The Hero’s Journey Scholarship is NGHTMRE and ICON Collective’s way of putting on “the next generation of musical pioneers.”
NGHTMRE‘s rise to EDM stardom famously started at ICON Collective. The globetrotting DJ and producer has now teamed up with the Los Angeles music school on The Hero’s Journey Scholarship, which will afford three artists a similar opportunity.
The hero’s journey is a recipe for engaging storytelling that includes character archetypes and a general sequence of events. It’s also relevant to musicians in the social media age, as content creation is now a necessary part of their job.
“Ten years ago, when I came to ICON Collective and learned about the hero’s journey concept, it really inspired me,” said NGHTMRE (real name Tyler Marenyi) in his announcement. “I saw it manifest in my own life and other people’s lives, and it’s been a constant source of inspiration for my music and my creativity.”
Marenyi’s ICON Collective partnership will award full scholarships to the three chosen applicants. In order to qualify, they must record a two-minute video of themselves outlining their five-year plan, their backup plan, why music is their passion, and what makes them different, among other things.
The deadline for submissions is December 6, and winners will be contacted and announced toward the end of the year. Non-ICON alumni over the age of 17 can apply, and those awarded the scholarship can choose between January, April, July, or October 2025 programs. To participate in ICON Collective courses, students need a Mac laptop, Ableton Live 12, Pro Tools Studio for EDU, headphones, and a MIDI keyboard.
Suffice it to say, if you don’t know where to start as a DJ and producer, ICON Collective’s The Hero’s Journey Scholarship might be for you. Who knows — you could be the very next NGHTMRE.