Signs of Life performing at the regional final. PHOTO/JACK MOSER
Fresh Noiz also aim for finals selection
Kiwi music legends Split Enz were sure history never repeats – but they were wrong, going on the results of the Wairarapa regional final of Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats on Saturday night.
Wairarapa College hard rock band Signs of Life took out first place for the second year in a row, with second-placed She, also from Waicol, again runners-up and once more winning the People’s Choice award.
Fresh Noiz, Makoura College, also took out the Smokefree Tangata Beats Award, though the band has two new members.
Despite the repeat result, Year 12 vocalist and guitarist for Signs of Life Thorin Williams said the win was a shock.
“The competition was crazy this year and we totally didn’t expect to win,” the 16-year-old said.
“I was worried about singing the wrong vocals, but I managed to get most of it right.
“I think we had a strong stage presence and good overall performance.
“We’ve been practiising tons together and at home by ourselves.”
The other members of the band are bass player Luke Bird and drummer Cully Lockyer.
She is made up of Jackson Burling [vocals, guitar], Caitlyn O’Neale [vocals, guitar], Isaac Davies [bass] and Dave Marks [drums].
The two bands and solo-duo winner Charlie Matthews from Rathkeale College, and runner-up Meg Hunter from Kuranui College move on to the next stage of the national competition.
They have the opportunity to submit a video of their original material for potential selection as one of the 10 finalists to play off at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland on Saturday, September 14.
Fresh Noiz, out of Makoura College, also go into the video selection process, aiming for a place in the national final of Smokefree Tangata Beats, at Auckland’s Vodafone Events Centre on September 21.
Tangata Beats requires participants to incorporate te reo Maori or a Polynesian language, instruments, dance or movement in their performance.
Fresh Noiz is made up of Paselio Manesa [drums], Tyreece Jackson [bass], Julie Leveridge [keyboard], Maia Karaitiana [vocals] and Jerome Lopa [vocals].
Manesa was given the Musicianship Award on the night.
Kuranui College’s Snokel came third in the band section, while schoolmates Absolutely Knott were recognised for Best Song which earned Corban van Manen the APRA Lyric Writers’ Award.
Manu Korihi’s Iraia Matthews, from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Wairarapa was recognised for Best Vocals.
