IBIZA, Spain - May 21, 2014 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - From the seventh annual International Music Summit (IMS) Ibiza, W Hotels Worldwide, and burn®, The Coca-Cola Company’s globally leading energy drink, today announced the launch of their joint label’s first-ever music release. The debut EP showcases original work from the six emerging DJ/Producers who were selected to participate in last year’s W Hotels & burn DJ Lab program. Launching today, music fans around the world can download the DJ Lab EP exclusively on Beatport.
"W Hotels has long had a passion for supporting emerging music talent, and for the first time ever, music lovers around the world can experience the newest cutting-edge sounds emerging from the DJ Lab," said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection. "From the beaches of Koh Samui, where this year’s Lab took place, to the sound systems and personal devices of our guests and loyalists, W, together with burn and the program’s premier music mentors, is able to further showcase these rising DJs to a truly global audience."
This year’s class of international rising DJ/Producers worked closely with W Hotels & burn DJ Lab industry mentors including Michaelangelo L’Acqua, W Hotels Global Music Director; Paul Oakenfold, original pioneer of DJ culture and world-renowned record producer/DJ; DJ White Shadow, two-time Grammy nominated producer, composer and instrumentalist for Lady Gaga; James Lavelle, A&R label boss, recording artist and DJ; and Andy Caldwell, two-time Grammy nominated DJ producer, to create original tracks for the official DJ Lab EP, developed in collaboration with Popshop Agency. The tracks include:
With all six W Hotels & burn DJ Lab DJ/Producers at The Ibiza International Music Summit (IMS), W celebrates its fifth year of partnership with the three-day dance music conference presented by dance music legend Pete Tong.
To kick off the multi-day EP launch, W Hotels & burn DJ Lab DJ T.A.T. will spin at Dalt Villa, one of the world’s leading dance music venues, on Thursday, May 22. Other artists hitting the island decks include Steve Angello, Pretty Lights, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and more. On Friday, May 22, Michaelangelo L’Acqua and program mentor DJ White Shadow will join a panel to discuss the importance of mentorship and education for rising music talent. Immediately following, all conference attendees and performers will be invited to the exclusive annual IMS Ibiza closing party and official DJ Lab EP release, where all six DJ Lab DJ/Producers will debut their tracks.
"What burn and W Hotels do to support rising talent performers is a wonderful thing," said DJ White Shadow. "I had a great experience sharing my knowledge and understanding of this community with the DJs in Koh Samui and am excited to see how much they’ve grown since we left them in September. I have no doubt the EP will be a monumental step in further enhancing their careers."
To download the W Hotels & burn DJ Lab EP, please visit Beatport and check out whotels.tumblr.com, www.whotels.com/music and the W Hotels iPhone app for more DJ Lab scoop. Follow @WHotels and @burn on Twitter and Instagram using #WMUSIC.
Launched in 2011 at the burn studios Hacienda in Ibiza, Spain, W Hotels & burn DJ Lab is a collaboration between W Hotels and burn®, The Coca-Cola Company’s globally leading energy drink. In 2013, W Hotels and burn launched a global online search for up-and-coming talent to join the third annual W Hotels & burn DJ Lab at W Retreat Koh Samui. Over 1,400 DJ/Producers submitted tracks to be judged by an expert panel of DJ Lab mentors – Michaelangelo L’Acqua, Paul Oakenfold, DJ White Shadow, James Lavelle and Andy Caldwell - for the chance to win six available spots in the 2013 program. In September, the six winning DJs jetted off to Thailand where each mentor helped the rising DJ/Producers refine their skills, offering expert advice and invaluable training across various facets of the industry with a curriculum focusing on playlist curation, expanding industry relationships, music production, the art of DJ’ing, and more. Following completed of DJ Lab, the 2013 class embarked on a global tour, performing at some of W’s most glamorous hotels and retreats around the world while working with select mentors on tracks for an EP exclusive to W Hotels and burn.
W Hotels is a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the industry innovator with 45 hotels and retreats, including 16 W-branded residences, in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access, offering a unique mix of cutting-edge design and passions around fashion, music and entertainment. W Hotels offers a holistic lifestyle experience that is integrated into the brand’s sensibility through contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous entertainment experiences, stylish retail concepts, signature spas and inspiring residences. With more than 15 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to reach 60 hotels by 2017. W Hotels have been announced for Amsterdam, Milan, Shanghai, Beijing, Bogota, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Dubai, Jakarta, Panama, Muscat, Suzhou, Changsha, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, and Sante Fe, Mexico, while upcoming W Retreats include Goa and Mexico’s Riviera Maya. For more information, visit www.whotels.com or www.facebook.com/whotels. To live the W Hotels lifestyle 24/7/365, visit www.wresidences.com. Follow @WHotels on Twitter and Instagram.
SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Erin Brunner
THiNK PR
212-343-3920
ebrunner@thinkpublicrelations.com
Leanne Drago
THiNK PR
212-343-3920
ldrago@thinkpublicrelations.com
W Hotels is a global lifestyle brand with 22 properties in the most vibrant cities around the world.