Young musos set for comp
Huia Shortland looks set for solo success after taking out the Smokefree Rockquest solo/duo title at the Northland regional heats at Forum North on May 19.
The 14-year-old from Whangarei won the national Smokefree Pacifica Beats solo/ duo title last year in a duo with her cousin Izaia Tilialo. Huia, who is in year 10 at Te Kapehu Whetu Teina, plans to make music her career but was surprised with her win.
‘‘I really didn’t expect to win Smokefree Rockquest as I was also entered in Pacifica Beats,’’ she said.
‘‘My songs are a bit funkier and groovy than the reggae sound I do with Izaia and I think it might have been that genre that made me stand out.’’
The winners of Smokefree Pacifica Beats for Northland were Barry & Te Rina from Whangaroa College, who are Barry Jubei and Te Rina Kahle. The top bands selected at the heats will go on the Northland final at Forum North on July 1.
They include HKA from Broadwood Area School and Panguru Area School, Jinx from Springbank School, Denial and Theoretically Impossible from Kerikeri High School, Mad Gravity from Whangarei Girls’ High School and Huanui College and The Pastie Boys from Tauraroa Area School.
Founder and director Glenn Common says 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 Smokefree Rockquest as a springboard to success.
‘‘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 opportunities and social media to promote themselves and their achievements. For a lot of students these steps can be part of their NCEA assessments.’’ Winners from regional events play off at the finals in Auckland on September 1 and 2.
Musical successes from Smokefree Rockquest include Kimbra, Opshop, Ladyhawke, Brooke Fraser, and Anika Moa.
Northland final at Forum North, July 1, 7pm. Tickets from Ticketek.