The UK's premier dance label Defected Records recently partnered with the South African non-profit Bridges for Music to sponsor five students every six months at Bridges Academy in Langa, Cape Town. The non-profit was founded with the mission to use the power of music to uplift communities through new age creative education.
The Bridges Academy launched last year with the help of Skrillex and his OWSLA label in order to empower future creative leaders from underserved backgrounds through music and art.
“As Defected today has unprecedented engagement with millions of fans worldwide, the label team feels a greater responsibility to raise awareness and act on issues that need attention,” a statement reads. “While the music industry and electronic music especially is going global and expanding into developing countries, there is an opportunity to lead meaningful change through the power of music.”
Alongside the new partnership comes a new imprint.
Defected has also partnered with UK-based Tanzanian DJ Sef Kombo to launch Sondela Records. The new afro-house label is the brainchild of Defected founder Simon Dunmore’s son, Louie Dunmore, and Sef Kombo. All of the label’s proceeds will be channelled to Bridges for Music.