Titanium tipped to make Lorde-like leap to fame

Titanium performing at the Glo Festival in Rotorua last New Year's Eve. Rotorua's Jordi Weber is second from right. Photo/File

Rotorua's Jordi Webber is "stoked" his group Titanium has been labelled as one of 10 New Zealand artists most likely to make a Lorde-like leap to international fame.

American website Billboard.com has named the boy band one of the country's most promising music acts, alongside such names as The Naked and Famous, Kimbra, Kids of 88 and The Phoenix Foundation.

The article, titled Happy New Zealand Day! 10 NZ Artists Who Could Make A Lorde-Like Leap, states the six-member boyband had the potential to succeed like Grammy Award-winning Ella Yelich O'Connor aka Lorde.

"While Lorde is the country's biggest success story at the moment, she's far from all the country has to offer in terms of pop riches. Here's a look at some of the other artists doing the other land down under proud in recent years," the article reads.

Webber said he was thrilled the band featured on list.

"It's really cool, it gives us a bit more exposure but it's a pretty big statement to make. Living up to Lorde, that would be a huge challenge, but hopefully not out of the picture."

The former Rotorua Boys' High school student said he admired Lorde for all the work she had put in to her music.

"She's been working on her music for years and has clearly put in a lot of hard work. She's really strong minded too and doesn't care what other people think, which is something really cool about her."

Webber said while he hoped he might one day be as famous as the songstress, there were both positives and negatives about achieving fame at such a level. After Lorde's Grammy Award win last month, she tweeted she was almost pushed over by media when she arrived at Auckland Airport.

"You won't be able to go to the mall or do things without people approaching you, all day every day. Sometimes it's nice to have a bit of space. But then again it's nice to get to talk to your fans," Webber said.

He said the future looked bright for Titanium and the band had plans in Australia, but he could not give any more details until a formal announcement had been made.

Webber hoped Titanium had a long future ahead of them, but said his ultimate dream would be to become an actor.

"My dream would be to play a superhero in a superhero movie. My favourite is Green Lantern, but no one can contend with Ryan Reynolds!"

Titanium was formed in 2012 from the winners of The Edge radio station's competition to create New Zealand's first boyband. The group also includes Whakatane's Zac Taylor.