Manawatu solo duo winners and band heats results

Smokefreerockquest 2017 – Manawatu solo duo winners and band heats results

Peyton Morete may be the next big Smokefreerockquest solo-duo success story after taking out the solo-duo title at the Manawatu heats on Friday at the Globe Theatre.

The 14 year-old Year 10 student from Kapiti College thinks her 3rd win in this category may be down to her explanation of her song’s meaning to the audience.

“I introduced my song and put a lot of emotion into it. It is about breaking free of society’s standards,” she said. “I really enjoy the vibe of playing at Smokefreerockquest and the set up is so much better than a lot of the gigs that I play. I want to be able to get as far as I can with my music and show everyone my messages through my songs”

Carson Taare from Palmerston Boys’ High School placed second.

These two solo-duos now put 15 mins of their best material together to submit for selection as national finalists.

The winners of Smokefree Pacifica Beats were 4 Dub_c from Waiopehu College made up of Year 12 students who describe their sound as gospel and soul. Vocalist Manu Salu said that the group originated at school during class.

“We all take music and it sort of started from there,” she said. “We were all happy that we got to perform. It was really fun and we were in our own world. I think we stood out because of our use of harmonies and how we embraced our culture.”

The other members of 4 Dub_c are Viliami Mohi (keyboard and vocals) and Antonio So’oalo (vocals).

They will now put 15 mins of their best material together to submit for selection as Smokefree Pacifica Beats national finalists.

The five bands from the heats go on the play off for the top two places and other awards at the Manawatu final at Regent on Broadway, Friday 2 June at 7pm; where there will also be performances from the solo duo category entrants and Smokefree Pacifica Beats entrants.

Tickets for the regional final are available from TicketDirect, $10 students, $20 adults.

The five bands competing for first second and third place at the final are:

String Theory Manawatu College

Sunk Five Waiopehu College

Fruit Juice Parade Palmerston North Girls' High School

Fusion Manawatu College

Something Else Waiopehu College

Also performing for the other awards at the final are:

Lewis Kingston Palmerston North Boys' High School

Ethan has a Shimmy 2.0 Cornerstone Christian School

Peyton Morete Kapiti College

Leona Feilding High School

Room Palmerston North Girls' High School

Carson Taare Palmerston North Boys' High School

Ryan Ngarimu Palmerston North Boys' High School

Bailey Eaton-Palmer Cornerstone Christian School

The Smokefree Pacifica Beats groups performing are:

Purity, Sanita & Josephine Waiopehu College

4 Dub_c Waiopehu College

Founder and director Glenn Common said the level of performance at the heats seems to keep going up every year as entrants get more support for contemporary music from their schools, make use of on line resources and have role models who have used Smokefreerockquest as a springboard to success.

“Between now and the regional final their preparation work is part of the process that makes Smokefreerockquest and Pacifica Beats such valuable learning experiences for young people,” he said. “The 12 bands going on to the finals need to practise hard, craft their set, get their supporters rallied and make good use of networking opportunties and social media to promote themselves and their achievements. For a lot of students these steps can be part of their NCEA assessments.”

The regional events for both Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats run from May 12 until July 7, with the top regional bands and solo/duos submitting video footage for selection to play off at the Smokefree Pacifica Beats national final on Friday September 1 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland, followed by the Smokefreerockquest national final on Saturday September 2.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that include $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package a ‘Decent Exposure’ campaign on The Edge TV, and a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends. There is also the MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award, and the People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefreerockquest national final.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 28-year history include Broods, Leroy Clampitt, Kimbra, Aaradhna, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Kora, Thomston, Midnight Youth, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Devilskin, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and The Naked and Famous; Smokefree Pacifica Beats standout successes include Nesian Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.

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