Talent hunt in TN to bring together indie musicians

CHENNAI: In a unique music competition in Tamil Nadu, global technology brand OnePlus will bring together musicians across genres such as acoustic, a cappella, light music, heavy metal/rock and hip-hop under one roof.
The talent hunt titled The Red Cable Tour, which began with a registration drive, was followed by preliminary rounds held at colleges in Chennai.
The finals will be showcased at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Lady Andal School, on October 13, with musicians Shakthisree Gopalan, Vijay Prakash, Sean Roldan and actor Amitash Pradhan judging the event.
"There has been an active independent music scene in Chennai for many years. Back in college, when I was part of a band myself, we would jump at every opportunity to play our compositions to the larger public. There is much wider reach with social media today, and such platforms bring indie musicians and original work into the mainstream," said Shakthisree Gopalan.
"This also brings great scope for independent musicians from in and around Chennai to showcase their work to a wider audience, and the perfect opportunity for them to network and collaborate with other musicians - a trend that is defining the music ecosystem today," she said.
Amitash, the only actor on the panel of judges, said he would looking at the performance aspect of the finals. "This scale of talent showcasing is rare and is certain to build as a brand in the coming years," he said.
Winners will compete for the chance to go on a national tour with OnePlus, as well as to receive exciting cash prizes.
Vikas Agarwal, general manager, OnePlus India, said, “While we hope our products enhance their smartphone experience, we are constantly striving to engage with our community through other aspects of their lives. The OnePlus Red Cable Tour is our way of giving our community in Tamil Nadu an opportunity to come together and showcase their talent on a large musical platform.”