Online Contest Launches in Search of Final DJ to Join This Year’s Program, Hosted at W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak

New York – May 17, 2012 – W Hotels Worldwide, in collaboration with burn studios, an innovative music platform developed by burn®, a globally leading energy drink from The Coca-Cola Company, today announced the new international DJs who have been selected to participate in the second annual W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab. In addition, a global search has launched on whotels.com/music to find the final DJ, representing Asia, to join the curated group. The DJ Lab is designed to bring together the most exciting rising DJ talent from around the globe and provide them with unprecedented mentorship and valuable tools to help them realize their full potential. The chosen participants will polish their skills during a weeklong DJ ‘boot camp’ at W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak this July in preparation for a global tour hosted at W Hotels and Retreats around the world.

“We are thrilled to welcome a new group of rising global artists to join the 2012 W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab,” said Vincent Gillet, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “Supporting emerging talent is a core value of the W brand, and through our partnership with burn studios, we are continuing to provide a global platform that identifies and supports these up-and-coming artists, while showcasing what’s new and next in music at our hotels worldwide.”

W Hotels Global Music Director, Michaelangelo L’Acqua, along with burn studios, has identified seven promising DJs to join the program at W Bali this year. Hailing from global gateway cities across the world, the 2012 DJs are:

Dogus Cabakcor, Istanbul
Posso (aka Marylouise Pels and Vanessa Giovacchini), Los Angeles
Vitor Kurc, São Paulo
Klaus Rosa De Macedo and Ameet Jugnauth, London
Aline Magnier, Berlin

When the new class of emerging DJs convene at W Bali, they will be mentored by industry experts, including Rob Garza (Thievery Corporation), Paul Nolan (SAE) and Jason Bentley (Music Director, KCRW) along with L’Acqua. After honing their craft in “master classes,” each DJ will be given the chance to put their skills into practice by spinning at signature W Happenings and other sought-after W Hotels events, providing a fresh soundtrack for W guests and local music fans alike.

“Through our partnership with W Hotels, the burn studios DJ Lab is providing another opportunity for artists to meet and learn from some of the industry’s biggest names,” said Prinz Pinakatt, Global Director, burn, The Coca-Cola Company. “Our programming nurtures and showcases aspiring DJs looking to break onto an international stage”


W Hotels Launches Online Search for Final DJ to Join 2012 Program
For the first time ever, the eighth and final DJ, representing Asia, will be found through an online talent search held by W Hotels Worldwide, in partnership with MIX.dj. Starting today through June 15, aspiring DJs can go to whotels.com/music to upload their mix for the chance to join the 2012 DJ Lab. Uploaded mixes will automatically be entered into the MIX.dj platform where sharing and voting by the public will commence. Those DJs with the highest number of votes will then be selected by the DJ Lab Mentors to perform at various W Hotels in Asia in May and June, showcasing their unique, cutting-edge sounds.

The first of these events will kick off at W Taipei on May 18, where L’Acqua will be on-site at the official Show Off party to witness firsthand the DJs who have submitted mixes for consideration. On May 26, W Hong Kong will host its first Summer Series pool party of the season, giving the DJs additional platforms for exposure. Finally, W Seoul will welcome 2011 DJ Lab participant, DJ Angus Wong, on June 1 for a W Happening featuring select DJs from the online search, industry tastemakers and VIPs. The search will end on June 15 and the winner announced as the 2012 DJ Lab commences in July.

“The search for the final DJ allows W the opportunity to engage legions of enthusiastic electronic music fans to help us in selecting this last participant,” said Michaelangelo L’Acqua, W Hotels Global Music Director. “It is important that each DJ who joins the program demonstrate not only cutting-edge talent, but also passionate resolve, and through this online platform, we’re able to ensure our final DJ encompasses all of these qualities.”

To learn more about the W Hotels & burn studios DJ Lab please visit whotels.com/music.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlguqhSqxjw

(even if you can't read Chinese you should be able to figure it out!)

• FANtastica (Hong Kong)
• Ginda and the White Flowers (Indonesia)
• Greice Ive (Brazil)
• Macau Jazz Experience (Macao)
• Mok Kyung Kim (Korea)
• Red Groove (China)
• Roland Tchakounte (France)
• Spoke (USA)
• The CompanY (Philippines)
• The Main Squeeze (USA)
• Theo Croker Collective (China)
• Tinho Pereira (China)

Matt Coyte, Editor of Rolling Stone Australia magazine, Vonzell Solomon, American Idol finalist and HK actor-singer, Michael Wong (yes, A Legend Reborn!)

We are privileged to have 10 time Grammy Award nominee and jazz & blues legend, George Benson, who will open The Venetian Carnival on Fri May 25 at 7pm. Then people can catch his concert at the Venetian Theatre starting at 9pm (tickets on sale now).
More details here:
https://www.cotaiticketing.com/VCLTicketing/eventDetail.do?eventCode=gb2012

Alongside all the action and entertainment at The Venetian Carnival, there will be Mardi Gras Charity Ball on Sat May 26. The entertainment lineup includes The Nevilles, the Michael Foster Brass Band and The Pine Leaf Boys.
More details here:
http://www.venetianmacao.com/The_Venetian_Carnival_Charity_Ball_/