Cuarenteca by Colectivo Satelital (2020-2023) was an IRL/URL party series and educational platform supporting emerging DJs/performers who are susceptible to experiencing misogyny within the music industry.
Cuarenteca was born online in 2020 out of the need to connect with other folks during the first wave of COVID-19. A one-time donation from Red Bull Canada helped us in this commitment, making sure DJs, performers and designers were getting paid for their work during our first online season from April-September 2020. In the summer and fall of 2021 we hosted our first IRL parties in Toronto, in collaboration with Sucio TO, and we also ran the first edition of our Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator (funded by Art Reach and the Toronto Arts Council), through which we mentored 4 Toronto-based queer and POC youth in DJing, making mixes, and organizing parties. In 2022, we hosted our second edition of the Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator, also funded by Art Reach and the Toronto Arts Council).
Zoom screenshot, 2020.
Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator 2022
In August 2022 we put out a call for aspiring DJs identifying as QTBIPOC, women, trans, non-binary and/or gender-non-conforming to be part of our first Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator. We received over 40 applications, and chose a cohort of 4 Toronto-based QTBIPOC youth: Sav, Ana, Jess and Ty.
Over the course of three months, Cuarenteca’s resident DJs Ana Luisa and Lil Arepa (Camila) facilitated 6 DJ workshops and 2 practice sessions, covering basics, theory, hardware, software, techniques and best practices, as well as the planning and recording of mixes. Colectivo Satelital members Sebastian, Cecilia and Alejandro facilitated artrepeneurial workshops including Intro to Music Production, DIY Graphic Design and Artist Finances.
The mentees had the opportunity to record their own mixes, with mentorship from Ana and Camila, which aired on ISO Radio. Later that month, they organized and hosted their first event, in which they all performed.
Over the course of three months, Cuarenteca’s resident DJs Ana Luisa and Lil Arepa (Camila) facilitated 6 DJ workshops and 2 practice sessions, covering basics, theory, hardware, software, techniques and best practices, as well as the planning and recording of mixes. Colectivo Satelital members Sebastian, Cecilia and Alejandro facilitated artrepeneurial workshops including Intro to Music Production, DIY Graphic Design and Artist Finances.
The mentees had the opportunity to record their own mixes, with mentorship from Ana and Camila, which aired on ISO Radio. Later that month, they organized and hosted their first event, in which they all performed.
Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator 2021
In August 2021 we put out a call for aspiring DJs identifying as women, trans, non-binary and/or gender-non-conforming to be part of our first Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator. We received over 40 applications, and chose a cohort of 4 Toronto-based QTBIPOC youth: Malavika Anupraj, Xavi Meza-Wong, Bethany Wong and Aisha Ghali.
Over the course of September and October, Cuarenteca’s resident DJs Ana Luisa and Lil Arepa (Camila) facilitated 5 DJ workshops and 2 practice sessions, covering basics, theory, hardware, software, techniques and best practices, as well as the planning and recording of mixes.
In November, the mentees had the opportunity to record their own mixes, with mentorship from Ana and Camila, which aired on ISO Radio and were uploaded to Cuarenteca’s Mixcloud, gathering close to 3,000 plays in total:
Over the course of September and October, Cuarenteca’s resident DJs Ana Luisa and Lil Arepa (Camila) facilitated 5 DJ workshops and 2 practice sessions, covering basics, theory, hardware, software, techniques and best practices, as well as the planning and recording of mixes.
In November, the mentees had the opportunity to record their own mixes, with mentorship from Ana and Camila, which aired on ISO Radio and were uploaded to Cuarenteca’s Mixcloud, gathering close to 3,000 plays in total:
In December, the mentees organized, secured a venue for, promoted, sold out and performed at the closing event, which was held at BSMT 254 and streamed on Cuarenteca’s Mixcloud.
Video edited by Justin Luke