Alt-Shift - Electronic Music for Transformative Activism

Electronic music is found as a big part of the interest of the youth today. `Underground lifestyle` is increasing day-by-day in the communities nowadays. There are many creative artists and producers across the continent, but there is no sense of networking or group work. Moreover, electronic music today is mostly based on commercialism and self-expression often is limited by the record labels and club policies. There is a causative feedback between these facts and lack of massages and values in the modern electronic music. There is a crucial need to form a change-making attitude and shape the sound for modern values. We believe that this is one of the keys to start the dialogue between the young individuals. Electronic music is a speaker which can deliver the messages about the problems of the youth. What is also needed is the stage and atmosphere where young professionals and semi-professionals in electronic music can perform, express themselves without any limitation, share their experience and build up a network.

AIM:
Our aim is to turn young musicians into citizen-activists and equality ambassadors to empower them to express themselves creatively through art and electronic music.

THE PROJECT ITSELF:
This is a two-phased youth exchange which includes two main activities:

Activity 1 – in Berlin, Germany – Berlin, is where it all started, culture supporting equality and advocating rights of underprivileged young people. In this phase we will focus more about the values and principles of electronic music, it’s history, explore and discuss about the issues of the youth in the represented communities. And start addressing these issues through creating working teams of young musicians who will create tracks which will deliver the youth messages.

Between the activities – at home – the participants will continue working together online;

Activity 2 – in Tbilisi, Georgia – Tbilisi, is a capital of significantly conservative society, which is not welcoming minorities and young people who do not fit in their “normativity boxes”. However, electronic music here is growing bigger and it’s not forgetting its values and principles. Several clubs in Tbilisi are now welcoming young people who have non-normative sexuality and gender identity, youngsters with alternative life-style and social behavior, who outside these spaces are facing hate speech and discrimination on regular basis. We want to stimulate this liberating process, take it as a good practice and show to our participants. Mainly, the participants here will finalize their work and perform it together in front of the mass international audience. Tbilisi is a city which is now transforming into more liberal community and it’s a good opportunity to observe it and contribute to it.

PARTICIPANTS PROFILE:
We will welcome youngsters:
- Who have professional or semi-professional background in Electronic music production;
- Who are representing disadvantaged communities or facing social obstacles and have fewer opportunities.
We are looking for organizations or youth groups who would like to join us developing and implementing the project.