Smokefreerockquest success beckons for talented Northland youth

Harmonies Divergent, from the Bay of Islands College, won the Smokefree Tangata Beats Award at Saturday's Northland heats of Smokefreerockquest.

Thirteen bands, a duo and solo artist are on the next step to musical glory after Saturday's Northland Smokefreerockquest heats.

Live music, original songs, selfies and first-time nerves were all part of the mix at Forum North in Whangārei in this year's Smokefreerockquest Northland heats, with 36 acts - 14 solo or duo acts, 19 bands and three acts in the Smokefree Tangata Beats section - competing.

More than 800 bands and solo/duos are going through regional heats and finals in more than 20 venues from Invercargill to Whangārei until July 6.

Kerikeri High School Year 11 student Troy Ramsay was the opening act at the Smokefree rockquest heats. Photo / John Stone

The top two Northland solo/duos selected at the heats are Huia Shortland from Te Kapehu Whetu – Teina (first) and No Credit (Giorgia Davies and Israel Reid) from Kerikeri High School (second).

The top two solo-duos go into the judging pool for the national final, and will be joined by the top two bands selected at the Northland finals in June.

The Smokefree Tangata Beats Award went to Harmonies Divergent, from the Bay of Islands College.

Twelve bands from the weekend's event will go into the Northland regional final: Reflecks, Kerikeri High School; A08, Kamo High School; The Violet Violets, Bream Bay College; Soup of the Day, Rodney College; Live Wire, Mahurangi College; Wham Bam Thank you Ma'am, Whangārei Girls' High; Rillet, Broadwood Area School Te Kura Taumata o Panguru; UltraViolet Blue, Huanui College; Good Morning Waipapa, Kerikeri High School; Jinx, Springbank School, Kerikeri HS; If & When, Bream Bay College and Ke Lo Ke, Whangārei Girls' High and Pompallier Catholic School.

The top 12 bands will play off at the Northland regional final at Forum North, Whangārei, on June 22.

For singer-songwriter and guitarist Shortland, aged 15, this is her fifth Rockquest, and her third regional win in the solo-duo category. Despite her success, she does not go in expecting to win.

"I do feel quite intimidated because there is so much talent in this region, but when I am on stage I feel so free - I feel like I can do anything, whatever I want," she said.

"I write about the little experiences we have every-day, and I think I stood out [to the judge] because my song was very honest and to the point, came from my heart I guess."

Harmonies Divergent members are Danika Holland (keyboard), Dana Scott (guitar), Mihitaurangi Koperu (guitar, vocals) and Jade Norman (vocals). They now submit footage to be selected as a finalist for the Tangata Beats national final.

The group sing four-part harmonies to create a sound they describe as unique and mellow, with their special ingredient – connection.

"We all connect as people, and we all connect to what we are singing about," says 16-year old Koperu.

"When we started we were all a bit shy to express our voices in front of each other, but as days went by we got to know each other more… and now look at us."