At Rockquest, 'bad jazz' and 'experimental hip hop' reign

Smokefree Rockquest started as a local radio contest for school kids singing cover songs in 1989. Nearly four decades later, it boasts a long list of alumni who have topped international charts and still win awards. But the pride and joy of the two music teachers who founded it, Glenn Common and Pete Rainey, are the 90,000 young performers who've taken to the stage since then. In an industry of more setbacks than successes, where small live music venues are shutting down, an increasing number of students are competing. Common says the numbers make it a good news story, emphasizing that they've worked hard to remove barriers for students.

The 2026 regional winners of Smokefree Rockquest have just been announced, and they have until September to polish their act for the national awards, with a top prize of $10,000 for the winning band, as well as musical equipment and recording grants. Today The Detail meets a finalist for the solo/duo category, Joshua Engu, and hears the newly released single of last year's winning band, Equilibrium. Common says original music in Aotearoa is flourishing among young people, and getting signed to a major record label is not the only way to break into the industry.

The growing influence of technology has forced the organizers to tweak the rules and look at new ways of staging the regional events, but it has also raised standards to new levels. Common notes that students now have greater access to technology through their phones, enabling them to market themselves and reach international audiences. In the 'post grunge era,' young musicians are increasingly moving to the beat of their own drums, and their listening habits are more diverse thanks to the internet. This diversity is reflected in their performances.

Last year's band category winner, Equilibrium, made history by being the first non-vocal group to take first place. The four-member jazz metal group has just released its first single, but saxophone and keyboard player Alex Gibson says it already has 20,000 followers and nearly five million views on social media after posting 'bad jazz' videos. One day they posted an Instagram reel of them playing jazz a semi-tone out, which went viral, so they made a whole series. This unconventional approach has garnered them a significant following.

The competition not only provides young musicians with a platform to showcase their talent but also gives them valuable industry experience. Common emphasizes that students now have more options to start their music careers, thanks to technology enabling independent artists to reach global audiences. Rockquest continues to support young talent as a key part of this democratization of the music industry, fostering creativity and diversity in New Zealand's music scene.