It is an initiative that, above all, wants to show “the quality and value that young people have”. The Música JA contest, aimed at bands or solo projects, as long as they are from the Algarve, already has entries open for give stage to those who are taking their first steps in the artistic world.
This will be the second edition of Música JA, a project coordinated by the Regional Directorate of the Algarve of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, in partnership with the Chambers of Faro, Lagoa and São Brás de Alportel, ETIC_Algarve, FNAC, the Academic Association of the University of Algarve and also the Rádio Universitária do Algarve (RUA) FM.
Entries opened yesterday, January 10th, and extend until March 3rd. At Música JA, musical projects can compete whose members are residents of the Algarve, are between 14 and 30 years old and who do not have any record contract.
Eight projects will be selected to act in two qualifiers: one on March 21st, in São Brás, and another on March 28th, but in Lagoa. The top four will compete in the final on April 4th, at the regional headquarters of the IPDJ, in Faro.
After the success of the first year – in which the Black Teddys were the winners – the initiative had to be continued.
«It's the second edition, but it's like the first, because the passion is the same», began by saying Custódio Moreno, IPDJ regional delegate, at Musica JA's presentation, this Friday, January 10th.
“This is a broad project that the Institute, on its own, would have difficulty in putting it to work,” he explained. Hence the extensive list of partnerships.
The great general – and common – objective is to “realize the dreams” of young people who want to succeed in the music world. "And we know how there aren't so many opportunities", he considered.
In the opinion of the regional delegate of the IPDJ, «in the Algarve, there is a lot of quality and many young people to create». "I want it to be a show of quality and an event to affirm young people," he added.
Although the main purpose is not “who wins”, the truth is that the competition's prizes are desirable. For all finalists there will be rewards. The winner will be entitled to a performance at Festival F (Faro), with stamp to be defined, and the recording of an EP of originals.
The runner-up will work at Fatacil, in Lagoa, also entitled to stamp, and also give a concert at a FNAC store of your choice.
Closing the podium, whoever finishes 3rd will perform at the Algarve Academic Week (with stamp) and will receive a training check for €2 to be used at ETIC_Algarve.
Finally, the 4th place winner will have a concert in São Brás de Alportel. For everyone, the inclusion of a theme in RUA FM's programming is also right.
As already seen, this is a project that involves several entities, whose representatives attended the presentation press conference.
Ana Martins, councilor of the Lagoa Chamber, alluded to the fact that her local authority had accepted «from the very beginning» the invitation to be part of Música JA. As for the fact of hosting one of the bands at Fatacil, Ana Martins said that passing through the stage of that party “may lead to other opportunities”.
Marlene Guerreiro, vice-president of the São Brás de Alportel Chamber, did not deny the hypothetical performance of a band at Feira da Serra, the municipality's biggest event. "We like to value talent and that's why we're here to support young people," he explained.
Gil Silva, director of Teatro das Figuras, also representing the Chamber of Faro, spoke of a reality that many groups face. "Bands sometimes even rehearse, but then they don't have a stage," he said. Música JA is also important, as it helps groups «to get to know their peers' projects».
Francisco Aragão, from the company Mentecapta-Produções Audio, also spoke about the issue of visibility of new bands. «Today it is even easier to promote projects», he said, but Música JA has the power to give more «opportunities to young people».
Who knows if this contest will not be the launching pad for a successful Algarve band?
Entries can be made on here, two songs must be sent, in mp3 format, with a duration not exceeding 10 minutes, for [email protected].
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