EMMA’S MUSICAL FAMILY TIES
These rock in’ r el lies are on a quest for success
Some might say it was Emma Common’s destiny to become a musician. As a baby, she would sleep in her crib in the corner of the Smokefreerockquest office as bands rehearsed, and musicians came and went.
“Emma’s love of music was evident from an early age,” tells her dad Glenn Common, 53, one of the founders of the teen music competition. “When she was tiny, she had this knack of taking a song and singing it in a neverending loop. It didn’t matter if she didn’t know the words – she’d just make them up!”
Inspired to pursue a career in music after competing in the iconic event, Emma has gone on to MC some of the shows and also perform in guest bands. The singer, 19, is now studying music at Massey University.
It’s been 30 years since Glenn and fellow teacher Pete Rainey set up the school talent quest, which has helped launch successful artists like Anika Moa, Evermore and Broods.
It all started when a radio station in Christchurch – where both men taught – axed its music competition, leaving students without a performance outlet. The friends decided to start their own contest, initially in Christchurch, but it soon spread nationwide. For their work, Glenn and Pete were awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013 and continue to lead the team.
This year, to celebrate its special anniversary, the event was launched in Parliament by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. With the finals in Auckland at the end of September, the show attracted nearly 800 acts.
It’s an institution Emma wants to see continue. Last year, she mentored a group of youngsters entering Rockshop Bandquest, an offshoot for intermediateaged kids, alongside equally successful Smokefree’s Tangata Beats, which features Maori and Pacific cultural elements. She tells, “Seeing Dad help kids achieve their dreams made me want to help others to become more
confident.”