ON THE PULSE
CUPRA' s Talent Identification Programme returns in 2025, offering a creative opportunity for aspiring electronic music artists and DJs.
ABOUT
CONCEPT
'On The Pulse' is CUPRA's talent identification programme which aims to shine a light on emerging artists across the Republic of Ireland and create new unique experiences for fans.
'On The Pulse' strives to showcase and nurture the pool of up-and-coming music artists in Ireland, providing a platform to increase their fanbase and support to grow and develop their artistic careers.
Aspiring artists have the opportunity to showcase their skills in a 30-minute mix, and 5 finalists will shortlisted to perform at a live final in Dublin City Centre. The winner will receive a slot at the 2025 edition of Beyond the Pale Music & Arts Festival in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, and a €2,500 cash prize to further develop their artistic career.
PRIZE
Performed a DJ Set at Beyond The Pale 2025
€2,500 Cash Prize for Artist Development
For more information on the entry requirements, please see below.
Applications open February 26th.
Criteria to enter
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Entrants must be a resident of the Republic of Ireland.
Entrants must be over 18 years of age.
Entrants must not have previously performed at an Irish music festival.
Entries can be any style of electronic music. Please note judges will take the genre & style of music performed at Beyond The Pale Festival into consideration.
Entry mixes must be 320kbps & mp3 format.
30-minute mix maximum - Entries must be submitted via SoundCloud link (hidden or public).
If shortlisted, finalists are responsible for organising travel to the live final in Dublin City Centre, and to Beyond the Pale festival to perform if successful.
Entrants must submit a full application to enter successfully.
JUDGING
Applications will be assessed by a team of industry professionals, including a representative from Beyond The Pale.
Competition closes April 6th 2025.
We welcome applicants from across the Republic of Ireland, and we particularly encourage applications from minority groups and individuals who are underrepresented throughout the industry.
On The Pulse - 2024 Winner
Cian Bolger
Cian Bolger
Specializing in visual media, photography, and music videos, Cian began DJing for fun during the COVID-19 pandemic and played his first gig in 2021.
Over the past three years, he has performed in various clubs around Dublin, showcasing his talent and passion for music. Additionally, he co-runs a collective called Lips2Ears with two others, dedicated to showcasing Irish musical talent.
Specializing in visual media, photography, and music videos, Cian began DJing for fun during the COVID-19 pandemic and played his first gig in 2021.
Over the past three years, he has performed in various clubs around Dublin, showcasing his talent and passion for music. Additionally, he co-runs a collective called Lips2Ears with two others, dedicated to showcasing Irish musical talent.
Prize
Prize
When applications close on April 6th, 5 finalist will be shortlisted to perform at the live final in Dublin City.
The winner will receive a mainstage slot at Beyond The Pale Music & Arts Festival 2025 and a €2,500 cash prize.
When applications close on April 6th, 5 finalist will be shortlisted to perform at the live final in Dublin City.
The winner will receive a mainstage slot at Beyond The Pale Music & Arts Festival 2025 and a €2,500 cash prize.
View Gallery Here
The JUDGES
Sam Greenwood
Director of Four Four Magazine and The Building Society Agency, Founder of Techno & Cans and DJ
Originally hailing from North Wales, Sam Greenwood has become an integral part of the techno scene in Ireland, since he moved to Dublin 15 years ago. The Welshman's life has been dedicated to carving community-driven techno parties. Since moving to Ireland, his ear for dance music, particularly techno, has seen him feature on club shows and festival lineups nationwide, supporting and promoting events with techno heavyweights such as Dax J, Clouds, Stranger, Perc, and Slam.
Greenwood has been at the forefront of Ireland's grassroots techno scene, often curating showcases at the country's most revered stages including Electric Picnic's Rave in The Woods and has helped to lay the groundwork for modern Dublin techno nights through his work with his fabled Techno & Cans collective in the much-loved nightclub Hangar. Greenwood's work extends beyond the walls of nightclubs. His booking agency The Building Society and publication Four Four Magazine have played important roles in shining a light on emerging Irish talent.
EMA
Founder of Label & Party Series Woozy, Club Manager for Yamamori Tengu, Co-Founder of Skin & Blister Collective and DJ
EMA is a key torchbearer for a new generation of global bassniks, embodying community rave values through a love of low-end frequencies from her home of Dublin. Her work as a DJ, founder of label/party Woozy, booker for Dublin nightclub Yamamori Tengu, Rinse FM resident and co-founder of the Skin & Blister collective is exhaustive, highlighting a relentless work ethic that has inspired a foundational infrastructure for her and those in her orbit to prosper.
As co-founder of Dublin based collective Skin & Blister, a platform curated to nurture and encourage female, trans and non-binary creatives in the realm of music and the arts, EMA has curated events, workshops and founded Ireland’s first creative database. EMA's extensive experience is evident with celebrated mixes for Crack Magazine, Ransom Note and Melbourne Deepcast, notable appearances at Fabric London, Corsica Studios, Printworks, NYC’s Public Records, multiple broadcasts for Boiler Room and The Lot Radio and the co-hosting Keep Hush’s inaugural Irish stream with Woozy.
Keith Comerford
Beyond The Pale Co-Founder & Founder of Secret Society
Keith Comerford is the founder of Secret Society, a global events and social media brand, and co-founder of one of Ireland's leading music and arts festivals, Beyond the Pale.
An established underground promoter, Keith’s Secret Society has focused on the underground. Over the last couple of years, he has also been actively involved in streaming shows alongside artists like Carl Cox and Syreeta. He has recently launched Secret Society FM, a new state of the art platform that showcases some of the biggest names and brands and connects them with the hottest emerging artists.
APPLICATION FORM
Applications open February 26th.