the Mix.DJ platform, receiving more than 150,000 plays and 6,000 votes and comments by the public. DJs with the highest number of votes were then selected by the DJ Lab Mentors to perform at various W Hotels in Asia throughout the month of June, showcasing their unique, cutting-edge sounds.
The Korean-born winner, Gio Vanhoutte, honed his DJ skills in Belgium and now joins the seven other promising DJs, curated by W Hotels Global Music Director Michaelangelo L?Acqua, in Bali for the week-long DJ Lab. Hailing from key global cities, the final list of 2012 DJs are:
[box]Dogus Cabakcor, Istanbul
Posso (aka Marylouise Pels and Vanessa Giovacchini), Los Angeles
Vitor Kurc, S?o Paulo
Klaus Rosa De Macedo and Ameet Jugnauth, London
Aline Magnier, Berlin
Gio Vanhoutte, Seoul[/box]
?Gio Vanhoutte was the final part of this year’s DJ lab equation, and his sound broke through the competition,? said L?Acqua. ?Each of the participating DJs brings a different musical point of view, and I?m so excited to work with them in Bali as they further hone their craft.?
The curriculum for the 2012 W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab was exclusively designed by this year?s mentors and includes: Sonic Identity Brand Building, Music and Artist Curation, Record Compilations and Expanding Industry Relationships led by L?Acqua; Essential Audio Theory for Musical Production and Mixing and Mastering taught by Paul Nolan; the Art of DJ?ing, the Business of DJ?ing, Radio Host and Film/TV with Jason Bentley (Music Director, KCRW), and Music Production by Rob Garza (Thievery Corporation). In addition, throughout the week, the DJs will participate in skill-building master classes, providing them with essential tools needed to take their acts on the road and spin at W Happenings and other sought-after W Hotels events throughout the year.
Following completion of the W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab, the 2012 class will jet off to perform alongside established DJs at select iconic W destinations around the world, including: Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok and Koh Samui, Thailand in Asia; Istanbul, Barcelona, London, St Petersburg and Paris in Europe; Mexico City, Santiago, New York and South Beach in the Americas; and Doha in the Middle East. At each performance, the DJs will create exclusive mixes available only on the W Hotels iPhone application, in addition to chronicling their world travels via the W brand?s social media channels, including @WHotels on Twitter and www.facebook.com/whotels.
To learn more about the W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab, please visit www.whotels.com/music.
Source: Starwood Hotels and Resorts