Kiwi acts to front major US music event

Friday 11 November 2016

Kiwi acts to front major US music event

Two former MAINZ students will get the opportunity of a lifetime when they perform in the Red Bull Sound Select 30 Days in LA this month.

Kiwi acts Villette Dasha and Montell2099 were selected from emerging artists around the world to be part of the series of shows running in Los Angeles throughout November this year. Red Bull Sound Select is an artist development programme that delivers the best in new music. 30 Days in LA showcases established artists and talented new performers on an international stage.

Villette will be supporting British duo AlunaGeorge and the show has already sold out. She’ll also have a studio session and work alongside established artists. Villette says it is an amazing opportunity and she’ll be looking to learn all she can from the experience.

“This definitely feels like the beginning of something and I couldn’t have got here on my own. It’s so humbling to be asked to be a part of this and it’s been a pretty crazy time.

“I don’t have a lot of expectations of the event, but I have some really high expectations of myself. No one will know me there, but you never know who is going to be in the audience. I am going to try and bring an experience to them – I want to provide something that is fresh and new.

“Success for me will be having someone connect to the songs. And, to be honest, as a performer if I don’t puke before going on stage, that’s success; and if I don’t cry when I come off stage, that’s success.”

While music has always played a huge role in Villette’s life, she says completing the MAINZ Certificate in DJ and Electronic Music Production in 2013 was a “real turning point” in her career. “I moved away from being a girl playing a guitar and learned about structure and how to actually produce music.”

As well as preparing for 30 Days in LA, Villette, who describes her sound as “electronic, dark R&B and hip hop” has other projects underway and will be releasing a new song “Beige” on 14 November – look out for it on SoundCloud, Spotify and iTunes.

Montell2099 is also working on other projects in the lead-up to the LA event. "Very stoked to be heading to the states for Redbull 30 Days in LA, thanks to Redbull Sound Select. Hope to make the most of the opportunities over there and check it out," he says.

@villettedasha #rbsoundselect #30DaysinLA

Find out more about MAINZ at www.mainz.ac.nz

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