Funktional win SFRQ Whanganui regional final
It was a big night for twins at the the Opera House in this year’s Whanganui regional final of Smokefreerockquest.
Twins, Brendan Cooper (drums) and Jeremy Cooper (lead guitar), were part of the winning band Funktional from Wanganui High School; while the winner of the solo duo section was Logan Anderson who is also a twin.
The other members of Funktional are Brigham Fantham (keyboard and lead vocals) and Tane Butler (bass). Tane says the boys are in the same music class and have all played music for a long time, but just put the band together a month ago to enter Smokefreerockquest. They also won the Skinny Mobile People’s Choice Award with their sound that Tane describes as a ‘bit funky, a bit rocky and a bit jazzy’.
"I think we stood out because our sound is quite unique and we had different timing and effects like delay and choruses that filled it out," he said. "We all wore black shirts and that looked good on stage."
Solo/duo section winner, Logan Anderson, from Cullinane College says music runs in his family and he plays a variety of instruments, from trumpet to uekulele; but it was his guitar playing and audience interaction that won him the title on Saturday night…plus his meaningful lyrics.
"We’ve just moved here from Dunedin this year so one of my songs was about feeling like I’ve got two homes, and the other one is called ‘When It’s All OK’, and is about when my girlfriend and I are together again."
Founder and director Glenn Common says at this level of the competition the entrants become part of the growing family of Smokefreerockquesters.
"These are young people who have gone through the contest, have gained skills and confidence and are now using those in their careers - they might be successful performers or they might be teaching and even holding HOD positions," he says. "Then there is music production, promotion, journalism, radio, television, graphic design…we’re even got one former entrant - Kris Faafoi - who’s now an MP."
Second place in the band category went to The Conspiracy from Wanganui High School, made up of Matthew and Amelia Hardcastle, Ben Lockwood and Nathan Brown.
Becky Lourie from Wanganui Collegiate placed second in the solo/duo category.
These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection of the national final in Auckland on Saturday September 28.
Glenn Common said from here on the Whanganui finalists would have to work hard and draw on their creativity to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.
"They now send in videos of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final," he said. "This process demands creativity and musical ability, as well as learning to work together as a group and developing the organisation skills they’ll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene."
Other awards made on Saturday night were:
Third placed band, winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their
suppliers: TSB from Wanganui High School.
APRA Lyric Award: Bowlan Tui from Wanganui City College for the song Liberators’ Horizon.
Lowdown Best Song: Run Away With Me, Wanganui High School.
The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national final: Title Poonsin, the drummer from TSB, Wanganui High School. (name is correct)
Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Caitlin Cresswell, guitarist from Eyes Wide Shut, Wanganui High School.
Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners, that include musical gear to a total value of $13,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award and the Skinny People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.
Finalist judging process: Two bands from each of 23 regional finals send in their videos for selection as one of the eight bands to play off in the national final. Judging is done from a pool of 50-60 bands that also includes Rockshop Second Chance, an opening for established bands (playing regular gigs) who don’t feel they played their best on the night. The top two solo/duos from each region go through the same process.