We’re Glass Arañas, and we’re incredibly excited to share that we’ve made it into the Top 12 at this year’s Smokefree RockQuest Manukau Regional Heats! After weeks of songwriting and rehearsing, it was a huge moment for us to perform live at the Dorothy Winstone Centre on Saturday 17 May. After weeks of rehearsing, writing, and pouring ourselves into our song, we’re stoked to share that we made it into the top 12 and are officially moving on to the regional finals!
Our lineup includes Lucia Bell and Rustin Velarde on vocals, Steph Kavumbura and Jasmine Ng on guitar, Isabella Hambrook on bass, and Max Lush on drums. Out of approximately 25 bands competing in the Manukau Regional Heats, Glass Arañas stood out with our unique style and incredible stage presence, securing a spot in the top 12, a significant achievement in one of the country’s most competitive youth music events.
It wasn’t easy getting there. Lucia and Isabella had to return straight from school camp, no time to rest, just enough to get ready and head straight to the venue. But once we were all together, it clicked. Performing our original song “Unreliability” was an incredible experience. We followed a loose, creative song-writing process, rehearsing devotedly for weeks as the competition approached. Admittedly, a bit of a scramble to complete the song both melodically and lyrically, the result was something worth all the effort.
With regional finals now on the horizon, we are more determined than ever to keep pushing forward, growing as musicians, and inspiring others along the way. We will be attending the Manukau Regional Finals on 5 June at The Dorothy Winstone Centre, performing yet another original song.
Lucia Bell, Year 11
UPDATE: Congratulations to Glass Arañas on their 2nd place finish in the Manukau Regional Finals! This amazing result means the band will now join a pool of 35 bands from around New Zealand who must film themselves performing three original songs and submit the recording by the end of term. From those recordings, 12 bands will be selected to perform live in the Smokefree RockQuest National Final.
This is the highest finish ever for a Pakūranga College band in Smokefree RockQuest. Good luck Glass Arañas – we’re cheering you on!
