Underground Music Academy (UMA) is dedicated to preserving the history of Techno and Dance music, and usher in future generations of independent DJ’s and music producers through educational programming offered to students globally, facilitating mentorship and other community building initiatives. 

As a collaborator since the City of Design Challenge (2021), Ani works to advance UMA’s sustainable growth and inclusive culture through coordinating special events, strategic planning, and advising on building design, operating practices and policies, and educational program delivery. Ani coordinated UMA’s 2025 Parking Lot Party fundraiser in partnership with Carhartt WIP, Red Bull, Tresor Berlin, Underground Resistance, and Casamara Club. This party is part of UMA’s annual programming surrounding Movement Weekend in Detroit, where we welcome thousands of artists, dancers, industry leaders, and Techno lovers back to our City and through UMA’s doors.   

Previous online curriculum includes “semester” courses taught by seasoned experts (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, & Summer 2025), a 3-part “Elements” workshop for advance DJs to sharpen skills in partnership with Paxahau, RA, and the Detroit Techno Foundation, and a music licensing course in partnership with 2k games. Additional workshops include The Bullfrog, Synthesis, and Sound Design Workshop with Erica Synths and Richie Hawtin, King Britt’s Blacktronika: Detroit Dedication, a vinyl workshop with Brooklyn-based Analog Soul and the annual Memorial Weekend Pop-Up Record Shop.

Media: 

• Donate to UMA 

• DER Weekends: UMA works to build Detroit’s next generation of techno legends on WDET

• UMA website

• UMA Opening - 2k Foundations (Vimeo) 

• Music Origins - Submerge Records

• Waajeed on the rich history of Detroit & the UMA - Serato Unscripted (YouTube)

• Underground Music Academy is ushering in a new generation of revolutionary artists by Ash Lauryn in The Face

• Waajeed on the rich history of Detroit and the Underground Music Academy (YouTube auto captions 1 hr 9 min) 

• Artist Feature: Waajeed - The Underground Music Academy from Carhartt WIP