By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – In an industry where the roar of the crowd often masks a persistent silence in the production booth, Change The Beat is taking a definitive stand to alter the demographic landscape of electronic dance music. The organization, a powerhouse dedicated to fostering inclusivity and equity, has officially pulled back the curtain on its latest initiative: a high-stakes remix competition specifically designed for women and gender-expansive artists. By leveraging the star power of hard techno titan Sara Landry and the technological might of Native Instruments, Change The Beat is not merely offering a prize, but a direct pipeline into the professional sphere of electronic music production.
The competition centers on a track that has already made waves in the underground and mainstream circuits alike: "Angel Dust," a collaboration between the "High Priestess of Hard Techno" Sara Landry and the rising force Alex Farell. Known for its relentless energy and visceral sonic textures, the track serves as a formidable canvas for aspiring producers to showcase their technical prowess and creative vision. Participants are invited to deconstruct and reimagine this industrial-leaning anthem, with the ultimate goal of securing a spot on Landry’s prestigious HEKATE Records.
The infrastructure of the competition is built upon a partnership with LabelRadar, a platform that has become an industry standard for demo submissions and talent scouting. By utilizing this streamlined portal, Change The Beat ensures that every submission is handled with professional rigor, allowing the focus to remain squarely on the quality of the music. This collaboration highlights a broader shift in the industry toward digitized, accessible A&R processes that bypass traditional gatekeeping.
For the winner, the rewards are both immediate and career-altering. Beyond the prestige of an official release on HEKATE Records—a label that has quickly become a cornerstone of the modern hard techno movement—the first-place victor will receive the Komplete 15 Collector’s Edition from Native Instruments. This software suite is widely regarded as the "holy grail" of production tools, containing a staggering array of synthesizers, sampled instruments, and studio-grade effects that can elevate a bedroom setup into a world-class production environment. The significance of this prize cannot be overstated; for many underrepresented artists, the high cost of professional-grade software remains a significant barrier to entry. By providing these tools, Change The Beat is directly addressing the resource gap that often prevents talented producers from reaching their full potential.
The commitment to hardware and software accessibility extends to the runners-up as well. The second-place finisher will be awarded Komplete 15 Ultimate, while the third-place participant will receive Komplete 15 Standard. In a move designed to encourage participation from artists at all levels of experience, Native Instruments is also offering access to Komplete Start. This free collection of instruments and effects serves as an entry point for those who may be just beginning their journey in sound design, ensuring that the competition serves as an educational milestone as much as a contest.
Sydney Blu, the visionary DJ and producer who co-founded Change The Beat alongside Native Instruments, expressed a profound sense of purpose regarding the collaboration. Blu, who has spent decades navigating the complexities of the music industry as a woman, sees this competition as a vital step in a much larger journey. In her official statement, she emphasized the importance of visibility and the power of established artists reaching back to help those coming up behind them.
Blu pointed specifically to Sara Landry’s recent performances as a source of inspiration. Landry’s set at Coachella, where she shared the stage with artists from her "Blood Oath" collective, served as a masterclass in platform-sharing. By creating a visible space for other women and gender-expansive artists on one of the world’s most influential stages, Landry demonstrated a commitment to community that mirrors the core values of Change The Beat. This "spirit of opening doors," as Blu described it, is the driving force behind the "Angel Dust" remix contest. The goal is to discover and spotlight three emerging producers who can carry this torch forward.
The eligibility requirements for the competition are intentionally inclusive, welcoming any artist who identifies as female or gender-expansive, regardless of their geographic location. This global reach reflects the borderless nature of electronic music and the universal need for greater diversity in the studio. However, time is of the essence for hopeful participants. The deadline for submissions is set for Monday, October 5, 2026, at 23:59 PST. This generous window allows producers to dive deep into the stems of "Angel Dust," experimenting with different genres, tempos, and moods to create something truly original.
While the remix competition is a significant highlight, it is only one facet of Change The Beat’s ambitious roadmap. The organization has also announced a comprehensive international tour that will span the United States, Canada, and Europe. This is not a standard concert tour; instead, it is a hybrid of live performance and professional development. Each stop on the tour is designed to be a holistic experience, combining high-octane music events with workshops, industry panels, and one-on-one artist development opportunities.
The tour itinerary includes some of the most hallowed grounds in electronic music. Confirmed dates feature appearances at fabric in London, a venue synonymous with cutting-edge curation and sound system excellence. The tour will also make a significant impact at the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), the world’s largest and most influential electronic music conference. In North America, the tour will stop at Marquee New York, bringing its mission of equity to the heart of the East Coast’s clubbing scene. By embedding these workshops and panels within major industry hubs, Change The Beat is ensuring that their message and their artists are positioned exactly where the most influential conversations are happening.
These efforts are all part of a grander strategy unveiled earlier this year. In July, Change The Beat made a bold pledge to create 300 label opportunities for women and gender-expansive artists by the year 2028. This "300 by 2028" initiative is a direct response to the staggering statistics regarding gender representation on record labels and festival lineups. By setting a quantifiable goal, the organization is holding itself and the wider industry accountable. The "Angel Dust" remix competition serves as a primary vehicle for fulfilling this pledge, providing three of those 300 opportunities in a single stroke.
The broader context of this initiative is the ongoing struggle for gender equity in music technology. For years, the role of "producer" has been disproportionately occupied by men, often due to a lack of mentorship, socialized barriers in technical education, and a "boys’ club" atmosphere in many studio environments. Change The Beat, through its partnership with Native Instruments, is working to dismantle these structures from the ground up. By providing the software, the platform, and the professional mentorship, they are creating an ecosystem where talent is the only prerequisite for success.
As the electronic music community looks toward the future, the "Angel Dust" remix competition stands as a beacon of what is possible when industry leaders align their resources with their values. It is a call to arms for every woman and gender-expansive producer who has ever felt overlooked or undervalued. With the backing of Sydney Blu, the mentorship of Sara Landry, and the tools provided by Native Instruments, the next generation of electronic music innovators is finally being given the keys to the kingdom.
The impact of this initiative will likely be felt long after the final remix is submitted. By populating the catalogs of labels like HEKATE with a more diverse array of voices, Change The Beat is fundamentally altering the DNA of the genre. As these winners move on to headline their own shows, start their own labels, and mentor the artists who follow them, the ripple effect of this competition will continue to expand, eventually creating an industry that truly reflects the diversity of the global dance floor. For now, the focus remains on the music, as producers around the world download the stems for "Angel Dust" and begin the work of shaping the future of techno.
