Drummer from JJ's Arts Academy wins National Rock the House comp

Having attended the talk by Ace (Skunk Anansie), one of our drummers took the poster advertising the National Rock the House competition to his band, New Project, and they only went and won it!! Many congratulations!!

The below article was posted by the Herald Express - March 5th 2015 - torquayheraldexpress.co.uk

YOUNG South Devon band New Project rocked their way to winning a national music competition.

Despite being the youngest of the 12 bands who reached the live finals of the 'Rock the House' contest at the House of Commons, the pop-punk band crushed the competition and impressed the judges to walk away with the crown.

New Project consist of 14-year-old Zach Cornish, who plays bass guitar and sings lead vocals, his 13-year-old brother Ben, who plays lead guitar and sings backing vocal, and 11-year-old Dan Aston, who plays the drums.

Zach and Ben, from Kingskerswell, attend Newton Abbot College, while Dan, from Milber, attends Decoy Primary School.

Roger Cornish, dad of Zach and Ben, said: "They are a very talented band. They take music very seriously and work very hard.

"The chemistry of the band is great and the magic has appeared with them. It was obviously very good for them to win the competition and they are an incredible band.

"Zach is an incredible front man and a great songwriter and all of them are continuing to have music lessons even though they are at this stage.

"They hope to go far and we are all really excited about their future. You never know what can happen with the music industry - just look at what happened to Luke Friend for instance."

The band were nominated for the competition by Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris and were the youngest of the 12 finalists in the under 19 competition.

They performed their own compositions Struggle and Breaking in front of a star judging panel, including Planet Rock DJ Paul Anthony, Iron Maiden founder Tony Moore and producer Luke Juby who has worked with the likes of Leona Lewis and Olly Murs, at the Bedford in Balham, the first place where legendary rockers U2 played, and beat all the other bands to claim the prize.

Roger added: "They were judged on their own songs. They are a pop-punk band and write all their own music, as well as doing covers."

The band have now been invited to go back to London to play at the over 19s final that is being held at the American Ambassador's residence in Regents Park. The band have also won £750 of Yamaha vouchers, which will go towards a new PA system, and have been invited to come and have a look around the studio where Genesis recorded their songs.

Rock the House aims to support the live music sector, promote the intellectual property rights of unsigned and up-and-coming musicians and highlight the importance of live music venues to local communities. Big name musicians including Queen guitarist Bryan May and rock legend Alice Cooper have backed the competition.

Roger added: "They don't know what will happen after the gig at the American Embassy but Yamaha have been in contact."

New Project are lined up to play at the Riviera Centre in Torquay later this month, will play a gig for the Air Ambulance at Torquay Rugby Club on April 3, and have been announced for the Dartmouth Music Festival on May 16.

To see more about the band you can visit www.facebook.com/newprojectdevon

Watch the band in action in the video below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KdTY1rVIPBY