Workshops, lectures, listening sessions and after parties on Red Bull’s bill

Following the successful sessions in various cities around the globe, including Tokyo, New York, Melbourne, Cape Town, Paris, São Paulo and Montréal, the first West Africa edition of the Red Bull Music Academy sessions held in Lagos, with the workshops, lectures, listening sessions and after parties all a huge success.

Held between July 14 and 15, the event had in attendance 50 participants including music enthusiasts, producers, vocalists disc jockeys (DJs), music On-Air Personalities (OAPs) and music critics and entertainment writers in the likes of DJ Jimmy Jatt, Nneka Egbuna, DJ Klem, Blinky Bill, Osagie Alonge, Gbemi Olateru and Tomi Thomas, among others.

Osagie Alonge, kicked off the first session with Nigerian RBMA alumni, DJ Klem and Kraftmatiks, sharing their experience at the Red Bull Music Academy in London 2010 and New York 2013 respectively.

The session was somewhat bragging with the household names in the music industry they met. All thanks to Kraftmatiks, who met the most in New York including QTip, Quest Love, and Just Blaze. Their RBMA experience they both admitted were live changing experiences.

The listening session was an avenue to give critical feedback on unfinished music of the participants and offer advice on what they could improve on.However, the advice that remained constant from one panellist to the other which include DJ Jimmy Jatt, Chinedu Okeke and Gbemi of the Beat FM was ‘to remain true to yourself and your craft.’

Highpoint of this session was the exciting notable moments of learning, fusion of musical styles and genres that were mind blowing and it was an atmosphere filled with creativity.

Nigerian-Germany base award-winning singer and songwriter, Nneka Egbuna shared her story, the barriers she faced as a woman in the industry, language challenge and how she conquered to become the artiste she is today. She also explained how people expected her to sing as she got on stage as a female artiste but she would take the mic and then rap.

Blinky Bill gave a fresh perspective how he rose through the scenes and the influences that helped shape him to become the great artiste that he is today. This enabled the participants to have an insight into his world and understand his journey so far.

After a full day of learning, the Bogobiri outdoors was transformed into a block party with mood lights and strobes that were reminiscent of a night out in Ibiza. Palm wine flowed and guests let loose on the dance floor almost forgetting that they were in Lagos.