It may still be early days yet, but if
the indications from the regional auditions of Star Quest in Enugu and
Makurdi are anything to go by, then we are in for a more exciting
edition of Nigeria’s only band-based music talent hunt reality show this
year.
Indeed, it has been a harvest of
talents, as some of the country’s brightest hopes in music turned up for
the auditions that started February 21 in Makurdi and then moved over
to Enugu.
In Makurdi, capital of Benue State, it
was almost as if the indigenes had a point to prove with Star Quest. In
spite of churning out some of the best musicians and artistes in the
country, Benue State has never really been given credit for its
contribution to the music industry in the country. Artistes like Bongus
Ikwue, Tu Face Idibia, Zule Zu, Zaaki Adzee and a host of others all
hail from Benue State. Yet Lagos and other states continue to dominate
the music scene in the country. All that may soon be a thing of the past
given the impressive performance of aspiring Star Quest participants in
Benue State. They truly gave a performance worthy of commendation, and
even the celebrity judges comprising Paul Play Dairo, Waje and KC of the
KC Presh fame could not help but acknowledge the talents inherent in
the state. But it was however not a solely Benue affair. The Benue
Hotel, Makurdi, venue had participants from other states including
Nasarawa, Jos, Abuja and as far as Enugu state making it to the
auditions. They all trooped to venue seeking to impress the judges and
indeed, some of them did.
Enugu also did not disappoint. The
state, home of Waje, one of the celebrity judges in this year’s Star
Quest and also one of Nigeria’s fast rising female vocalist, hosted
aspiring music stars from some other states in the Eastern bloc of the
country. For Waje, it was a delightful home coming. “I have really been
impressed with the array of talents that we saw during the two-day
audition. It’s a far cry for when people like us started and I am truly
proud of Enugu,” she stated.
In the Enugu auditions, one trend that
is peculiar there is that most of the rejected contestants from last
year’s edition dominated the list of qualifiers for this year. Could the
rejected stone finally prove to be the corner chief stone? Only time
will tell.
But beyond the talents, Star Quest 2012
also has its fair share of humour. Some of the people who turned up for
the auditions ended up showing more talent in comedy than singing. Take
Isaiah Ogbonna for instance. The Enugu born fellow was one of the first
to arrive the audition venue in Makurdi. Perhaps his quirky costume
should have served as a warning that music-comedy was what his
specialty. From the moment he began singing, the entire audience and
even the judges burst into laughter. At some point, the audience joined
in the chorus of the song, which he claimed to have composed himself.
The laughter did not subside even after Isaiah exited the stage. There
were many more like him at the Makurdi auditions.
Enugu did not prove too different in
that wise. Though Enugu produced its own share impressive singers, it
also had its share of hilarious comedians. John Chukwu, the very first
person to be auditioned in Enugu set the ball rolling. After missing his
lines following several attempts, the University Of Nigerian
undergraduate finally blurted out: “I am actually a comedian. This is
not really my field of specialization in entertainment. In fact, I think
I should be given a round of applause for attempting to sing.” Of
course, the judges were delirious with laughter at that point.
Meanwhile the qualifiers from the two
regions are already scheming and plotting even as they get set for the
grand auditions in Lagos. Conscious of the fact that they will be given
the freedom to form a band of six members should they make it past the
grand auditions, some of the qualified participants are seeking out the
best possible assemblage of singing talents amongst them. They would
then approach their targets (if they are convinced that he or she has
every chance to go all the way) with an offer to form a band should they
make it past the grand auditions. Though, there are no guarantees as to
whether any of the parties will keep to their end of the bargain, for
the schemers it is worth a try, rather than leave their chances to
fate. Still, they must all make it past the grand auditions if their
plans will have any meaning at all.
With the abundance of singing talents
recorded from the auditions in Makurdi and Enugu, more should be
expected at the Benin and Lagos auditions. According to KC, one of the
duo of KC Presh, the first winners of Star Quest, Lagos and Benin will
witness even more talented individuals. “Well, Enugu and Makurdi was
fine, but we have high expectations from Lagos. Those areas have always
been a hotbed of talents in Star Quest. Trust me, I once participated in
this event and I know what it’s all about,” he said.
In all, 55 qualifiers will emerge from
Makurdi, Enugu, Benin and Lagios. These 55 will then go through a grand
audition in Lagos in determine the final 36 qualifiers to enter the Star
Fameland.
In Star Fameland, they will be allowed
to form six groups combining six group members each, without the
interference of the organizers. Each of the bands will be groomed by
some of the best hands in the country’s music industry. They will then
go head-to-head against each other to determine which group makes it
through via audience votes.
A staggering prize of N7.5m worth of
recording contract, N600, 000 for each of the six members of the band, a
brand new SUV, one year free accommodation in a choice location in
Lagos stocked with the latest in music equipment, awaits the winning
band.
In addition, the band will get the
chance of participating in Star Mega Jam and Star Trek, two of the
biggest musical concerts in the country.
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