Spy: Openside the next big thing

Openside. George Powell (Drums), Harry Carter (Bass guitar), Possum Plows (Vocals), PJ Shepherd (Guitar).

When Spy spotted the son of a famous wealthy couple had been signed to a record label, first thoughts went to the burgeoning music career of Max Key and former singer-songwriter, rich-list daughter, Annabel Fay and the media storm that erupted when she received NZ on Air funding for her music career.

No comparisons can be made in the case of Tenby Powell and Sharon Hunter's son George Powell, the drummer for Openside.

The band - which also features Possum Plows (vocals), PJ Shepherd (guitar) and Harry Carter (bass) - signed with Warner Music this week.

The Auckland-based four-piece are quickly developing a huge fan base and will be exposed to the masses when they play the Kendrick Lamar-headlining Auckland City Limits Music Festival next Saturday.

The group will take to the stage at 11.30am and will be the youngest act on the bill.

Openside's debut track Worth It crashed on to the airwaves early last year with a barrage of high-energy hooks and great lyrics. The track quickly made these youngsters one of the most talked-about new local acts of the year.

Openside released their new track Branches on Thursday. The song was written by the band, recorded and produced with Rich Bryan (Jupiter Project,) mixed in LA by Billy Bush (The Naked & Famous) and mastered in New York by Joe LaPorta (Imagine Dragons, Foo Fighters).

"We're excited to have Openside join the Warner Music family of artists," Warner Music's general manager Phil Howling told Spy. "For such a young band, they have impressed many with their infectious pop-rock sensibilities. We are looking forward to being part of their sure-to-be-successful music journey."