Demo Crates

rd collection one acquires and the depth of one’s musical knowledge in various musical matters. Who we are
Demo + Crates = DemoCrates, the idea of a participatory event and a formation / platform around this principle; a concept open democratically to all that is aiming to enhance a real music community. What we do
DemoCrates is a grassroots event innovation; a happening featuring sounds and music never previously heard on a soundsystem! The soundtrack of this event consists of songs, tunes and ideas for tracks brought along by the attendants themselves. An audio-only puzzle within a highly interactive listening session, ending up with an amazing musical outpouring: kind of a real-time jukebox that combines exchange of good music, exposure for the artists and expression open to all! The event emerges from a set of dedicated peers, music lovers and people whose ambition it is to grapple with the emergence of modern sounds and music. What is the sound of DemoCrates? The tracks you will hear at a DemoCrates session are ideas from producers (some showcasing their work in front of a real audience for the first time) as well as quality selections of songs already available in the public domain, but picked by the audience. Whatever members consider special or of particular interest to be shared with the attendees. Everything is allowed and everything that is submitted will be played as long as it is in some way related to the spirit of the event and its host space and the given time limits! In general, the earlier participants submit the better it is, as those tracks will also be given priority airing. Certain venues may opt for a separate audio source for the Demo submissions and the Crates selections or a separate staging situation. What we are looking for
Pieces of music that producers want to get out there and get heard! We are looking for people who want to share music; be it from their home computers, something they have in the car, even earworms they can’t escape and that they are willing to share within a musical symposium! Regarding demos, we are looking for musicians, bands and producers who compose their own songs and have recorded the result, regardless of their style or status ('provided they make music'). As far as DJs go, submissions could include interesting beats, edits or 'field recordings' that are also of interest. From the people who have dug their crates and chosen something in advance to bring along on the night, we are looking for inspiration. Anything, be it old or new, electronic or acoustic, regardless of genre anything good goes at Demo Crates and will be heard! The aesthetic direction at each event is directed by the manner in which each edition is communicated to the public, also taking into account the chosen venue and the season/period. How does the event work? On entering the event a DemoCrates team member is available to receive musical contributions in your chosen format (cd, vinyl or digital) and can pass that on to the DJ panel: this team of selectors will listen, archive and mix the music in real time creating a soundscape of suitably matching tracks. Moreover, details of the artist and the track information is projected for the audience’s interest. Music needs to be submitted by interested parties as soon as possible; in most cases it can be delivered during the submissions period at the start of each event. The music is all played out and the dynamic outcome leads to something that we hope encommpasses a party, a musical exhibition and a gathering of musically minded people. A record of all the information including the set are made available after each event. DemoCrates is a musical study open to all people of all backgrounds, wherever they are based. However, it is our aim to have an audience of participants present at each party/event to enhance the overall experience. We generally prefer your presence at the event, and believe you will too, but if an author wants to present their own work but due to personal circumstances can’t attend, there is a way of electronic submission via email at: [email protected] or by filling a form for us and dropping your tracks at www.soundcloud.com/democrates . New members are also welcome to participate in organizing, just send us an email and get involved; being there with your music is just the first key step. What interests us? The innovative, interesting and harmonious; anything and everything that makes for an interesting listening experience (see soundscapes, field recordings, spoken word, etc). We aim to keep the standard high in terms of the technical infrastructure and would like the very best artistic result. The ultimate goal? The main purpose is a projection of contemporary music with the unique identity of the city we are based and our country today, thus spreading the word about locally made music that people have yet to have had the chance to hear. Choosing the best method for this and creating as smooth and creative way as possible with a group of elite selectors and guests, who will all be part of the production team, we aim to create an atmosphere that combines a meeting point for music lovers and a party with a dance floor spirit. With each of these aspects taking their rightful place at each event we hope that within the same night the music can mutate from different textures, emotions, tempos and more. We hope DemoCrates will also give the opportunity for experiencing rare tunes as well as timeless music that sounds right now and may even lead to further exploitation and inspirations. From a producer’s perspective it should be an ideal opportunity to hear their own sounds on a high quality sound system and to have it heard in an appropriate environment to test the reactions of others. What we offer to whom
We aim to create something of a stepping stone in terms of promotion of good music, as well as plenty of access to rare and quality music for everyone with an interest. To the artists and producers we offer a dedicated experience to test drive productions and ideas on a first class audio system and with a clued up audience; it’s an opportunity to experiment without anxiety, to draw conclusions based around reactions and also to meet with the public, to find potential collaborators and to network with people in the local music industry. Having the consent to play your music is essential to us and your presence at the events would be an added bonus. For the public, we hope this is seen as an opportunity to freely express, to expand taste and to impart ideas for the soundtrack of the event. Anyone who has ever wished to hear a certain track at any point hanging out, now has the opportunity to make that a reality! Aspiring DJs, collectors with a valuable secret, shy or even experienced producers who musically identify with pieces by other composers, all are welcome to contribute and be part of this little revolution in music terms. The audience have the opportunity to hear the music of talented producers directly from their studios, which should ensure multiple and unexpected journeys with music from both the local and the international music scenes. Information can also be available from both word of mouth means and through visual projections so that the rare cuts, the new music and everything in between can be identified and stored as knowledge!