13       finding music have you ever asked yourself where the breeding ground and origin of the global “dj culture” can be found? what kind of atmosphere is required to create this special feeling of urban life expressed through electronic sounds? the answer can probably not be found in one single city, no particular country or select culture group. basically, all the cracking beats, chirping loops and smashing bass lines rather have their origin somewhere between creative industry cells, relaxed club locations and the desire to use positive music grooves to make the world a brighter place. terms like “style, roots & credibility” are a vital part of dj culture and stand for openness and progressivity. there’s no better way to meet and “bond” with like-minded people than in the rhythm of music. there is no more intensive way to feel a common ground than in collective bouncing and partying. in the last couple of years, a series of interesting platforms have been created in this field. one of the most extraordinary institutions is the „red bull music academy“. since 1998, it constitutes an annual meeting place for djs, musicians, producers and select up-and-coming talents from around the world. every year, the “academy” settles down in different city. so far, it has been places like berlin, dublin, cape town, new york, london, sao paulo, rome or, most recently, the „grunge town“ of seattle in the usa, that have provided the atmospheric background for the electronic academy. different “hard and software laboratories” are the breeding ground for jam sessions and boundless discussions, for encounters of different kinds of music genres and for new fusions and tracks. you will find techno, dub and house in perfect harmony with hip hop, reggae and northern soul. in a deliberately relaxed atmosphere, artists discuss and elaborate all aspects of music culture, from music history to technology, from creation to production. in addition, many artists of the academy seize the opportunity to play live gigs in the city clubs. the fact that many of the temporary academy locations have become permanent club locations proves that the local cultural scenes of the event cities are an integral part of the whole project. global sounds, local grounds.