Ministry of Sound has announced Boxed In, a new live-streamed DJ competition designed to discover and platform the next generation of DJ talent. Filmed inside The Box, the newly renovated main room of the world’s most famous nightclub, the event takes place on 13th September and will stream on Twitch.
Boxed In pitches six emerging DJs against one another across a 12-hour live stream with six established mentor DJs guiding them through a series of challenges that test not just mixing ability but endurance, booth etiquette, crowd control and musical knowledge.
Crucially, the audience controls the outcome in the form of live voting and real-time reactions from viewers that help to shape the challenges.
The winner receives a money-can’t-buy Ministry of Sound residency that includes global and club shows alongside a significant £25,000 worth of equipment, studio time and artist development; all the essentials any up and coming DJ needs.
The six mentors confirmed for Boxed In are club associates old and new with Mak10, Sam Divine, G33 (Girls Don’t Sync), Fish 56 Octagon, Jakkob and Sian Owen, all forming a panel of great experience across genres and generations, and with a combined social following in the millions.
Caitlin McAllister, Managing Director at Ministry of Sound says “Ministry of Sound has always been about championing great new talent, and Boxed In is our way of doing that for a new generation of DJs. There are so many brilliant artists out there who just need the chance to be seen. We wanted to create something that gives them a real platform, puts them in front of a global audience and lets them show what they’re capable of. We’re excited to see who steps up, and hopefully play a part in launching the career of the next big name in dance music.”
Applications for the competition are now open. To apply, prospective contestants must submit a 60-second tape explaining why they should be a contestant alongside a 15-minute mix uploaded to SoundCloud. 30 applicants will be shortlisted and mentors will then go through an elimination process, ending with each mentor selecting one competitor to pair with and guide through the stream.
The concept was developed by Ministry of Sound in direct response to the barriers facing emerging DJ talent. Electronic music continues to be driven by new artists, but the routes into the industry have narrowed significantly for a multitude of reasons. ‘Boxed In’ is designed to create a visible, participatory platform for undiscovered talent and connect them with a global audience.
To apply, submit a 60-second video and a 15-minute SoundCloud mix at https://boxedin.stream/
Head to https://ministryofsound.com/ for further details.
