Adam Ackers-Glanville.

A couple of years ago, I was making music in my bedroom and DJing for fun. Now, I’m producing my own tracks, performing live as an electronic musician, and playing paid DJ gigs. Spirit Studios has completely changed how I see my future.

My journey to Spirit Studios

I started playing guitar at school, took music at GCSE, and played in a small band. That was when I realised music was the one thing I wanted to take seriously. After studying Music Production and Performance at college, I learned to produce on Cubase, formed a band, and started DJing at home. I wasn’t sure university was for me, but I knew that if I wanted to turn music into a career, a degree was the right route. I already knew Spirit from recording sessions in High School and college visits. When I found the Electronic Music Production and Performance course, it stood out straight away. It was the only course I saw that properly matched my interest in house, disco, DJing and electronic music.

Commuting to Manchester

Staying close to home was important to me. Moving out is expensive, and I wanted to treat my studies like a job – come in, put the hours in, and go home. Commuting has made that easy. I drive in most days, the routes are simple, and there’s free parking nearby, which makes a real difference. Spirit’s location works well for commuter students across Greater Manchester and the North West. You get all the benefits of studying in Manchester without the pressure of living right in the city centre.

Finding my place in the city

Since starting at Spirit, my relationship with Manchester has changed completely. At first, the city felt daunting. Now, it feels familiar and exciting. In term time, it’s always buzzing, and I can see how many opportunities there are for musicians. I can genuinely imagine staying here long-term.

Learning by doing

One of the biggest moments for me was realising you can perform live as an electronic musician — not just as a DJ. I didn’t even know that was possible before starting the course. Using MIDI controllers, Ableton Push and laptops to perform your own music live has changed how I think about performance. The modules link together really well too, combining production, performance and industry context, so everything feels connected.

“Being here has made me more confident, focused, and clearer about what I want to do.”

Facilities that feel like the real world

Spirit feels like a working studio, not a classroom. There’s always somewhere to work, and the studios are fully equipped with what you need. The amount of access really surprised me — the opening hours, studio time and bookable equipment give you the freedom to make real progress, especially as a commuter when you want to make every day count.

Community and confidence

Spirit is small in the best way. Everyone’s here for the same reason, and it feels welcoming and collaborative. I’ve become much more involved since starting, and I’m now invloved in the Spirit Students’ Group, helping organise events and bring students together.

What’s next

Over the next year, I want to start releasing my own tracks and grow as an artist — producing, performing and DJing my own material. I’m also interested in the technical side of audio and live events, and I like the idea of building a career with a few different strands.