Top 10 She Can DJ’s raised the roof of premiere Sydney venue ivy last night, as they battled 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 that 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 alike to enjoy an evening of fashion, bubbles, Russian Standard Vodka cocktails, and dynamic second-to-none 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’s launched into action. The night continued to deliver pulsating dance-floor fillers, as each finalist took the stage to pump out a headline twenty minute set in front of a packed house including She Can DJ judges Mark Poston (EMI Chairman & 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 / She Can DJ). Debuting her brand new single ‘Night To Remember’, MINX was joined on-stage 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 for the next twelve months to over 600,000 listeners nationally. Leah will embark on a European networking trip, where she will rub shoulders with some of the most influential names in the dance music world. She will also join the line-up of Australia’s leading dance music festival, Stereosonic, this November alongside the likes of Tiesto 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 absolute world-class, showcasing the immense talent pool that exists in the local dance music scene and following on from the huge success of last year’s competition. 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! Leah Mencel bio: Location: Adelaide Music style: Dubstep/Party/ HipHop You may remember She Can DJ Top 10 2012 finalist Leah Mencel as a fierce contender from last year’s competition. As the only 2011 finalist to gain a spot in 2012, Leah knows what’s at stake this time around – and this year, she has her eye on the prize. With a freshly acquired fire in her eyes, she knows what she’s here for this year. “I think we all entered to win it,” says Mencel. “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, but since last year’s competition the dubstep queen has been riding the wave of She Can DJ notoriety and has caught the attention of promoters and audiences around the country. It’s fair to say she’s killing the festival circuit, booked for every major festival event in the last year. Although scoring herself massive sets at Parklife (2011), Stereosonic  (2011) and Summadayze  (2011), the festival circuit still hadn’t seen enough of Mencel, booking her for sets at Big Day Out  (2012) and Future Music Festival  (2012), as well as Planet Cream (Creamfields, 2012). She was also recently added to the Adelaide stop of Parklife in October. So what’s changed for Leah in the last year, besides the spike in well deserved attention? Well, her sound has matured – and whilst staying true to her mashup/party/hiphop style, Leah has also been strongly influenced by the likes of dubstep big-shots Skrillex, Flux Pavillion, Nero and Bassnectar. You may have noticed that a “Mencel set” these days has noticeable hint of dubstep, and having found herself a niche within the genre, Leah has been hard at work in the studio working with vocalists and creating both remixes and original tracks under the dubstep banner. “DJ-ing, 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 right now is making my own music. It’s constantly on my mind – so much so that in the last week I’ve had about 5 hours sleep!” As a groundbreaking DJ and upcoming producing talent, Leah Mencel is a clear poster child for how She Can DJ can help reputable DJs be discovered and nurtured – with the benefit of post-competition exposure for the rest of the Top 10 outside of EMI’s signings. But what is the one thing Leah wants the judges to know this time around? “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!”]]>