In its most basic form, Open System is an event where electronic musicians bring their music along and we play it loud for them… but in reality, it’s so much more than that.

When we first mulled over the idea of starting Open System, at the end of 2019, we had three main goals

• To build a community. Bringing producers out of isolation and connecting them all
• To create a resource which would help producers learn and improve their craft
• Bolster the creative offerings in Chelmsford through new projects and collaborations born through Open System

We now find ourselves into our 6^th year of the event and looking forward to our 25^th edition next month, so this is probably a good time to consider how we’re doing?

Although we take huge enjoyment from every edition, the event has never been about us. It’s always been focused on the electronic musicians of Chelmsford (and beyond) who have become our community, our collaborators, our inspiration but, more importantly, our friends.

With that in mind, it’s not really up to us to decide whether we’re achieving our original vision, but it’s the people who attend our events to cast the vote.

So last month we decided to ask a few of them…

And the answers we got back are truly humbling. It’s feedback like this that gives us the energy and dedication to continue for another 25 editions and many many more. Check the video if you don’t believe us!

So, if you’ve not been to an Open System before, you could just turn up with a USB stick and hear your music played on a big soundsystem, but you’d barely be scratching the surface of the real impacts it can have.