The band must now submit a videoed performance of two more original sings. Photo / Nadeem Wali
The band must now submit a videoed performance of two more original sings. Photo / Nadeem Wali
Whanganui High School band Jansen and the AMPS has claimed first place in this year's regional Smokefreerockquest final, beating out stiff competition from Whanganui City College band Strithe (third) and fellow WHS group Onism (second).
The eight-piece group has only been performing together since halfway through last term, but theirhigh energy performance won over the crowd and the judges at the Royal Whanganui Opera House on Saturday night.
The band is made up of students from years 9 to 13.
High School music teacher Freddie Loveridge said a handful of the group had performed in the competition last year, under the moniker AMP.
"We wanted to keep the band going, so when some of the students moved on and left school we got some other guys involved," Loveridge said.
"Jansen actually left this group and went off and got second in the solo category this year," Loveridge said.
The new group features Gian Buico on keyboard, Harvey Hughes on drums, Sjoerd Molijn on saxophone, Theo Almazan on guitar, Luke Squire on cornet, Bryn Morgan on trombone (aka "sludge pump") Jordan Manville on bass and Alyssa Hartley on lead vocals.
Hartley said songwriting in the band was a democratic process.
"Theo came up with the chord progressions for both the songs we performed," Hartley said.
"I added melody and lyrics from there and the rest of the band each wrote their own parts.
"I guess we'd describe ourselves as jazz-pop."
Jansen and the AMPS are (rrom left) Sjoerd Molijn, Luke Squire, Alyssa Hartley, Bryn Morgan, Jordan Manville, Theo Almazan, Harvey Hughes and Gian Buico. Photo / Bevan Conley
The band played two original songs for the regional finals, and their next challenge is to video a performance of two more before submitting it to judges for a chance to go through to the next phase of the competition.
While other bands have three weeks to complete their submission, Jansen and the AMPS has only 10 days because of band members' other school commitments.
They were still working on the next two songs, but Hartley said the band was confident they would make the deadline.
"We already had an idea for a new song during first break today."
The full list of awards for this year's Whanganui regional final is:
First place band: Jansen and the AMPS (pictured), Whanganui High School Second place band: Strithe, Whanganui City College Third place band: Onism, Whanganui High School First place solo/duo: Jessamy Cottis, Rangitīkei College Second place solo/duo: Jansen, Whanganui High School Smokefree Tangata Beats Award: Toa Te Ra, Whanganui High School People's choice: Hiraeth, Ruapehu College Electronic performance: Onism, Whanganui High School Best vocals: The Otherside, Whanganui High School Musicianship: Bass player from The Striknien Deluxe, Whanganui High School Musicianship: Keyboardist from Strithe, Whanganui City College Best song: Periwinkle Blue, Whanganui High School Lyric Writers' Award: Jessamy Cottis, Rangitīkei College Future Recording Artist Award: GECKO, Whanganui High School
