Behind the Decks

Establishing a successful and sustainable career as a DJ takes more than just music knowledge and talent. It also demands all the vital administrative tools, from knowing how to brand yourself, to building strong relations with bookers, event organizers and venue owners, to finding ways to stand out and articulate your own specific style.

Enter: Behind the Decks, our 5-week workshop series where emerging DJs will learn the basics of how to build a career that will help them achieve their artistic and professional goals, whatever they may be. We’ve partnered with Estrelar Sound, a Black-owned studio in Parkdale, to offer you not just mentorship, but also a place to practice and refine your skills. This workshop will take you through lessons on brand identity (building a portfolio/EPK and branding strategy), industry relations (how to build connections), and events management (logistics, from marketing and content capturing to venues, music format and target audiences). Each week, you’ll also receive one hour of practice time at Estrelar, and one hour of guidance from one of our mentors, CHINELO, Paul Chin, or Sudaneeya.

Behind the Decks will culminate with a final performance, where you’ll get a chance to show off your skills.

Program Dates:

• Thursday, May 8, 2025
• Thursday, May 15, 2025
• Thursday, May 22, 2025 – Studio Activity
• Thursday, May 29, 2025 
• Thursday, June 5, 2025
• Final Showcase: Friday, June 13, 2025

Applications are due Sunday, April 27th at 11:59pm.

Meet your Facilitator

999ADJ is a multidisciplinary artist and sound designer whose work explores the intersections of traditional Ghanaian practices, the natural world, and contemporary Black music cultures. With over four years of experience creating immersive art through painting, sound design, and computer art, 999ADJ channels ancestral narratives into modern sensory experiences. Their practice delves deep into the sonic landscapes of jungle, dub, dancehall, techno, juke, and footwork, crafting soundscapes that resonate with the history and future of Black music. They have supported DJ’s on tour such as Zack Fox, Nia Archives, Guy called Gerald, DJ Swisha, Tim Reaper and many more. In 2024, 999ADJ made a curatorial debut at It’s OK Studios, showcasing the work of 15 artists and bringing the community together through a celebration of diverse creative voices. Their installations have also been featured at Soho House Toronto and in a virtual exhibition in Spain, reflecting their growing influence in both local and international art scenes.

Meet Your Mentors

CHINELO is a genre-bending DJ who blends everyday club music with deeper finds. They offer guidance in club standards, everything from equipment to prepping for a set, highlighting DJ ethics and other key ways to become a successful DJ. Genres – Open to all.

Paul Chin is a veteran DJ with three decades of musical training. He has performed everywhere from the local club circuit, to festivals, to sound clashes, to international tours. He also has specific expertise with Serato and turntables. Genres – Open-format, Hip-Hop, Electronic, Funk, Soul, R&B

Sudaneeya is a creative, curator & the co-founder of ‘CTRL the WAV’ and ‘Where People Stay At’, initiatives that spotlight women and racialized DJs in Toronto. Genres – Afrobeats, Afro House, Gqom, R&B, Amapiano, Alté, Edits