The living room of a modern Malibu beachfront palace has been transformed into the Moonraker command center. Crammed with computers, schematics, and a lavish 80’s interior, you wonder if that Red Bull fridge is really a “Red bull fridge” and when 007 is going to saunter in? Instead one of electronic music’s brightest stars strolls into the kitchen, Lorin “Bassnectar” Ashton. Lanky, with dreaded hair pulled back, he is thoroughly pleased to have us sit in on the Red Bull Music Lab Experience.

Starting as a DJ workshop for underprivileged kids by Lorin solely for his graduate program, he and his friend Kurt Sonderegger, from Red Bull, wished to pursue the project even further. “The joke is that everyone’s a DJ,” exclaims Kurt, “DJ schools have already been done.” Lorin wanted to do things different, he wanted to make the music accessible. By keeping the system open, Lorin turned down some big sponsors, but kept everything affordable. Settling down with Reason 3.0 and the right equipment, they began the Labs. Teaming up with Craig Russo as technical coordinator to ensure that everything runs smooth, they were able to fine-tune the Labs into an intensive five-day one-track thesis.

Instead of simply educating about the equipment, Lorin and Kurt wanted to educate about the music industry itself. Having numerous guest speakers, the Labs also show how to market oneself as a musician and how to make a living doing what you love. Paul Anthony, of Rumblefish Music Publishing, lends his services, creating personalized goal lists for each of the students. Paul then checks up every 30 days for the fallowing few months to hold the students accountable to their goals.

The students hail from the surrounding area of each Music Lab location. Most of them love music in general, while all of them are excited about the opportunities that the Music Labs yield. Each student has a different taste in music and is taught to embrace it at the Labs. Being taught through hands on example, Lorin leads, while students are then able to chop up their own music to create their own masterpieces. Encouraged to stay overnight at the house, many cram throughout, until the debut party. A culmination of all the hard work and patience where everyone can relax and let their work shine.

For more info:
www.redbullmusiclabs.com

red bull music labs

text & photo: glenn robinson