Music
Red Bull Music Academy to be held in iconic Berlin building, Funkhaus
The German building is one of the world's largest studio spaces and will host the Academy this September and October.
A cultural centre and historic recording studio complex in east Berlin, the Funkhaus is quite possibly the largest studio complex in the world, and also one of the grandest. The size of 25 football fields, the Funkhaus is located by the picturesque Spree river and was built by the East German government to house its state radio operations in the 1950s. By the 1970s it was operating like a small town, with more than 3,500 employees filling the stunning spaces every day. Designated as a protected cultural monument, the Funkhaus is as beautiful as it is functional, with sprawling orchestra halls and a seemingly endless number of wood-paneled studios, which will be filled with state-of-the-art equipment so that Academy participants can experiment to their heart's content.
At the Red Bull Music Academy Berlin, which runs from September 8 to October 12, 61 up-and-coming music makers from around the world will come together to exchange ideas and collaborate with pioneering artists from varied styles, methodologies and cultures. At the same time, Red Bull Music will present a five-week festival of concerts, club nights and public talks at renowned music and cultural venues, exploring the city’s sonic histories and shining a light on the modern musical landscape.
Take a tour of the Funkhaus building on Red Bull Music Academy's facebook page here
When they're in attendance, the Academy participants' time in the studios will be overseen by some globally renowned musicians. Joining the team are Grammy Award-winning producer Just Blaze, who has produced for everyone from Jay-Z and Kanye West to Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar; Underground Resistance founding member “Mad” Mike Banks; Roman house and techno specialist Marco Passarani; Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist Angel Deradoorian; Hessle Audio co-founder Pearson Sound; indie experimentalist Lucrecia Dalt; and Austrian beatsmith and synth wizard Dorian Concept. Term 2 welcomes Mathew Jonson, who combines musical training with analog expertise; Canadian future R&B and electronic producer Ango; and Russian avant-pop producer and alumna of the 2014 Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo, Kate NV, with additional team members to be confirmed in the months to come.
During the Academy, renowned Berlin gallerist Johann König of the König Galerie will install an exhibition of artworks by established and emerging contemporary German artists, while the Berlin-based design studio New Tendency will create bespoke furniture as well as pathways and environments within the larger spaces that encourage interaction and collaboration.
