SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS 2015 - East Coast final results

SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS 2015 - East Coast final results

The standard was so high the judges struggled to pick a winner at this year’s East Coast Smokefree Pacifica Beats at the Gisborne War Memorial Hall on Saturday night. However, the band 5XL from Gisborne Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools came out on top. Spokesperson for the group Cassidy Hohepa-O'Keefe said it was a hard competition but the band was really happy to make it through, in their last year of school.

“We really wanted to make it to the next stage and it’s been awesome to work with the brothers and sisters and get a vibe off them when we perform,” he said.

Cassidy says he thinks the bands communication with the audience and their stage presence gave them the edge. Their performance incorporated a variety of cultural elements including costume, ta moko, te reo Maori lyrics and Maori instruments, which he says combined to make an impressive show.

Cassidy credits much of the bands success to their music teacher, Jane Egan from Gisborne Girls High School.

“She is one of the most inpirational musicians I have ever known. She really helps us to achieve our potential in anything musical - she is just 100 percent cool.”

The band also picked up the Smokefree Best Vocals award and the NZ Music Commission Best Song award.

5XL’s reggae, funk, R ‘n B sound also won them the East Coast Smokefreerockquest regional final held last month and they came first in the Smokefree Pacifica Beats regional finals in 2012 and 2013.

“The biggest thing we have learned from our Smokefreerockquest and Pacifica Beats experience is confidence,” said Cassidy.

The band is made up of Cassidy Hohepa-O'Keefe (bass, vocals) and his twin brother, Logan Hohepa-O'Keefe (drums), Guy Aupouri (keyboard), Shaela Leach (acoustic guitar) and Liushaan Ngaira (acoustic guitar).

Second place, plus the Smokefree Award For Mana Wahine and 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, went to Teia Drysdale from Napier Girls’ High School, performing as Kennedy.

These 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 Saturday 12 September.

Smokefree Pacifica Beats requires more than just musical talent, with the East Coast finalists completing a number of tasks before the top six bands and one solo/duo national finalists are selected.

Smokefree Pacifica Beats producer Elena Lome says as well as incorporating cultural elements in their performances the East Coast finalists have to show their promotional skills.

“They have to create a Facebook band page, prepare a media release, put together 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 performer 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 entrants required to have some Maori or Pacific elements in their music or performance.

From the regional finalists pool, the top six Smokefree Pacifica Beats bands and the best solo/duos are invited to Auckland for a weekend of music, mentoring, kaupapa maori and tikanga at the Waipapa Marae (band camp), this year held at the University of Auckland; followed by the national final at the Raye Freedman Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar on Saturday September 12.

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 some of the 2015/16 Auckland summer festivals.

There is also musical equipment from NZ Rockshops, the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship and cash prizes for the Smokefree Mana Wahine Award, the APRA Lyric Writers Award, Smokefree Best Vocals, Youth Performance Trust (YPT) Native Reo Award, YPT Best Song and Recorded Music Solo/Duo Award

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

ENDS

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