Third time win for Peyton

Kapiti College singer-songwriter Peyton Morete has taken out the Smokefree RockQuest Manawatu regionals for a third time.

Peyton, 14, won the solo/duo category at the Saturday, June 2, event at Palmerston North's Globe Theatre, on top of securing best song for her original Sucker for Light.

As her fifth year competing in the event, the seasoned young performer is now putting together a recording for the nationals selection process, where she will be up against 43 other solo/duo acts.

Her aim is to make it to the nationals for the first time this year, and gain one of the two spots at the grand finals in September.

"I love how Smokefree RockQuest is only for youth to compete with songs they wrote," Peyton said.

"It's a great way to practice to an audience with the whole fancy set-up, and get exposure with your originals."

She said Sucker for Light offered good vocal dynamics and was consistently powerful, allowing her to "put a lot of emotion and attitude in when performing".

"The song is about how a girl is being held back by these chains (society) and she's realising that she needs to break free because she's better of being herself, and not like what everyone is being told to be."

Sucker for Light is one of many songs written by the Paraparaumu local, who has lost count of how many originals she has penned over the years.

With a self-described music style that is a mixture of indie-rock and alternative, Peyton said she enjoys branching out into different genres.

Having started playing the guitar at around nine years old, she is also experienced in piano, drums, ukulele and recorder.

As well as busking and saving for a trip to Sweden next year with the Kapiti College music department, Peyton is hoping to take out the 2017 Smokefree RockQuest.

"Once I've done my 15-minute video, they'll do shortlists.

"Then they'll cut down the acts before making the final choices of who'll be able to compete at nationals."