The Museum of Pop Culture’s mission is to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities.
Be The Next Northwest Sound: Applications Now Open For Sound Off! 2021
Do you know a musician who's bound to be the next big thing? Encourage them to apply to MoPOP's Sound Off! program, the premier 21-and-under music showcase and competition in the Pacific Northwest.
Now in its 20th year, Sound Off! participants get the opportunity to showcase their original music, connect with peer musicians, and receive mentorship from an artistic community invested in welcoming them as full-fledged members of one of the nation’s most vibrant music scenes.
"We want this program to not just be like 'let’s find Seattle’s next most popular band,'" says MoPOP Manager of Public Engagement Robert Rutherford. "We want this to be a reflection of the creative things that are happening among these young people, and to that end I think that we recognize that we have a lot of work to do to make sure that we’re making space for and providing entry points for young people who aren’t just those kids with resources. We’re focused on leveling the playing field and trying to make it as simple for young people who are making their own music to be a part of this."
Open to young musicians creating original work in any genre, 12 artists from the Pacific Northwest will be selected to have their music heard by a worldwide audience. Sound Off! alumni have gone on to perform at top Northwest music festivals, including Timber! Music Festival and Northwest Folklife, collaborated with local producers, received airplay and studio sessions on KEXP, and performed at other MoPOP events.
"As a young artist coming up in Seattle, Sound Off! provided the opportunity to not only organize and ready myself for the big stage but also gave me the experience of what it's like to be competitive in my craft while still learning from and collaborating with my peers at the same time," says Seattle-area hip hop artist Sol, a 2009 Sound Off! finalist. "The timing and impact that Sound Off! had on me at the time was so significant and formative for me that it's hard to even imagine my career trajectory without it."
Head to MoPOP.org/SoundOff to learn more and apply today!
Get To Know The Sound Off! 2020 Class
- The Human Missile Crisis
- Kaia
- Ry Lucia
- Tiny Planet
- 49th Parallel
- Mr. Dinkles
- Searows
- thom.ko
- David's Van
- Mirabai Kukathas
- Seven Sky
- Talaya.
Learn more about MoPOP’s Sound Off! program + for contests, the latest news, and behind-the-scenes content, be sure to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
To support Sound Off! and programs like it at our nonprofit museum, make a donation or plan your visit to MoPOP today!