Serato, Tec Leimert and Undefeated Team Up for the Return of the Audio Affect Series to Empower Rising Black & Brown Artists in South Los Angeles
Participants Will Receive Mentorship From Acclaimed Talent Including 5x Grammy-winning Producer Dj Khalil, Pioneering Musician Dām-funk, 2x Grammy-winning Producer Iman Omari and More
The Series of Immersive Workshops Will Provide Emerging Music Creators With Resources to Develop Sustainable Careers
April 17, 2025 (Los Angeles, CA) – Today, iconic audio software company Serato, Community-first technology and entertainment-focused nonprofit TEC Leimert and West Coast streetwear label UNDEFEATED announced the return of the Audio Affect Series, an immersive workshop program designed to empower the next generation of Black and Brown talent in South Central Los Angeles. First launched in 2023, the 2025 iteration will take place from July 25-27 at music school 1500 Sound Academy’s state-of-the-art facility Volume Studios located in Inglewood, CA. Participants will receive mentorship from 5x GRAMMY-winning producer DJ Khalil (Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Kanye West), pioneering funk artist DāM-FunK, 2x GRAMMY-winning producer and artist Iman Omari (Mac Miller, Doja Cat, Kendrick Lamar), GRAMMY-nominated musician Amber Navran of the renowned Neo-Soul trio Moonchild, multi-faceted musician Lyric Jones, viral content creator and music producer Sarah2ill, genre-blending producer Oh Gosh Leotus (Doechii, Tink, Blxst), with additional mentors and guest speakers to be announced.
Applications for the Audio Affect Series are open now through June 6, 2025. 80 spots will be available for LA-based talent. Apply now here.
“The Audio Affect Series is offering innovative tools to help artists and producers learn about new audio software technology and how to sample creatively, which helps us experience the music we know and love in a new and different way,” said DāM-FunK, LA musician & TEC Leimert Board Member. “The Audio Affect Series is a great opportunity for South L.A. talent, one I would have appreciated as a solid sidecar for my own music journey. This is a great initiative to be a part of.”
“It’s no secret Los Angeles is a vibrant hub of creativity, and South LA in particular has a deep history of producing endless iconic Black and Brown artists. Serato is excited to bring back the Audio Affect Series to empower this talented community to take the next step in their careers,” said Sonny James, Serato’s LA-based Artist Relations Manager. “It’s an honor to join forces with TEC Leimert and UNDEFEATED once again – which in addition to being LA-founded, are deeply rooted within the city’s culture. By combining the power of our collective resources and expertise, the Audio Affect Series workshop will offer access to Serato’s innovative music production technology, educational tools, and hands-on mentorship from major local artists.”
Drawing inspiration from 1500 Sound Academy’s innovative curriculum and Serato’s game-changing music production software – including Serato Studio, Serato Sample and Hex FX – the Audio Affect Series workshop will empower rising music creators by equipping them with the skills needed to advance their careers. The workshop will package important music industry topics into educational courses throughout the weekend. Additional programming will comprise beat-making sessions, beat walkthroughs, and artist-hosted keynotes and Q&As offering exclusive insights into their creative processes and career journeys.
The Audio Affect Series’ Workshop Itinerary:
- Day 1: Reimagining the past and inspiring the future through the art of sampling.
- Day 2: Discovering a sense of identity through sound design, the perfect mix and personal branding.
- Day 3: Understanding creative processes, control and the different career paths available for artists, DJs and producers.
At the end of the program, participants will be invited to submit a beat, the best of which will be selected to be featured in a compilation mixtape, ‘Beat Tape Vol. 2’, which will be distributed on streaming platforms, commemorated through a limited-edition vinyl release, advertised through physical ads around South Los Angeles, and amplified on Serato, TEC Leimert and UNDEFEATED’s wide-reaching channels.
About Serato:
Since its inception in 1999, Serato has been at the cutting edge of audio software innovation, enabling DJs, producers and artists to take their creativity and performance to the next level. The brand’s first-ever product, Pitch ’n Time, has become the industry standard for time-stretching audio and forms the backbone of the company’s core product, Serato DJ. One of the most widely used and powerful DJ software tools available today, Serato DJ is constantly updated with new features and is revered by the most iconic DJs of our time. Serato has also established itself as a leading brand in music production with Serato Sample and Serato Studio, which have become go-to tools for Sample-based producers and beat-makers alike. In 2022 and 2023, Serato transformed the industry once again through the introduction of its real-time stem-splitting technology Serato Stems across its product range, to global and industry acclaim. Serato’s advanced suite of music production tools provides creators with endless possibilities for producing, sampling and remixing music that will continue to drive culture forward.
Follow Serato:
Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
About TEC Leimert:
TEC Leimert is a community-first technology and entertainment nonprofit based in South Los Angeles, dedicated to cultivating the next generation of creative technologists, entrepreneurs, and change-makers.
Through immersive events, training programs, and strategic community partnerships, TEC Leimert empowers underrepresented voices at the intersection of technology, entertainment, and culture.
A cornerstone of our mission is workforce development—equipping emerging professionals with the skills, mentorship, and real-world experiences needed to thrive in the digital and creative economies. Our initiatives create dynamic spaces where ideas, innovation, and opportunity converge—driving economic mobility and digital equity in communities of color.
For more information, visit www.tecleimert.org or follow us @tecleimert.
About UNDEFEATED:
UNDEFEATED is known as one of the most recognized sportswear brands and well-curated retail boutiques across the globe. UNDEFEATED designs and develops apparel, accessories and footwear for the modern active lifestyle. Since the brand’s inception in 2002, UNDEFEATED remains as the unofficial voice defining an era of sports and street culture as one of the most influential brands of its generation. From humble beginnings on La Brea with the first sneaker boutique of its kind, to becoming a cornerstone for the community — UNDEFEATED continues to honor the past and inspire/create the future. To learn more please visit undefeated.com or follow on Instagram at @undefeatedinc.
About UNDEFEATED Foundation:
The UNDEFEATED Foundation was officially established in 2020 to formalize 20+ years of the brand’s philanthropic work and create an organization that would have a long lasting impact on our community. The mission of the UNDEFEATED Foundation is to inspire the next generation of leaders through education, sport, nutrition and social justice.
