A lighter touch was the key to a Dunedin pop rock band's success at the Otago regional final of the Smokefreerockquest at the weekend.
Six Years lead vocalist Bill Caldwell (Kavanagh College), drummer Noah Linscott (John McGlashan College), lead guitarist Sam Howell (King's High School) and bass guitarist Cam Beeby (Kavanagh College) have all played in the Smokefreerockquest in previous years, but Bill said this was the first time they had been able to perfect the mix and win the regional final.
"We used to have a pretty heavy sound, but we toned it down this year.
"We also changed our genre a bit, and I think it was the shift in musical direction that worked out for us.''
Bill said the band members wrote all their own parts for the songs they performed, and their Smokefreerockquest experience had taught them a lot about how to be better musicians.
Second in the regional final was Like A Kid, which consisted of St Hilda's Collegiate School pupils Jamie Mackenzie (lead vocals, synthesizer, harmonica), Tessa Forde (lead guitar, synthesizer), Mackenzie Hollebon (drums) and Mia Knott (bass).
Both bands won musical gear from New Zealand Rockshops and their suppliers.
The bands will now submit a 15-minute audition CD of their best material, which a panel of judges will listen to when selecting bands for the national final in Auckland in September.
Levi Dick, from James Hargest College (Invercargill), and Joshua Larkins, from King's High School (Dunedin), placed first and second in the Otago solo-duo section, and will also create audition CDs in the hope of securing a place in the national final.
Founder and director Glenn Common said the Otago finalists would now have to work hard to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.
"They have to submit video footage of their original music that will be judged in August, as we lead up to the national final.
"This process not only demands musical ability and creativity from the musicians, they also learn to work together as a group and to develop the organisation and promotional skills they'll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene.''
Results. - Bands: Six Years 1, Like A Kid 2, Kosh 3.
Solo/duo: Levi Dick 1, Joshua Larkins 2. Apra Lyric Award: The Moment (Juvenile, James Hargest College).
Dominate Style Award: Bark Like a Dog (Taieri College, Logan Park High School).
Lowdown Best Song: Like A Kid (St Hilda's Collegiate).
The Mainz Musicianship Award: Alex Glennie, from Alex and the Lads (Taieri College). Smokefree Vocals Award: Jamie McKenzie, from Like A Kid.
People's Choice Award: Oh1 Oh2 (Menzies College).
