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  • BBC names global talent finalists

    BBC names global talent finalists

    A Liberian refugee and a six-piece Brazilian rock
    group are among the finalists in the BBC World
    Service's search for the world's best young band.

    More than 1,000 artists, all aged 18 or under, entered
    the Next Big Thing competition in September.

    The seven finalists are expected to fly into the UK
    next week to perform at the BBC's famous Maida Vale
    studios.

    A winner will be chosen by a panel of music industry
    experts, including Cathy Dennis and William Orbit.

    The competition was open to groups and solo artists in
    any genre of music, as long as they were under 18 and
    performed their own songs.

    High standards

    Producer Simon Pitts said the entries came from 36
    countries, "from Armenia to Azerbaijan and from
    Uruguay to Ukraine".

    "People have been very surprised at the quality of the
    entries," he said, "but we weren't, because we had
    faith in the idea from the beginning".


    THE FINALISTS
    Silva (Armenia)
    Sweet Cherry Fury (Brazil)
    MLK and The Dreamers (USA)
    The Skagz (UK)
    NiC (Malawi)
    Mishkini (Ghana)
    Stefan Abingdon (UK)

    The standard of the submitted tracks was so high that
    the panel who drew up the shortlist could not decide
    on the required six finalists - and chose seven
    instead.

    They include 17-year-old Armenian pop singer Silva
    Hakobyan, and Malawian rapper NiC, who performs in
    Greek and English.

    Londoner Stefan Abingdon, whose hip-hop track My Dunks
    has also made the shortlist, said he was "really
    excited" to have been chosen.

    "I've been trying to set up my music for the past four
    years and it's starting to get somewhere now," he
    said.

    The 17-year-old will be travelling to Maida Vale for
    the final of the competition, but producers say some
    of his competitors may not be able to complete the
    journey.

    "We have an act in Ghana, Mishkini, who is a Liberian
    refugee," said Pitts.

    "He didn't have a birth certificate or a passport this
    time last week. He's now trying to get hold of them,
    as well as a visa."

    The BBC is working with British embassies to help
    artists arrange travel to the UK in time for next
    week's recording.

    Celebrity judges

    The Maida Vale session takes place on 6 December, and
    the judges will announce the winner when the programme
    is broadcast on 9 December.

    The panel includes William Orbit, who has produced hit
    singles for Madonna and All Saints, and Cathy Dennis,
    who wrote Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out of My
    Head.

    Other members of the jury are Geoff Travis, who set up
    the influential Rough Trade record label, and
    Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo,
    from Benin.

    Peter Gabriel will also appear as a special guest,
    giving his verdict on the final seven acts.

    The winner receives a trophy proclaiming them the
    world's best young band.

    "It's a massive opportunity for international
    exposure," said Pitts. "The chances are great that 163
    million people will hear the track and know the
    artist's name."

    The Next Big Thing is part of the BBC World Service's
    Generation Next season, which focuses on young people
    and how they approach relationships, education and
    work.

    It is hoped that the competition will become a regular
    event.
    Story from BBC NEWS:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entert ainment/6191276.stm

    Published: 2006/11/29 10:02:05 GMT

    © BBC MMVI
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