Jesse Sheehan

Jesse Sheehan - 2009 Smokefreerockquest National Winner

Singer/songwriter The Jesse Sheehan from Wellington College is the winner of the 2009 Smokefreerockquest National Final, held at The Powerstation in Auckland.

The Wellingtonian championed over five other high school bands to receive the coveted first prize pack which includes $10,000 from Rockshop, a NZ On Air new recording grant and music video grant worth $10,000, recording time at York St Studio, radio promotional support for his single, guaranteed airplay on The Edge radio network, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc and a promotional package from myspace New Zealand.

"I'm amazed and baffled," says Jesse of the win. "This is a good start and I hope a sign of things to come for my musical career."

The Jesse Sheehan's acoustic performance of three original songs highly impressed the esteemed judging panel which included representatives from NZ On Air, The Edge Radio Network, York Street Studios, The New Zealand Herald and A&R Director for Universal Music, Scott Maclachlan.

"Out of the entire competition, Jesse was original, authentic and performed like an established artist even at this early stage of his career," says Maclachlan.

Smokefreerockquest co-founder Pete Rainey agrees, and says, "Jesse is a unique talent and it was so appropriate to have an act like this perform tonight in such an iconic venue."