10 February 2012 - 0 Comments

National and even possible international success has been predicted for national Smokefreerockquest winners, Nelson band The Peasants, as their first single ‘Letting Go’ is released on February 13. 

The video was filmed on location in Nelson and Peasants drummer Chris Phillips says the evening shoot in a darkening forest added a lot to the lyrics and to the impact of lead vocalist Georgia Nott. 

“It’s about a girl watching her best friend struggle to break free from a constricting relationship,” he says. “’Letting Go’ really defines our sound as we build on our alt-pop-rock style with songs that are real stadium fillers.”

The video, directed by Mikee Carpinter, debuts on TV across New Zealand next week (from Feb 13) and will be available to view on YouTube; while the single is available digitally on Amplifier, iTunes and digital retailers. Link to iTunes is http://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/letting-go-single/id501593622

The debut single will be part of their forthcoming album, and was produced by Dryden Street’s Joel Little (Kids of 88, Junica, Goodnight Nurse) and recorded at Auckland’s prestigious York Street studios.

Dryden Street’s Ashley Page believes that The Peasants have a strong future ahead in the music industry.

“The hard work really begins here, but they’re incredibly talented and dedicated," he says. “Plus through strong family links in the band they have a deeper understanding already than most bands their age on stage – it’ll be great to see them out on a national tour soon.”

The full prize package The Peasants took as winners of Smokefreerockquest 2011 is designed to give them a big helping hand into the Kiwi music industry. It includes the NZ on Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000 that was used to film ‘Letting Go’, a place for the single on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, and radio promotional support for the new single.

The band has dedicated this year to maximising on the Smokefreerockquest win. The other band members are Joseph Corban-Banks (bass), Clark Hinton (lead guitar), Abbey Phillips (vocals and keyboard), Rupert Wockner (rhythm guitar), Holly Tippler (vocals and keyboard).

Meantime, another 800 plus bands and songwriters are just waiting to be discovered in Smokefreerockquest 2012, which will run in 24 regions around New Zealand from May to July.

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