Factor us in as the new generation X

GETTING THE JUMP: Whangarei Boys' High School students, (from left) Chris Pidgeon (16), Jimmy Kay (17), Josh Kiwikiwi (17), Robbie Mulligan (16), Joseph Captein (14), Josh Choi (17), Jesse Samu (16) and Austyn Mills (16), will be displaying their talent at the Whangarei auditions for X Factor NZ next month. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Many singers and musicians reckon they've got that something special to make it as a pop sensation, but a group of Whangarei Boys' High School students say they've got what it takes to win the next series of X Factor NZ.

But the only issue is exactly how they will approach the X Factor auditions when they roll into Whangarei next month - as solo artists, rock bands or boy bands.

Dozens of Northlanders have already expressed a desire to take part in the pre-auditions at the Whangarei Athletics Centre on October 30, but the group of eight from Boys' High are keen to turn their love for music into a fully fledged career and think X Factor could be the launching pad to success.

One of the boys, Austyn Mills, aged 16, says, "that'd be the dream".

Ginny Hill, head of the music department at Boys' High says,"its really amazing that so many of them want to be musicians".

For some of the boys it will be the second time around auditioning but their success in the Smokefreerockquest this year could be the edge they need. The second season of the show will screen in 2015 and will differ from last year's by letting bands audition.

Anyone choosing to audition as a band will have to make the trip to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, or can submit an audition tape online.

Jeane Mowatt, X Factor NZ publicist said allowing bands to audition "opens up an entire new element. We're pretty much a band culture in New Zealand."

Ms Mowatt said that in New Zealand's first X Factor season, bands had chosen to put just a lead singer forward, which may have had an impact on their performance.

This year there will only be one Northland audition, which differs from last time when there were pre-auditions held in Whangarei, Kerikeri and Kaitaia.

Despite reducing audition locations all over the country, "producers have made sure that each audition location isn't more than two-three hours' drive from the smaller towns and cities in NZ," said Ms Mowatt.

X Factor hopefuls will sing or play in front of the show's producers and be told on the spot if they will make it on to the next round.

"If they get a 'yes' or a 'maybe' they go on to Auckland," she said.

There are no limits on the numbers of people who can make it through to the televised auditions in front of the four judges in Auckland.

It has been announced that two of the judges from last year, Stan Walker and Melanie Blatt, will be returning to the show.

Dominic Bowden is also set to return as the show's host, and announcement is yet to be made on who the remaining two judges will be, but the talent show hopefuls from Boys' High hope to see Jon Toogood from Shihad on the judging panel.