Category: Student Activities

Last year, we introduced the Future Talent Awards to recognize exceptional artists from the academy. Ten students were selected to play gigs around the world with their mentors and receive career-building support. The ultimate winner, Constanza from Argentina, became the PTDJA Future Talent and played at the prestigious IMS event in Ibiza.


Dahien from Poland and Liz Somes from Seattle also impressed the judges and earned mentorship from Adam Beyer and Sama’ Abdulhadi. In addition to the top three, seven other finalists were recognized for their talents.


Dahein
“Going through this process gave me even more faith and confidence in myself, in what I was doing and that I was going in the right direction with the desire to pursue doing what I love in life (music) as a professional DJ. The decision to participate in the Future Talent Awards was a spontaneous decision. At the time I did not think of it as the ‘ultimate chance’ and that I would win something — I saw it rather as an interesting adventure — but I was aware that it was being judged by professionals and it was their opinion that I cared most about.”


“I knew that my work as a DJ would be judged on merit, and not as a specialist in social media and how many ‘Likes’ I have. One of my friends DJ Siasia once told me, ‘Learn not to be just another music player but a DJ’, and in PTDJA this is what you learn, exactly that — how to become a professional DJ and what it means. Then to be picked by Adam (Beyer) as his choice and one of the 10 winners, it’s hard to describe the feelings in words. I was bursting with energy.”


Liz Somes
“Honestly when I entered, I didn’t think I would win. I thought I had a shot, but once I hit enter on the form, it was out of my hands, and I forgot about it until I got the first email back months later. When I found out I had won, I cried, it was very emotional. To be chosen for this award by some of the best DJs in the world, I still pinch myself. It has already opened doors that were otherwise closed.”


“I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that people have said I have been ‘slept on’. If getting this award opens people’s eyes to the story I have to tell musically, I am for it, and all in. It also gives me a platform to represent women in the industry, to have those other conversations about ageism and tokenism, quite frankly, which have already started and have been wonderful and very positive. But most of all, I love being an inspiration to others and hope I can continue being that, just like others have inspired me. When you are an artist, you don’t have a choice to pursue something, you are driven… it is a part of you.”


The other finalists
Deefo – NUANS – Cozmic Cat – Mista Mani – 2 nomads – Daniella Font – Fivequestionmarks


Congratulations to all the Future Talent Award winners for their outstanding achievements!