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Introducing the first conference of the electronic music industries to be held in Japan, Tokyo Dance Music Event today announces an inaugural series this December 1-3rd 2016. Paying homage to the emergent Asian component of the global dance community, TDME play host to artistic idols and creators of iconic institutions both at home and internationally. From the center of Japanese dance culture in the clubbing hub of Shibuya, a schedule of seminars and showcases on stage will be complimented by curated experiences featuring Boiler Room in the district’s most venerated venues.
With the ever-colorfully diverse – and divergent – cultural landscape of Tokyo its backdrop, between the high-rise complexes and youthful Harajuku neighborhood, TDME offers an exploration of this digital world and its soundscape. No less animated will be discussions taking place in the creative spaces of the high-rise Hikarie Hall A; a view over Shibuya’s synonymous ‘scramble crossing’ offering stunning sights into the essence of the city below, to match the skyscraping sonics (and insight) shared above. Along with Red Bull Studios Tokyo, these locations will hold talks on the current and future dance movement, from Asia to beyond; supplemented by Ableton workshops and the popular Toolroom Academy offered for the first time ever in Asia.
Amongst the speakers are acclaimed electronic musicians, with the first wave announcing a Hip-hop veteran of prolonged prestige: Zeebra. Releasing his first single with none other than U.S. kingpin DJ Premier, to this day he remains a popular producer and national ‘street’ figure especial to Shibuya as its ‘Ambassador’. Aside artists on the panel are leading professionals from labels to NGOs. Patrick Moxey of Ultra Records – original 80s New York organizer fundamental later to the fame of N.E.R.D. to Jay Z plus Deadmau5 to David Guetta – and Mark Lawrence – CEO of the Association for Electronic Music, campaigning for transformation of music royalty payments, changing perceptions of the industry and fighting to protect nightlife culture – bring global overview and business acumen. So too Japan’s dominant, domestic streaming services AWA and Line Music send their respective directors for the delegation.
Jay Kogami provides an investigative eye as a digital music journalist with special focus on Tokyo, complimented well by the global purview of Lucy Allen over industry press, as events PR to clients from Ibiza to Dubai to prime UK dance festivals. Knowing well the cherished spaces that characterize club-land Tokyo, Naohiro Ukawa of Asia’s own Boiler Room equivalent – Dommune – rounds off local expertise. A designer, writer, promoter, club director and Professor, this scene stalwart of the social media startup era (with definite claim as a polymath) will be an enlightening highlight. Of the clubs themselves: RA #1 in Tokyo Womb; high-concept and high-capacity Sound Museum Vision; plus, the successor to the famed Air that is the Berlin-esque Contact.
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