EQ50 have announced details of their most ambitious project to date, a 12-month mentorship programme for five womxn producers.
“EQ50 is working towards fairer representation within drum & bass,” says EQ50 co-convenor and radio producer DJ Flight. “We feel mentoring is the most effective way to see long-term, lasting change.”
“For the drum & bass scene to reach gender parity during club nights and festivals, we need more mentorships every year for at least the next three years,” adds Mantra, EQ50 co-convenor and Rupture promoter. “We need more record labels, industry executives and promoters to commit so we see real, lasting transformative change.”
Each producer will be placed with one of their partner record labels (Critical Music, Function Records, Ram Records, Shogun Audio & V Recordings), who will provide regular A&R sessions, production masterclasses and opportunities to progress within the label.
That’s not all. EQ50 will also offer an affiliated mentor for the duration of the scheme, practice DJ sessions in world-renowned UK clubs, booking agency masterclass with ESP International and a range of additional masterclasses with established artists, managers and industry professionals.
Applications are now open to UK-based womxn (cis, trans, femmes, non-binary people) producers until Friday 7 August 2020 (23.59 BST).