Three up-and-coming New Zealand musicians have been selected as finalists out of more than 100 entries in Spark Open Audition, each winning a one-on-one mentorship with world-class recording studio BIG FAN.
Emerging musicians were encouraged to post a ‘duet’ with a video of local rapper JessB on TikTok to enter the competition called Spark Open Audition, with three finalists getting the chance to perform on live radio in the hopes of winning a public vote.
The three finalists for Spark Open Audition are: Gibson Harris, 31, from Auckland; Niamh Crooks, 18, from Christchurch; and Noah Seuseu, 21, from Auckland. The finalists will today begin their one-on-one mentorship with Big Fan, the New Zealand recording studio backed by Joel Little, who has produced songs for artists such as Lorde and Taylor Swift.
JessB says she enjoyed going through the entries checking out how varied the different interpretations of her track were across the board.
“It’s an honour to have people put in so much effort to create their own vibe on my track.
“The three finalists really stood out to me in their own ways and I was impressed by the level of professionalism they all had, as well as their unique style that they each added.”
Spark Open Audition judge and BIG FAN Mentor, Noema Te Hau (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Porou), says he was blown away by the talent displayed in the competition entries, which served as an encouraging reminder of the untapped musical talent to be discovered in Aotearoa.
“As a fan of the world of music, I already feel incredibly grateful to be a part of the Spark Open Audition.
“It was a joy to see so many incredible interpretations of JessB’s original track ‘Moment’ performed with such skill, taste, and conviction,” he says.
“Because of the sheer volume of very deserving submissions, it was by no means easy to select a top three. But that is a testament to how incredible the selected mentees are.”
Noema says, “The three finalists are all so talented and I can’t wait to see where they go with access to BIG FAN and our mentors.
“Gibson’s submission showed incredible musicality and performance skills, with a melodic and rhythmic flow that fits seamlessly with the backing arrangement and JessB’s hook.
“Niamh has a soft modern pop-singer songwriter vocal tone that was quite different to other entries, and her entry felt authentic and full of potential.
“Noah’s stitch not only fits the original track, but even enhanced it further with a tasteful vocal production and arrangement.”
Spark’s Director of Marketing and Data, Matt Bain, says Spark Open Audition is all about using the power of technology to help New Zealanders go after the things that matter most to them.
“We’ve been getting New Zealanders closer to the music they love for the last nine years with our money can’t buy VIP music experiences and our partnerships with Spotify and Spark Arena.
“We’re thrilled that we can now support the artists who, one day, could be selling out Spark Arena themselves through Spark Open Audition and I can’t wait to see how far they progress from day one of their mentorship, to the live show later this month.
“Driven by our guiding kaupapa of Hello Tomorrow, which uses technology as the vehicle to unleash an Aotearoa that’s full of possibilities, Spark Open Audition is all about supporting musically talented New Zealanders to harness their creativity and kickstart their career in music.
“Because we know that when you feel you have a chance today, it changes how you see tomorrow.”
