Smokefreerockquest, Smokefree Pacifica Beats national finals

Smokefreerockquest & Smokefree Pacifica Beats national finals

It’s the biggest weekend of the year for young rock bands and soloists, with the finals of New Zealand’s only live, nationwide, all original music contests taking place in Auckland.

Smokefreerockquest, now in its 28th year, has a well proven track record with recent success stories including Kimbra, Broods and Maala; while the sister event Smokefree Pacifica Beats reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and numbers Nesian Mystik among its standout successes.

Smokefreerockquest judge (and Kimbra’s musical director) Timon Martin said the top acts all had an originality of vision: “For New Zealand music to make an impact both at home and overseas, we need to cultivate a unique identity, and the artists we picked really showed a strong sense of that, no matter the genre. For us, they represented a bright future for creativity in New Zealand music."

Smokefree Pacifica Beats will play off on Friday September 23 at the Raye Freedman Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar. Start time 7pm, tickets from iTICKET.

The top six bands:
Alien Weaponry, Northland
This 3-piece metal band with kapa haka influences is from Bream Bay College and Otamatea High School. The members are brothers Lewis de Jong (guitar/vocals) and Henry de Jong (drums), and Ethan Trembath (bass). The band is also in the Smokefreerockquest finals.

Critical Damage, Auckland

This 5-piece band is from Western Springs College. The members are Loxmyn McDonald-Ness (lead vocals & saxophone), Harrison Scholes (bass), James MacEwan (brass & backing vocals), Theodore Salmon (lead guitar), Isaac Keating (drums) and Bickio O'Callahan (keyboard & brass).

Nesian Vibes, Auckland
Four boys and two girls make up this Manuwera High School band. The members are PJ Tele'a (vocals), Wyona Murray (vocals), Christina Lilomaiava (vocals), Joseph Oti-George (guitar), Christmas Ale (bass), Moses Taala (drums).

Kurawaka, East Coast
These three girls and their male guitarist attend TKKM O Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti in Hicks Bay, and won the East Coast Smokefree Pacifica Beats Award. The band members are Ruawhaitiri Mahue (guitar), Arahia Moana-Te Purei (drums and backing vocals), Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne (lead vocals), Hinemaia Dewes (bass & backing vocals).

Wahine Toa, East Coast
Wahine Toa is from Gisborne Girls’ High School and placed second in the East Coast Smokefreerockquest final. The band members are Samantha Booth (vocals), Paisley Maynard-Day (lead guitar), Rongomai Callaghan (vocals), Stoney Stevens (bass) and Waimiria Coffey (vocals).

Fuzhun, Canterbury This eight-piece ‘island vibe reggae’ band from Shirley Boys’ High School incorporates pacifica movement and dance into their performance. The members are Gideon Valavala (lead guitar & vocals), Michael Mose (backing vocals), Temuera Hay (rhythm guitar), Toa Osai (bass), Tasipale Valavala (drums), Josh Mosa’ati (brass/keyboard), John Lauvao (backing vocals), and Keenan Jarvis (vocals). Fuzhun also won the Smokefree Pacifica Beats Award in Christchurch.

The top three solo duos:
Huia and Zaia, Northland
Huia & Zaia are two cousins from Whangarei who won the Smokefreerockquest solo-duo title for Northland. Izaia Tilialo does Correspondence School and Huia Shortland is from Te Kapehu Whetu Teina. They have been singing and playing guitar together for two years.

Blessed, Auckland
Nicola Nimo and Henry A’Pe are Year 12 students from Manurewa High School who have played together in bands before, and formed the duo Blessed in April. Nicola plays guitar and sings, while Henry is the lead singer. They describe their style as R&B and believe their strength lies in getting emotion across in their songs.

Rose Campbell, East Coast Rose Campbell is from Wairoa College. She describes her sound as R&B and says she really enjoys performing in front of other people. She has been writing her own music for three years and says it is great ‘because I can just say what I’m feeling’.

The Smokefree Pacifica Beats prize list includes a $10,000 NZ on Air song and video recording package, $4,500 in musical equipment from NZ Rockshops, the MAINZ $4800 Musicianship Scholarship; and cash prizes for the top solo duo, Smokefree Mana Wahine, best vocals, APRA lyrics award, NZ Music Commission best song and the native reo award.

SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST

Smokefreerockquest attracted 700 entrants this year, with bands and solo/duos competing from May to July at regional finals from Dunedin to Whangarei. The finalists play off on Saturday September 24 at the Raye Freedman Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar. Start time 7pm, tickets are sold out.

The top 6 bands:
Alien Weaponry, Northland
This 3-piece metal band with kapa haka influences is from Bream Bay College and Otamatea High School. The members are brothers Lewis de Jong (guitar/vocals) and Henry de Jong (drums), and Ethan Trembath (bass).

O-Boy! North Shore
The female alternative rock-punk duo is made up of Bianca Bailey (drums) and Bryony Roberts (bass) from Kaipara College. They placed second in the North Shore regional final, competing in the band category as their line up includes a drum kit.

Daffodils, Auckland
The indie pop 4-piece from Western Springs College and Kristin School placed first in the Auckland Central Smokefreerockquest final. The members are Theo Salmon (lead guitar and vocals), Isaac Keating (drums), Jade Bryham (synthesizer and keyboard) and Louis Graham (bass).

Half Eaten Pie, Waikato
This three-piece fast-rock indie band got their name from a comment a teacher made about their ‘half pie efforts’ at finding a name. The band is Lachlan Oosterman (lead guitar and vocals) Hayden Mcfie (bass) and Matthew Church (drums)

AhJeez, Bay of Plenty
Funk-blues 4-piece AhJeez came second in the Bay of Plenty final and features last year’s national solo-duo winner Ben Mollison on lead guitar, along with Elijah Taula (lead vocals), Mitchell Nemeth (bass), and Brodie McDowell (drums). The members attend Bethlehem College & Tauranga Boys College.

Retrospect
Onslow College rock band Retrospect won the People’s Choice voted by text. They are Ian Moore (guitar), George Whiteley (drums), Anna van Gorp (vocals), Evan Oijordsbakken (bass), Raquel Abolins-Reid (vocals) and Felix Mendonca (guitar).

The top 3 solo/duos:
Iris G, Auckland
Singer songwriter Iris Guevarra plays electric guitar and attends Avondale College. She says growing up in Auckland’s Filipino community Karaoke was a big part of her childhood and led to her ambition to make music her career.

Sonatane Kaufusi, Manukau
Sonatane Kaufusi attends Manurewa High School, plays keyboards and describes his music as a fusion of RnB, country and soul. He is inspired by his family and religion.

Cam Dawson, Nelson
Blenheim teenager Cam Dawson plays keyboard and is boarding at Nelson’s Garin College this year to focus on his music. He placed second in the solo duo section of the Smokefreerockquest 2014 national final and describes his music as varied in style.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and 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 The Edge TV, 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 (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award and the Dominate Style Award.

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