Meet the six #BeTheBand finalists

Hundreds of local bands or people who just love to sing entered the contest and after hours of listening to demos, the selection panel has announced the final top 6. Chico Muya, Maegan Graham, Dishevelled, The Audinarys, The Gus Brown Band and Ruby Gill will battle it out at the finals at The Wave House at Gateway Theatre of Shopping on 24 September 2016.

With prizes valued at R80 000, including the opportunity to be the opening act on the Huawei Durban Day with East Coast Radio stage on 23 October 2016, the stakes are high! The winner will also walk away with a photoshoot with Pure Studios and the design of an album cover valued at R8 000, courtesy of Gateway Theatre of Shopping; a  R5 000 Gift Card from Gateway, music equipment and training sessions to the value of R42,000 from Musician’s Gear Zone and 40 hours of studio time valued at R25 000 from HitRecord Music & Audio Production.

All finalists are excited and upbeat. Speaking to East Coast Radio, the guys and girls from Dishevelled, said they’re all set for the finals. “We haven’t heard the competition yet, so maybe it’s better that way!”

18-year old soloist, Maegan Graham, has been singing since she was little and has written several songs, which she will be performing at the finals later this month. “When I was 7, my father started learning how to play electric keyboard and shared his knowledge with me as I grew older. This was one of the biggest influences that encouraged me to start learning instruments as well as using my voice. Learning how to play instruments and singing carried me through tough times in life and gave me hope. Music became my addiction as it calmed me in a way that nothing else could. This is why I have such a love and passion for it,” she says. Maegan has been singing since she was 9-years old. “Winning this competition would be life-changing for me. It would give me a kickstart to the singing career I have long dreamt of!”

Chico Muya and his bandmate Spencer-Rae Kerr play  “a cocktail mix of acoustic, folk and pop.” Chico is no stranger to the local music scene, playing at various venues for the past seven years, two of those as a full-time musician. Spencer-Rae joined him earlier this year. “We're passionate about music because it breaks down every kind of barrier that we have raised up against one another,” says Chico. “Music can make you weep or laugh. It can make you contemplate life and encourage you. It can make you angry, happy, sad and everything else in between. It’s a balm to a hurting heart, and a trampoline to a happy one.” Chico says they’ve been working extremely hard and winning #BeTheBand would feel like the perfect culmination of two years of hard work in the Durban music scene.

The Gus Brown Band is already known on the local music scene. Offering up a mix of folk funky original music, the guys have played at several KZN music festivals, and have opened for Prime Circle in Cape Town and Jeremy Loops in Durban. IN case you’re wondering, the “Gus” in Gus Brown is the name of the road where our band first got together.

Describing her music as “alternative/Indie with little bits of dark pop”, Ruby Gill started piano lessons at a very young age and was classically trained throughout school. “Since age 4, my piano has been my fifth limb, lyrics became my preferred choice of words, and music has become my therapy, my bread,” says the Pietermaritzburg resident, adding, “There's a whole lot of power in sound, and it's waiting to be shaped and played. I can't not do it.” Ruby says at some point she realised that she could play and write whatever she felt, and slowly fell in love with singing.

The Audinarys are a neo-soul collective. “We add a little to house music; we add a little to hip hop, some to RnB and so on. Our main goal is just to make music that people  can relate to, that also has a message behind it, and most of all just have fun while listening to it,” says Dave Audinary (aka Gavin Bowden). The Sydenham resident has been in the music business for the past 12 years serving as producer to many artists. Aaron Fynn, also from Sydenham, has been working with Dave for the past four years. They describe themselves as “ordinary guys” hence the title of their group. Eyeing up the prize of performing on the Huawei Durban Day stage, the guys say, “The platform would be perfect for us to become a household name in Durban, and South Africa, and hopefully the world. At this point in time, there’s no stopping us!”

The judges for the finals include former Idols finalist and East Coast Radio presenter, Msizi James, radio and TV personality, Terence Pillay, Brent Quinton of Hit Record and jazz great, Natalie Rungan.

Tickets for the finals are available at www.webtickets.co.za