Are labels ignoring so called “talents?” – Discussing Mandy (and respect).

Yesterday one of the biggest hardstyle platforms on the planet, “Dirty Workz” announced their brand-new artist Mandy and oh how it was the day that officially blew up the internet… As I looked at the standard promotional post which contained a young blonde chick, I already knew that some standard sexism “Omg she sucks dick for fame” and “Omg ghostproduced alert” posts were brewing. As I am one of the people that enjoy reading opinions yet still having the personal strength to make up my own mind, I couldn’t resist to scroll down and check what people had to say about this brand-new signing.

Well, to put it shortly, let’s just say I was flabbergasted. It was insanely shocking to see how one girl who had one of the most exciting days in her life getting completely burned to the ground by random internet warriors who jump along the hate bandwagon. People who had probably even liked her page, went off at her calling her names, untalented, worthless and practically a slut. Next to that the self-claimed “hard-working talents” said that they are getting so sick and demotivated by the fact that they spend so much time behind a computer and never got signed anywhere and said it was so disrespectful of Dirty Workz to even consider signing her instead of “DJ Basscontrollerz”(or something).

This whole shit-storm didn’t make any fucking sense to me. I was enraged.

So, before you start bashing at your keyboards and doing your part in hating on Mandy, let’s just get a few things straight.

First of all, Dirty Workz signed a handful of fresh new talents last year such as Cyber, Sylence, Noisecult, Sephyx, Sub Zero Project, Refuzion and the list goes on… It’s impossible to say that Dirty Workz never looks out for fresh new talents because In fact, the label is one of the most open labels to new signings and the last year has proven that. In a male dominated genre, I don’t see any problems with having a girl in the team. If she has passion for music and can get people moving on the dancefloor, then it shouldn’t be a problem at all. In the end, that’s what hardstyle is about, getting people moving on the dancefloor and sharing the passion.

Secondly, you can’t even say she is being ghost-produced at this point and even if she is being ghost-produced, what makes her any different than all the other male artists that are being ghost-produced, receiving help from a (ghost) producer or announced as a ‘project’? Just because she is female, that doesn’t give people a direct right to immediately throw insults at her. Would you do the same to Warface, The Pitcher, Alpha Twins and The Anarchist (and more)? No. So shut up and stop being so sexist, women are allowed to love music and be a DJ too. We’re not 1725 where women are submissive, we are in 2015 – women are allowed to pursue whatever career that they want.

Next to that, I also don’t see how this affects any of the careers of the (self-claimed) talents that commented. Every label is still willing to release amazing music, whether it’s being ghost-produced, made on an Atari or played live on a fucking flute. So if these self-claimed talents were so focused on making amazing music then they would’ve never been ranting over a fresh signing of Dirty Workz, they probably would be too busy working their asses off making music and actually sending demos in and oh, actually getting signed.

This disrespect can only affect one career and that’s their own. In the end, Mandy is still signed to a great label, and these so called ‘bedroom talents’ are still sitting around only getting angry because they haven’t taken the active steps to make something of their own music career. There’s no limit for the number of artists on a label and if you have talent and potential, then a label will not hesitate to sign you – so stop sitting on your ass and whinging on Facebook and get out there and make things happen!

It disgusts me that people can be so extremely disrespectful in a scene that is based on celebrating life, having fun and going wild to great music. If you don’t like an artist and don’t support them, then be a neutral player and don’t be disrespectful. Imagine being in their shoes. If you love an artist then share the music so it’ll be heard. The only way to change the music scene is by loving and sharing music you care about and not paying attention to the stuff that you don’t like. If you don’t like Mandy, then don’t attend her gigs and don’t follow her on social media. It’s as easy as that.

Being a dickhead and getting 100 likes on your hateful comment doesn’t get you anywhere in life, love for good music and a good attitude does.

And yes, there is room for sharing your mind – various artists and labels that I have spoken to are open for proper feedback and some even said that they were even happy to receive critique. So if you want to make a change regarding artists, labels or their opinions, then do it in a respectful way…. You don’t shove your opinions down your loved ones throat either, do you?

We would like to wish Mandy the very best in her career and congratulate her on signing to Dirty Workz. Once this disgusting bout of hate dies down, people will find something else to obsess and rant about… So kids, keep your hate off the keyboard and your feet on the dancefloor!