A nationwide talent search has been launched, with some of the biggest players in Dublin’s music industry involved.
The ultimate winners of Star Nation, which is being organised by Four Star Pizza, will scoop up €3,000 worth of gear from the Musicmaker store on Exchequer Street, while the four provincial champions will each get a day’s recording time at Windmill Lane Studios in Ringsend – famous for their connections with U2, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran – and a slot at the live final in Whelan's in September.
The competition was launched last night at Musicmaker with a special performance from Dublin soul star ARI.NOIR.
Speaking at the event, Christina Hamilton from Four Star Pizza said, “We wanted an opportunity to reach out and support more than just 'pizza people'.”
The contest is free to enter and open to musicians in any genre – you just have to be over 18.
“You can be a soloist, you can be a metal band, you can be a ukulele choir – we'll accept anybody and everybody,” Christina added.
Later, Christina told DublinLive: "I hope that the next U2 or Van Morrison will see this and go, 'that's an opportunity', and we'll support them every step of the way. Fingers crossed, I'd love that."
John Paul Prior from MusicMaker told DublinLive that Star Nation is an exciting initiative to be part of:
“Battle of the Bands are ten-a-penny,” he said, “but we were looking for something a little bit different and that's certainly what was outlined by Christina and her ambition with this project. So we were in.
“It's going to be in every pizza box in the country, so that's great exposure. Her target was 40 or 50 acts, but no way - it's going to be hundreds.
“Anything that's an outlet for up-and-coming talent, and gives the people we're talking to on a daily basis a platform to showcase their talents is great for us.
“As a standalone, independent music shop it's critical that we're part of the scene. We're looking to support it through initiatives like supplying backline to independent venues at our cost, and getting as involved as we can in initiatives like this.”
Full details of the Star Nation competition and how to enter can be found here
