New project amplifying women, non-binary and trans music producers launched by CDR

UK platform Create Define Release (CDR) aims to tackle the gender imbalance in music production with a new project, Process.

The month-long programme – aimed at women, non-binary and trans music producers – will run across February and March 2024, offering workshops, masterclasses and mentoring from leading practitioners.

“It’s clear to everyone in the industry that the music production space is still far too male-dominated and we’ve been thinking for some time about how we can best use our position to tackle that,” said CDR founder and director, Tony Nwachukwu, via the organisation’s website. 

Following a series of “roundtable discussions” with female practitioners in the CDR community, the programme emerges as “a proactive, targeted attempt to push towards an equitable, diverse industry where everyone can develop to their full potential.”

Process mentors include singer-songwriter Mel Uye Parker, DJ and culture creator Ruby Savage, and producer, vocalist and Ableton-certified trainer, Pops Roberts, who will each coordinate a different stream of the programme. 

Participants will be able to select their preferred focus area depending on their experience level and goals. The ‘Create’ strand will focus on enhancing production skills; ‘Define’ is aimed at more experienced producers looking to start performing their music; while ‘Release’ will offer targeted support in developing participants’ artistic identity and release plans.

The course is initially aimed at London-based creatives with the aim to grow the project to support producers around the country in the years to come.

For more information about the project, visit www.createdefinerelease.com. Applications must be submitted via the application form before 10PM on 17th December.

Earlier this year, CDR released a compilation to celebrate its 20th anniversary, featuring tracks from Om Unit, Mr. Beatnick, Coco Em, Hector Plimmer, Shunaji, Divalicious K, Daisuke Tanabe Vida Voyage, Reginald Omas Mamode IV and more.