Australia and New Zealand’s Top 10 She Can DJ finalists raised the roof of premiere Sydney venue Ivy last night, battling it out for the chance to walk away with a global EMI Music recording contract. Following a fierce set that can only be described as dance-floor crazy, Leah Mencel was named the 2012 winner.
“I’m ecstatic!” gushed Leah. “This is the second year I’ve taken part in She Can DJ, and I worked extremely hard to get here and wanted to win this amazing prize. It just goes to show — hard work really does pay off. I can’t wait to see what the next twelve months will bring!”
Sydney’s elite joined media personalities, music industry executives and dance music lovers for an evening of fashion, bubbles, Russian Standard Vodka cocktails and dynamic DJ action, hosted by Grant Smillie and 2011 winner MINX.
Alison Wonderland — touted the “best party DJ in the world” by Annie Mac — kicked off the night with a scorching set before the She Can DJ finalists launched into action. Each finalist took the stage to pump out a headline twenty-minute set in front of a packed house, judged by Mark Poston (EMI Chairman and Senior Vice President Marketing, Australasia), Simon Coyle (Director, Totem OneLove/Stereosonic Festival), Scott Horscroft (EMI VP, A&R Labels) and Bev Malcolm (EMI A&R Dance Manager and She Can DJ).
MINX also debuted her brand new single ‘Night To Remember’ on stage, joined by vocalist Reigan Derry — reminding the audience exactly why she walked away with the ultimate prize last year.
Along with securing a global EMI Music recording contract, Leah Mencel becomes the latest addition to Southern Cross Austereo’s Party People, playing a weekly set to over 600,000 listeners nationally for the next twelve months. She will also embark on a European networking trip, rubbing shoulders with some of the most influential names in the dance music world, before joining the line-up of Australia’s leading dance music festival Stereosonic in November — alongside the likes of Tiësto and Calvin Harris.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Leah Mencel to EMI Music’s global roster,” said Mark Poston, EMI Chairman, Australasia. “The calibre of this year’s finalists has been absolutely world-class, showcasing the immense talent pool that exists in the local dance music scene. Last year’s winner MINX has graced stages across the world, and I’m confident that Leah will do the same as electronic music continues to strengthen globally.”
Following the success of last year’s competition, She Can DJ has rolled out globally in 2012 — with last night’s Australia and New Zealand final the first of several to take place in select territories around the world in the coming months.
Leah Mencel — She Can DJ
Location: Adelaide
Music style: Dubstep / Party / Hip-Hop
You may remember Leah Mencel as a fierce contender from last year’s She Can DJ competition — and as the only 2011 finalist to earn a spot in 2012, she knew exactly what was at stake. “I think we all entered to win it,” she says. “The prize is phenomenal. There’s so much talent in this competition, it’s overwhelming. Last year I was the youngest and found myself in a Top 10 with all these girls I really looked up to. It was a little intimidating!”
Leah has been working relentlessly as a professional in the industry for two and a half years, and since last year’s competition the dubstep queen has been riding the wave of She Can DJ notoriety, catching the attention of promoters and audiences right around the country. It’s fair to say she’s been killing the festival circuit — booked for every major event in the last year, including Parklife (2011), Stereosonic (2011), Summadayze (2011), Big Day Out (2012), Future Music Festival (2012) and Planet Cream at Creamfields (2012), with an Adelaide Parklife slot also added in October.
Her sound has matured too. Staying true to her mashup/party/hip-hop roots, Leah has also been strongly influenced by dubstep heavyweights Skrillex, Flux Pavilion, Nero and Bassnectar — and a Mencel set these days carries a noticeable dubstep edge. She has been hard at work in the studio collaborating with vocalists and creating both remixes and original tracks under the dubstep banner.
“DJing, you’re playing other people’s music — which is one part of it. But I’m at a stage where all I can think about is making my own music. It’s constantly on my mind — so much so that in the last week I’ve had about five hours sleep!”
As a groundbreaking DJ and emerging production talent, Leah Mencel is a clear example of how She Can DJ can help reputable DJs get discovered and nurtured. And as for what she wanted the judges to know?
“If I win this thing, there’s no looking back. If I don’t, it won’t be the last you hear of me. The world has kings of dubstep — it needs a queen!”
