SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST 2015 - Whanganui final results

SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST 2015 - Whanganui final results

Using a kitchen utensil as a drumstick may have given a five piece band from Whanganui High School the winning edge at the Whanganui regional final of Smokefreerockquest on Saturday night.

The drummer of Contraband used a metal kitchen whisk in an enthusiastic performance at the Whanganui High School hall to attain the ‘ultimate sound’ according to lead singer Te Paerata Tichbon.

“I think it will become our trademark look,” says Tichbon, who describes the band’s style as alternative with a touch of funk.

It’s the second year running the Year 12 and 13 band members have won the Whanganui regional final and Te Paerata said they built on their previous experience.

“We knew what to expeact, we had more confidence and I think we ‘felt’ our songs more this time around,” says Te Paerata. “Our energy on stage put us out front and we were feeding off the crowd.”

The other members of Contraband are Amaan Merchant (guitar), Mitchell Brett-Atkins (drums), Ryan Peralta (keyboard) and Finn Brown (bass).

Second place in the band category went to P90s from Nga Tawa Diocesan and Whanganui High School, made up of Jacinta Steeds (guitar), Vic Wassilieff (bass), Flora Mellor (drums) and Tallulah Mitchell-anyon (vocals).

Madison Eades fromWhanganui City College placed first in the solo/duo section. It was Madison’s second Smokefreerockquest and she said she was more confident and it was easier to get on stage this year

“It felt good but I was really nervous so I just tried to zone out and forget about the audience,” she says.

The Year 11 student describes her music as a mix of pop and soul and says she definitely wants to find her way in to the music industry in the future.

Jack Southee from Whanganui High School placed second in the solo/duo category.

These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final at Auckland’s Raye Freedman Centre on Friday 11 September.

Smokefreerockquest Founder and director Glenn Common says there are more bands than ever before reaching the high standard required from national finalists.

“This means that real dedication is required to achieve the ‘stand out quality’ that the judges will be looking for,” he said. “They have to capture 15 minutes of their original material on video in a process that demands creativity and musical ability, being able to work together as a group and having good organisational skills. What separates them out is perseverance – industry success seldom happens overnight.”

The full list of awards made on Saturday night was:

Band 1st place: Contraband, Whanganui High School
Band 2nd place: P90s , Nga Tawa Diocesan, Whanganui High School
Solo/Duo 1st place: Madison Eades, Whanganui City College
Solo/Duo 2nd place: Jack Southee, Whanganui High School
Band 3rd place: Screams of Insanity, Whanganui High School
APRA Lyric Award: Knife Edge, Owhango School and Kaitieke School for their song ‘Tieke’.
Lowdown Best Song: Tia and Brylee from Rangitiki College
Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Stephanie Lockwood, drummer from What They Said, Whanganui High School
People’s Choice voted by text: P90s , Nga Tawa Diocesan, Whanganui High School
MAINZ musicianship award with the opportunity to win a $4000 MAINZ scholarship: Aidan Voice, lead vocalist from What They Said, Whanganui High School

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners that include $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $20,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package’ a ‘Decent Exposure’ campaign on FOUR, a photo shoot with Thievery Studio, a branding package from Imaginary Friends and the Unleashed Travel ambassador award – a seven day trip to Fiji.
There is also the MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award. The People’s Choice award is voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefreerockquest national final.

Finalist judging process: Two bands from each of the 24 regional finals submit video footage for selection as one of the six bands to play off in the national final. Judging is done from a pool of 50-60 bands that also includes Rockshop Second Chance, an opening for established bands (playing regular gigs) who don’t feel they played their best on the night. The top two solo/duos from each region go through the same process, and three of them will go ahead to the national final.

More info at sfrq.co.nz or facebook.com/thesfrq

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