Holly Arrowsmith
Young singer-songwriter Holly Arrowsmith will support an
established artist at Revolver and professionally record one of
her original songs at Studio 183 after winning the 2011
Ultimate Battle of the Musos competition.
The 17-year-old impressed the panel of judges, including
guest judge Play it Strange chief executive and Split Enz
member Mike Chunn, in the final of the three-week music
battle in the Youth Booth on Friday night.
The Arrowtown teenager sang and played on the guitar
California by Phantom Planet, then her original compositions
Wolves and Moons, River Song and Rise, her encore duet with
friend and singer Jonny Mah.
Arrowsmith also won the Best Acoustic Artist prize of a $200
voucher for musical equipment from It Might Get Loud Music
Company.
"I'm so surprised; I had no idea; I'm so honoured. I'm so
excited to be able to record," Arrowsmith said.
"I love playing to people - that's my passion."
Chunn said all finalists were "consistently excellent" and
choosing the Ultimate Muso was a difficult task.
However, Arrowsmith had "projection - her voice is really
strong [and] her self-belief. She has a confidence."
Other winners on the night were the Fletcherz.
Sam Maxwell (16), George Hartshorn (15), Jacob Sheehy (16)
and Damon Spijkerbosch (15) were hailed Best Band and won a
coveted warm-up slot on stage for New Year's Eve.
Emily Burns (18) won Best Vocal Performance and Max Gunn (17)
won Best Original Song for Tick Tock.
Chunn told the audience of more than 90 people in the packed
Youth Booth it was a "shockingly good experience coming to
Queenstown and hearing students playing their songs".
Chunn later told the Queenstown Times he was amazed to "hear
music that is sophisticated and honest from one school,
basically".
Hosts Caleb Dawson-Swale (18) and Tom Rowan (18) amused the
crowd of peers and parents and guest performer Yuki Brown
sang and played guitar while the judges deliberated.
Wakatipu Youth Trust youth worker Fi Sawers thanked everyone
who supported the annual competition, especially Creative
Queenstown for its funding.
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