We have a winner!
The champion of Budweiser's UK-wide DJ talent search has been announced.
After months of speculation, poring over demo tapes, and a final DJ battle, 27-year-old Grantham man Keiran Goodacre has scooped the winning prize in Bud's Rising Talent search.
A collaboration between the beer brewers and DJmag, our competition challenged budding selectors to send in mixes, in order to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play New Year's Eve at Manchester's unparalleled Warehouse Project, joining the illustrious likes of Cassette Jam, Mylo and Japanese Popstars.
On 16th December, Keiran battled four other amateur DJs, but came out on top with a storming half-hour set of house and electro. We talked the winner to find out a little more...
How does it feel to have won the Budweiser Rising Talent competition?
"I'm trying not to think about really, I can't wait to play at the Warehouse Project, but it's quite nerve-wracking as well, really!"
What did you bring to the final which you think won over the judges in the end?
"I think that it was the programming and track selection really, it went really well. Pretty different from everyone else, I think that's what did it really."
What kind of style did you play? Any particular tracks that got people hyped?
"'Booka Shade's 'Body Language', that got a good reaction. I tried to keep it lively. Steering clear of the big hitters, but one or two cheeky ones in there."
How long have you been DJing for?
"Three years. My brother had been doing it for 10 years, and I moved in with my brother and thought, 'I'll try my hand at this,' and I got into it. One thing about DJing is when you get into it it becomes very addictive and you want to do it all the time."
You're going to be playing at the Warehouse Project - what can we expect from your set there?
"I want to go in with an idea of roughly what I want to play, but if you get nervous and get the fear, you start hearing the music, and someone else plays what you're planning to play."
What's are your ambitions after playing at Warehouse Project?
"I want to enjoy the Warehouse Project, do well, and afterwards see if I can get any gigs and move on from there."