Managing Long-Term Relationships

Artist / Entrepreneur

Open Mike Eagle spent the 2010s finding comedy in rap music and American nightmares. On albums like Brick Body Kids Still Daydream and Dark Comedy, he delivered hilarious socio-political insights via half-sung verses laid atop progressive production. Acclaim from publications like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NPR coincided with headlining solo tours and top-billing at events like Adult Swim Festival. Between studio sessions, Eagle co-founded The New Negroes, a standup-meets-music variety show that explores perceptions of blackness. He and co-founder Baron Vaughn brought the show to Upright Citizens Brigade, Comedy Central, and venues around the U.S. Since founding his record label Auto Reverse Records, though, Eagle has scaled back the jokes. He’s finally unpacking his traumas and acknowledging their impact.

UC San Diego Teaching Professor

As Teaching Professor in Computer Music at the University of California San Diego, King carries a unique perspective, bringing a non-linear approach and knowledge to the department by focusing on various modern forms of electronic music pedagogy, while continuing to be an active force in the music industry. Blacktronika : Afrofuturism In Electronic Music, is a new lecture course at UCSD, created by King, researching and honoring the people of color, who have pioneered groundbreaking genres within the electronic music landscape. Genres span from Chicago House, Detroit Techno and Drum & Bass music. Using his position in the industry, the class has been attended by many, including Questlove, Herbie Hancock, and Flying Lotus. King remains one of the go-to authorities on Afrofuturism in music.

Founder Juke Bounce Werk

DJ Noir is a co- founder, DJ/producer and co-curator of the international artist collective Juke Bounce Werk. Today, with over 20 years of involvement in nearly every aspect of underground music culture, Noir’s sound palate continues to evolve. Her sound defines past, present and future incarnations of wide and subversive soundscapes. Her DJ sets are journeys through experimental eras that include but are not limited to: breaks, broken beat, electro, house, garage, dubstep, juke, footwork, jungle and techno. DJ Noir’s creative passions are not limited to sound. She is a published writer and photographer whose work has appeared in DJ MAG, Mixmag, XLR8R, The Fader and the Los Angeles Times

Executive Director dublab

Alejandro Cohen is a musician and composer from Los Angeles, California, and the executive director of dublab. Over the last two decades, Cohen has released music under numerous projects and groups including Languis and Pharaohs. He’s composed music for TV shows, documentaries and educational materials, and recorded more than two hundred solo artists and bands as a sound engineer and consultant for dublab, KPFK 90.7 FM, Sony/Columbia and the Society for the Activation of Social Space Through Art and Sound (SASSAS). As dublab’s Executive Director, Cohen curates the station’s programming and podcast offerings, fundraises for the organization and curates the annual ambient music event Tonalism.

Producer Manager MNRK

Stephanie has worked in Artist Management for over 14 years, working with a wide range of talent from reggae band Rebelution, to dance and pop artist and producer, SG Lewis, to rock producer icon Jacknife Lee. Stephanie has lived in Los Angeles, Austin, New York City, and most recently is returning after spending seven years in London. She now manages 2x Grammy winner Delilah Montagu and runs the MNRK Songwriter and Producer management division.