Beatlab, the digital community platform connecting DJs, producers and music creators across Africa is building the largest multifaceted community platform, and now, through partnering with Soul Candi Institute of Music (SCIM), gives members greater access to professional music education.

As part of the partnership, Beatlab members can now enrol in six SCIM courses at discounted member rates, with three courses available online through Beatlab’s community platform and three delivered in person at SCIM’s Johannesburg studios.

The online offering, available through Beatlab’s online store and hosted through Beatlab’s community platform includes:

• Digital Music Production with Ableton
• Music Business Management
• Music Theory Fundamentals for Electronic Musicians

The in-person offering, also available through Beatlab’s online store but hosted hosted at SCIM studios includes:

• Higher Certificate in Music Technology
• Music Production Fundamentals
• DJ & Live Performance

All six courses are written and taught by Ryan Murgatroyd, a South African producer and SCIM’s lead instructor. The programmes combine practical music education with industry knowledge, drawing on Soul Candi’s more than 25 year history within South Africa’s house music culture and its track record in developing some of the country’s most renowned DJs, producers and music professionals.

For Beatlab, the partnership represents an important expansion of its mission to create meaningful pathways for African music creators to learn, connect, collaborate and access opportunities within the industry.

“I believe Soul Candi, being the original in the development of the South African house music scene, are the perfect partners,” said Cito, Beatlab founding director, musician and producer. 

“They share Beatlab’s vision of creating and nurturing Africa’s biggest online music community. With our combined resources, we can scale opportunities for people who want to learn, grow and connect.”

The partnership builds on Beatlab’s vision of creating more than simply a platform for artists to showcase their work. By combining community, education and industry access, Beatlab aims to give emerging and established music creators the tools and connections they need to develop their careers.

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MEDIA LAUNCH

The partnership will be officially celebrated at a media launch in September 2026 at Artistry in Sandton.

The event will bring together DJs, producers, artists, media and key industry figures from both the Beatlab and Soul Candi communities, providing an opportunity to experience the partnership and hear more about its ambitions for the future of music education and creator development in Africa.

Further details about the launch will be announced closer to the date.

The partnership marks the first phase of a broader collaboration between Beatlab and Soul Candi, with additional member benefits to be announced in the coming weeks.