Huia Shortland gets ready for next round of Smokefreerockquest

Huia Shortland performs her original song, Jealous. Photo/Tania Whyte

Huia Shortland's Smokefreerockquest regional title winning song took just 20 minutes to write.

The song, Jealous, was written with her cousin, Izaia Tilialo, who she won the national Pacifica Beats title with last year.

"It's easier to write with him, just bouncing ideas back and forth," 14-year-old Whangarei singer/songwriter Huia said.

The song saw her take out the solo/duo title at the Smokefreerockquest Northland regional heats at Forum North last month.

She said the idea came from watching a video of another singer, whose song was also called Jealous.

"The word just popped in my head and I just started singing."

She said although her song shares the same name as the one she was watching, her song turned out distinctly different.

Huia said that while she is relaxed performing in front of her classmates and people she knows she still gets nervous. "I get pretty nervous in front of big crowds."

She wants to forge a career in music, and practises any chance she gets outside school and her extra-curricular activities.

Huia, who is in Year 10 at Te Kapehu Whetu, won the same title with her cousin, Izaia, last year before being transferred into the Pacifica Beats competition and going on to national success.

She, along with the second and third place-getters, Mollie Harvey from Rodney College and Dani Ngakuru-Smith from Tauraroa Area School, are now eligible for the next round. They are required to submit 15 minutes of their best material to be selected as a national finalist.

Huia is in the process of putting hers together and is hopeful of making it into the next round.

The videos are judged by a panel of experts and a Top 30 is announced on July 28.

The 12 bands selected at the Northland heats will battle for the top two placings in the regional final at Forum North on July 1.

Those are: H.K.A from Broadwood Area School and Panguru Area School, Weevils from Rodney College, Jinx from Springbank School, Denial from Kerikeri High School, Mad Gravity from Whangarei Girls' High School and Huanui College, The Pastie Boys from Tauraroa Area School, Theoretically Impossible from Kerikeri High School, LIVEWIRE from Mahurangi College, A08 from Kamo High School, Room 44 from Whangarei Girls' High School, Mic's Mates from Huanui College and JKA zzz from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Tonga o Hokianga.