New Wave Collaborates With Pioneer DJ on 'Start From Scratch' Programme

The art of DJing is a skill that is coming into prominence in youth culture. In the post-COVID era, the need for connectivity through events and music is as high as it has ever been, as young people are consistently looking to expand their creative endeavours, especially through their taste in music. Being able to control a crowd and deliver great moments in time to people is a responsibility many want but find challenging to get.

In recent times, more and more people are looking to teach themselves new skills with access to so much information on the internet. The one thing that isn't always as accessible is money and time, two things that many may feel are the barriers stopping them from being a top-notch DJ, servicing shows at the biggest festivals and concerts worldwide. Although that may be true to an extent, with the expensive prices of professional-level equipment and the need for constant practice, the critical thing to be aware of is the understanding of technical aspects of DJing that is vastly understated. The level of preparation and attention to detail is something every DJ needs to be at the top of their game.

This past weekend, New Wave and Pioneer DJ collaborated on Start From Scratch DJ workshop at the newly opened Factory 15 Location in Barking. Start from Scratch is an initiative created and founded by Pioneer DJ that aims to provide free access to the DJ industry for underrepresented communities though workshops and collaborating with partners. This workshop, hosted by South London-based DJ Jeeniius, was a masterclass in music curation. Jeeniius, as a self-taught DJ has had the pleasure of playing at some of the most sought-after events in London, from Wireless to Glastonbury. Jeeniius taught a class of carefully selected participants DJ theory in professional-level equipment provided by Pioneer DJ. The class was briefed on concepts such as waveforms, DJ transitions, musical keys, and sonic BPM. After the theory came practice, all 10 participants were able to use CDJ-2000/3000 equipment to curate their own music with their newfound knowledge. The workshop was informative and an important step towards making the art of doing more accessible to young people that may not be able to afford such high-level hardware.

The participants selected were at mixed stages of experience to assist each other along their DJ journeys. At the workshop, you would see the various ways of learning, from practical trial and error to observing each other and asking questions to try new things. The excitement after a clean transition to the concentration in many focused on making their mixes - was a brilliant experience for a budding DJ community.

The feedback from our participants was amazing!

"The workshop was really valuable, we learnt about the technical side of mixing, how to prepare for a set and a little bit of music theory too. We definitely left the session more knowledged about dj’ing than when I arrived"

- Yusuf Ntahilaja, @Yustagramm

Hosted by Jeeniius, a key DJ in the UK music scene currently, it was amazing to see a large number of female applications during the process of selection. Over 60% of the applications came from young women, and 50% of all applications were from those at a beginner stage. Start From Scratch by Pioneer DJ was an important partner in this process, as their experience of injecting new talent into the DJ scene is unmatched. Over 150 female DJs have entered the industry, and over 800 budding DJs registering for sessions.

Three DJs that showed the most promise during the 'In The Lab w/ Jeeniius' workshop were able to play at our evening mixer with our guests as the World Cup match between England and France played in the background. The talented attendees took control of the decks for 30 minutes each with ease, followed by New Wav. SOUND DJ, PDЯ, and Start From Scratch DJ, MellowHoney. The beautiful Factory 15 location was an excellent setting for the DJs to play confidently as guests were entertained by the bar, conversations with friends, the excellent modernist furniture, and games such as Jenga and Chess.

"Last weeks event is definitely something I’ll remember forever. Everyone from New Wave Magazine and the Factory welcomed me very well. There was a great energy in the room and I had the opportunity to network and connect with new people. Some people also came up to me and got inspired, asking me how I started DJing and who helped me along in my journey. I was very proud to say that I got sponsored by Pioneer DJ!

It is definitely an event I would like to do again and I can’t wait to see how I grow in my dj career."

- MellowHoney, Start From Scratch

The Workshop collaboration was successful, with many highlighting the amount they had learned, building their DJ confidence, and becoming part of a new community to foster their skills, made possible by our amazing Host, spectacular venue, and supportive partners, Pioneer DJ.

For more information on Start From Scratch and The DJ Equipment used, please visit Pioneerdj.com