Smokefree Pacifica Beats 2014 - East Coast final results

Smokefree Pacifica Beats 2014 - East Coast final results

N8V6 (Native Six) from Wairoa College were named this year’s East Coast winners of Smokefree Pacifica Beats at the Lawson Field Theatre, Gisborne on Tuesday night.

The band’s name refers to their original line up of six members, but they’re now down to four, who are: Rhys Burgess (vocalist/lead guitar), Jayme Pomare (keyboard/vocals), Brodie Winiana (drums) and Vaughan Goldsmith (bass).

Jayme says they’ve been together for about a year.

“We went for a native look with gumboots and casual clothes and played the music that we enjoy which is in the reggae genre,” he says. “Our songs have some te reo in them - one was about bullying and the other was a typical love song.”

Second place in the band category went to mellow three piece band Tiki from Flaxmere College. The band members are Jahvis Taiaroan (guitar), Celestial Te Are (vocals) and Kauri Sellwood (bass). Kauri took out the Mainz Musicianship Award, which he also won in the Hawkes Bay Smokefreerockquest.

These bands win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final at Auckland’s Q Theatre on Friday 26 September.

Smokefree Pacifica Beats producer Elena Lome says the East Coast finalists have to complete a number of tasks to make the most of the opportunity Smokefree Pacifica Beats offers.

“We ask them to create a band page on Facebook, write up a media release, create a band bio and a short video about themselves that we use in the judging as we lead up to the national final,” she said. “The aim is to give them an insight into management and promotional aspects of being a band that they’ll need to be successful.”

Smokefree Pacifica Beats recognises and reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific, with bands required to have some Maori or Pacific Island elements in their music or performance.

When all regional heats and finals are complete, the top two bands from each region submit video footage for selection as national finalists to play off in Auckland on 26 September.

The top six Smokefree Pacifica Beats finalists are invited to Auckland for a weekend of music, friendship, mentoring and culture at the noho marae (band camp) held at Horotiu Marae, AUT (Auckland University of Technology).

The SFPB national winners’ prize package includes musical gear to a total value of $3,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, a $10,000 song and video package from NZ On Air and performance spots at the 2015 Raggamuffin and Pasifika Festivals. There is also musical equipment from NZ Rockshops, the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Songwriters Award, the Native Language Award, the Smokefree Mana Wahine Award, the Stage Image Award and the Smokefree Best Vocals Award.

The full list of awards made on Tuesday was:
1st place: Native Six, Wairoa College
2nd place: Tiki, Flaxmere College
Recorded Music Best Solo/Duo Award: Puhi Tau, Lytton High School
APRA Songwriters Award: Even Flow, Gisborne Girls High School
The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national final: Kauri Sellwood, Flaxmere College
Smokefree Award For Mana Wahine: Raiha Moetara, from Even Flow, Gisborne Girls High School
Smokefree Award For Best Vocals: Class of 96 from Gisborne Girls High School
YPT Native Language Award: Puhi Tau

More information at sfpb.co.nz or facebook.com/SFPBeats

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