In one of the more transformative events of 2025, the Your Shot DJ Academy & Competition opens up the world of DJ instruction and live set performance to a group who typically would not have access. For the homeless, deaf and disabled, Your Shot democratizes DJ culture “by empowering young people to step behind the decks regardless of their background, income, or experience,” even if they’re beginners with no experience behind the decks. By fostering “social inclusion, accessibility, and community impact,” Your Shot affords a depths of community and support that otherwise simply would not exist.
“Your Shot is about giving people a platform to challenge themselves, learn the basics, build a community outside their bedrooms, and take their passion for DJing and dance music to the next level. That’s what young Americans are asking for today, just like young Australians, and it’s so exciting to finally be able to answer the call.” – Steve Pillemer, Founder and CEO of Your Shot
The movement initially started in Australia and New Zealand and has now found its way to the States, with New York and Los Angeles being the initial focus. The LA finale drew more than 4,000 attendees across two days, the largest crowd the Catch One venue has ever hosted. The LA winner, Ashley Wilkins, is known onstage as Jelly Bean, a 29-year old Santa Clarita resident who works as a consultant for wellness clinics and medspas by day and channels her love of dubstep and bass music into DJing. Past winners of the competition have found their way to stages of major international festivals, such as CRSSD (USA), Hideout (Croatia), BPM (Costa Rica), Snowbombing (Austria), Snow Machine (Japan), and Awake (Indonesia). Globally recognized artists such as Tigerlily, Sippy and Go Freek are just a few examples of artists who have catapulted to stardom through the program.
“The 2025 contestants (over 500 between NY & LA) included multiple Deaf participants learning to DJ through vibration and rhythm, to a contestant experiencing homelessness finding stability through music, and a one-armed participant mastering adaptive DJ techniques. Others include a recovering alcoholic channeling transformation into performance, a mother-daughter duo sharing the decks as family, and ex-military participants using the program to reconnect and heal, and single parents supporting their families while chasing a dream.”
Advisors for the US competition included producer, instrumentalist, DJ, and FEMME HOUSE co-founder LP Giobbi; Harvey Cohen, President at Live Nation’s Vibee; and The Circuit Group, management company for the likes of deadmau5, Anabel Englund, Chris Lake, FISHER, and others.
Thanks to @brewcasa for the images.
