Red Bull Music Academy
Montreal, Canada
Autumn 2016
Autumn 2016
Roll out of bed and prepare for another exhilarating day at the Academy. What will you make today?
Share stories from last night’s show in the custom cafeteria with your fellow Academy participants.
Listen in live as RBMA Radio broadcasts their daily show from the Academy space.
Past lectures have featured singular artists varying from Laurie Anderson and Hudson Mohawke to Brian Eno and Erykah Badu, sharing life lessons and anecdotes from across their influential careers. Listen carefully – what they say will affect you more intensely than you ever could have imagined.
"I feel that more than one of the lectures changed my permanent outlook on life and inspired me in crazy ways." - Orlando Volcano (RBMA New York 2013 participant)
Join RBMA staff, your fellow participants and visiting artists for a fortifying meal.
"The lectures do such a wonderful job of demystifying these musical luminaries, in the most positive way, as it shows you that yes, these people are just like you. It serves to reaffirm that music is the one true universal language." - Gareth Anton Averill (RBMA Paris 2015 participant)
Our state-of-the-art studios are available to participants 24/7 and boast enviable synthesizer and instrument collections that might make you shed tears of joy. Now’s the time to collaborate with your fellow participants or hone tricky tracks of your own, whether jamming in the main room or holing up in the bedroom studios with our crack studio tutors and visiting producers.
"Observe, talk, listen, laugh and feel. Get to know the people and get comfortable with the rooms. Don’t give up too easily, most of the time you will have to go through certain layers before a genuine collaboration can take off. Also, in a session, decide who is the leader of the pack. Two leaders will only sail a sinking ship." - Sevdaliza (RBMA Paris 2015 participant)
Relax and get some essential fuel for the long night ahead.
Over the course of the Academy there are concerts, club nights or special events happening practically every night, featuring both participants as well as international headliners covering numerous genres and scenes. Let loose and enjoy the moment – the studios will still be open afterwards
"Whenever I’d go to the events at night I’d be blown away to see my fellow participants perform. These strangers-turned-friends you’d spend every day with, while being unfamiliar with their music. As soon as you see them perform it becomes clear why they were chosen." - Homesick (RBMA Paris 2015 participant)
You can mail the completed application anytime between January 18 and March 7 this year – just make sure it’s postmarked by March 7. Unless you made special shipping arrangements with your local country’s Red Bull office, all applications should be sent to the Red Bull Music Academy HQ. Here’s the address:
Red Bull Music Academy Applications
Montreal 2016
Brüsseler Str. 21
50674 Cologne
Germany
We will confirm the arrival of all applications to the Red Bull Music Academy HQ in Germany, but due to the sheer number of applications we receive, we can’t promise when we will get back to you.
As your musical journey progresses feel free to apply as many times as you want – just don’t give the exact same answers as the last time.
No. Let’s get physical.
No. Please send an audio CD with tracklist.
As many as you want, but as the saying goes, less is often more.
If you make music, you can apply to the Academy, whether you play a guitar, Octobass, computer or spoons.
We strongly prefer handwritten applications, even if your writing is sloppy, as it gives us a better sense of who you are. However, we will accept typed and printed applications, but you will still have to draw all the pictures by hand.
Yes. If some of the questions don’t apply to you (i.e. you don’t have a website or manager), then just write a poem or something.
We require two photos: one ‘passport-style’ photo, including just your head looking straight at the camera and in a passport-photo size, and another photo in any style you want, as long as it’s clearly you.
No. As long as your application is postmarked by March 7, you have the same chance as anyone else.
In order to create an open, diverse musical environment for participants, we don’t invite bands to the Academy. With that said, no one will forbid you and your entire crew to apply individually.
As long as you are at least 18 years old by September 1, 2016 you can apply. In order to comply with drinking laws in Canada, we will not accept applications from anyone under the required age.
If you’re accepted to the Academy, we will make sure you have all the important paperwork necessary to get you to Montreal. For now, don’t sweat it.
All applicants will be notified by the end of June 2016 whether their application was successful or not. If you are selected to attend the Academy, all workshops and sessions are free (and open only to selected participants). The Academy also covers flights, accommodation costs, ground transportation and meals.
At the Academy, we’ll likely ask you to play a show as part of our festival of events in the city. There will also be audio and video recordings taking place at the Academy. Red Bull generally has no interest in using any of the music or video created at the Academy for anything other than Academy matters, and doesn’t hold copyrights for any of your work. Creativity is the only currency here. Music is what we live and stand for.
