Local in the running for music prize
Wed 01 June 2011
Jaclyn Paul, Bachelor of Journalism
Maroochydore school teacher Drew Wilson might finally get his big break in music after his performance at a Gold Coast local artist competition in April, 2011.
The Australian Power and Gas (APG) Power Stage, held at Skilled Park in Robina, has been running a competition with NRL club Gold Coast Titans offering local unsigned artists from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria the chance to win $10,000 to assist with their music career.
When high school teacher Drew Wilson found the APG Titans Power Stage competition advertised in a street magazine, he jumped at the opportunity to enter.
Each contestant was nominated to play at one of nine Titans home games.
Mr Wilson performed at round 10, the Titans versus Roosters game on April 30, 2011.
Since 2007, Mr Wilson has performed for large crowds at events including Caloundra Music Festival and Ripe Noosa Festival, but the audience of 16,000 people at the Power Stage competition was the biggest crowd he has played for in Australia.
“It was quite a big crowd, but it was great,” Mr Wilson said.
“Some really good things came out of it.
“I’ve received lots of feedback from people in the crowd and a couple of radio stations from the Gold Coast contacted me and asked if the song I played was available.”
Mr Wilson chose to sing his original song Fix, which he explained is a commentary on events that were happening in his friends’ lives.
Sunshine Coast’s Hot 91.1 have already contacted Mr Wilson after hearing his performance, keen to get Fix on their playlist.
If he wins, the $10,000 prize donated by APG would enable Mr Wilson to expand his music career.
“I would use the money to fund my next album and hopefully bring out a film clip,” Mr Wilson said.
“It would definitely boost my career as a musician.”
As he anticipates the announcement for the two finalists on July 13, 2011, Mr Wilson relies on the continuous support from his family.
Wife Jodie Wilson was first on the field taking photos of the performance and older brother Peter Wilson acts as Mr Wilson’s part-time manager.
When asked about working with his brother, Mr Wilson said that it has only pushed him to succeed.
“It was good having Peter as my manager initially, he was always really supportive of what I wanted to do,” Mr Wilson said.
“Other times, we would tend to butt heads a little bit, but it has brought out the best for my career.
“It has also brought us a lot closer together.”
Winner of the 2010 APG Titans Power Stage competition Casey Barnes was overwhelmed with the whole experience, and said winning helped him move forward as a musician.
“It’s a pretty big buzz performing in front of a live audience like that,” Mr Barnes said.
“It is an opportunity that not many people get, and I have always wanted to do that.”
Mr Barnes, who was also a finalist of the 2009 Australian Idol series, found that as an independent musician, $10,000 went a long way to helping him finance his career.
“You’re financing your recordings, video clips, marketing and promotion,” Mr Barnes said.
“When you don’t have a record company, it is a lot of money that you have to come up with.
“So $10,000 is a huge boost to help you achieve all of those things.”
After winning for his performance of original song I Promise, Mr Barnes was able to use the prize money to create a film clip for Coming Back to You and record his latest single Never Break You.
Winning and being able to perform at the Power Stage had also helped Mr Barnes gain exposure as a singer-songwriter.
“It really helped to get my name out there for the people who saw me at the game,” Mr Barnes said.
“I’ve had people contact me after they saw us [the live band] perform and asked to book us for events.”
As a past winner, Mr Barnes has watched this year’s competition with interest.
“Drew’s performance had a similar sound to The Whitlams which really caught my attention,” Mr Barnes said.
“It was really good.
“The competition this year is unearthing a lot of local talent, especially from South East Queensland which is good to see.”
While he hopes for the best in the competition, Mr Wilson continues to work on his music career focusing his spare time from teaching on his next album.
“You can expect to hear a more commercial, radio-friendly type of sound,” Mr Wilson said.
“The first album Far Away was very independent and the second album Something Old Something New went pop and older country.
“So the next album will sound a bit more commercial.”
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