Live Music Sheffield- Blogged by Xpose

The best live music in Sheffield is being discovered by the Live and Unsigned music competition. The UK’s biggest music competition for original artists works to uncover the best unique, unsigned talent in the region, such as Live and Unsigned Grand Finalists Xpose, who have created a blog about their competition experiences for the chance to win a great prize.

Sheffield Music Blog

Live and Unsigned finalists Xpose submitted their blog after all music contests Finalists were asked to write about their progression through Live and Unsigned to be in with a chance of winning a prize of £500 worth of recording studio time. The best blogs from the acts involved in this year’s Live and Unsigned music contests are going online for a chance to win. The best blog will be decided by which act receives the most ‘likes’ for their blog on the Live and Unsigned Facebook wall.

We’ve had a great response from bands and acts wanting to share their experiences of the Live and Unsigned music competition, and now they will be shared with you, giving acts the chance to win time in a recording studio.

Live Music Contest

Throughout the weeks we’re going to put up music contest acts’ blog entries for you to join in the fun and read. If you like their blog, vote for them on our Facebook page by pressing the ’Like’ button or commenting positively on their work. The act from the music contest with the most support for their blog within one week of it being posted will be the winner of the recording studio time prize.

The best of luck to all bands and acts who have shared their stories of the Live and Unsigned music contest, get voting for your favourite.

Final Blog 14: Xpose

Sheffield music Auditions

We waited anxiously for our names to be called out. What seemed like a lifetime wait suddenly seemed to arrive quickly. “XPOSE, it’s time for your audition”. We entered the room and stood in position ready to hear the orchestral instruments of our original track ‘No Evil’ to kick in. Eyes starred at us from the judging panel, questions going through their minds, who are these guys? What do they do?

It began, the music echoed through the room.

Boom… we hit out with the vocals and our usual swagger for the duration of the song hoping to impress the people who had our fate in their hands.

We waited, surrounded by other artists, many strumming their guitars, laughing but deep down all anxious to hear those magical words, “You’re going through”. At this point we thought for us the game was over. Everything seemed such a blur, are we right for the music competition? Did we perform our best? What did the judges think? Did we sell XPOSE? We watched one of the organisers make his way over to the crowds of hopefuls. We braced ourselves. “XPOSE, you are going through!”

Sheffield Music Area Finals

Vocals, choreography, singing, rapping, dancing and producing. Over the next week we spent hours getting everything into place ready to bring our A-game to the Sheffield music competition. We started by making our song choice. We thought about what our fans like to see us deliver, what they are hoping to see when they watch us perform. We tested many songs but nothing seemed to be inspiring us. We knew we needed to pull out all of the stops in just 3 minutes 30, challenging but we knew we could achieve this. When we perform a cover track we ensure that we make it our own. We produce our own music to the track and vocal arrangement making it an XPOSE song. It happened to be that we were scrolling through our iPod when we came across ‘Stronger’. Catchy, commercial, and workable.

We hit the studio and started to lay down a beat and very quickly we were adding rifts, and moving onto producing the chorus music and then the middle eight. We had done it, we had created the track combining with ‘No Evil’. The vocal arrangement and the chorography seemed to happen quite quickly, the song was ready. We designed our costumes, purchasing the materials and then having them created by SainTs mum.

Sheffield Music performance

We pulled onto the M1. Matty was driving, SainT was doing his hair and Cole was singing away to the track. Tensions were high, the pressure was on but we felt ready. In the back of our minds however the question was still there, are we what Live and Unsigned are looking for. Re-reading the booklet in the car. ‘We are looking for unique acts who are different’, That was our pep talk, our motivation. Live and Unsigned are looking for this and that is us. 

We arrived in the City Hall. It was time for the sound check. We watched all other artists doing their thing, all very different to us but very talented and confident in what they were doing. We always say we respect any artist doing their thing and doing it good. We sound checked and seemed to get a good response from the other bands, which pumped us ready to give it our all later in the evening. We chilled backstage with ‘Undercurrent’. We all got on well and talked about our different experiences when performing. We were very different to each other in style, but we were chasing the same dream.

“XPOSE”… “Here we go boys”

Sheffield unsigned band perform

We walked through the corridor, all anxious, excited and nervous. We watched other artists walking past seeming relieved to have performed, but now it was our turn. We were introduced and made our way to the stage. Our costumes were different but eye catching and we didn’t have instruments in our hands. We were different. The music kicked in and you could hear the faint waves of sneers and laughter from some of the audience. We didn’t let it distract us, in fact it gave us more of a confidence boost. The beat kicked in, we raised our heads in time, and smashed it!

Cheering, shouting and clapping was what surrounded the auditorium at the end of our song. We were pleased and a little bit shocked at peoples change in heart. We left the stage and again were greeted by congratulations from Live and Unsigned Team Members and competitors.

The judge’s feedback on the night was very positive, likening us to Lady Gaga. “Wow, what a compliment!” The host asked the judges how they compared our act with the act previous as we were a “Boyband”, and they were a “Rock Band”. The judges replied by saying “look at each act by their own merit”. That’s the industry, music is diverse and different bands speak to different audiences, that’s just the way it is.

Sheffield Music Competition results

The show came to a close, all of the acts had performed and now it was the hard part. The waiting Game! We chilled, well tried to chill backstage but the vibe was different. All these great artists were now hoping they had done enough to impress the judges and make it through to the next stage.

“Okay guys you need to line up”…

The time had come. It was like standing outside the head teacher’s office, butterflies racing around our stomachs. What was going to be the verdict, yes or no?

“The first band going through to Manchester in the regional finals is…”

The host didn’t call out our name,

“The next band going through to Manchester is…”

It wasn’t us.

Only three more places left. Had we done enough, we all looked at each other in desperation; we wanted this so badly and just prayed that this wasn’t the end.

“The next band going through to the regional finals in Manchester is…

XPOSE!”

We headed home from Sheffield. Elated, three cats who had got their cream ;-)

Music competition song choice

The next day we started preparation for our Manchester performance. We faced a little dilemma. We now need to top what we considered one of our best performances in Sheffield. First comes with the song choice. What could we do? We needed a song to show of the vocals and the choreography but also which told a story. We knew that we were keeping ‘No Evil’ in as this is our original, but what cover needs to go with it.

We thought about our life experiences and what “No Evil” portrays to us, but most importantly our fans. Evil, Hate, Lies, Deceit, Unfaithful, Love? All different emotions that the song expresses. “Cry Me a River” perfect.

We hit the studio, we laid down the beat and created the music to the song attaching it to “No Evil”. We enjoyed creating the track along with Mr. magic Dave (A fella who we work with on our music) and felt the vibe and the emotion to the song. Dave inspires us within our music and understands XPOSE. One word for him… Legend

We rehearsed our butts off making sure it was top standard… we were ready.

Unsigned Music Fans

We wanted to take some of our loyal fans with us to the party. We arranged transport, sold the tickets and ensured that each fan could get there and back safely, for a fair and reasonable price. Cole and his Nana spent hours ironing on the XPOSE logo to T-Shirts and printing out posters as a treat and a thank you from XPOSE, just to say how much we love and appreciate our amazing fans.

We woke up bright and early and headed off on the train from Nottingham to Manchester. Tweeting all of the way to our fans keeping them informed. In fact Cole’s picture was tweeted sipping a coffee in the Nottingham Train Station.

We arrived at the venue and watched the last part of the round before us. Loads of talent, Loads of competition.

It was time to Sound check.

“We only have one radio mic”

Bang… it felt like the world was ending. Everything we had prepared was now hanging in the balance. Nerves started to come. SainT was fretting. Matty was pacing but yet Cole came to the rescue. These things happen in the business, problems occur and as artists you have got to be adaptable and try and make the best out of a bad situation. Cole spoke to a lady about the mics. She came back to us and told us she could find one more which would mean we would have two radio mics. We could have kissed her. She was the hero. We quickly adapted the routine so that we could have a smooth and unnoticeable transition between SainT and Matty when exchanging the mic. “Phew!” we were ready…

Beep, Beep, Beep. Steve sends us a message. The bus with our family and fans on had broken down. Only twenty minutes into the journey. Believe us choice words were said that we can’t write on here to describe how we were feeling but I bet you can imagine.

Hooray. A new bus arrived and the XPOSE Family were on their way.

Backstage at Unsigned Music Competition

We all headed down the stairs to what seemed like an underground base. We shared a dressing room with ‘Hitomi’ and ’Farenheit’ along with ‘Believe in Fate’ who kept popping in. We have got so much love for these guys and girls. They were just so much fun backstage and we all bonded really well. We are all very different musically but have a lot in common as we are all chasing the same dreams and ambitions. It was great to see ‘Believe in F.A.T.E’ as they had come from Sheffield along with us. Both they and their fans are amazing. We give big support to ‘Believe in F.A.T.E’.

Live Music Performance

“XPOSE”

We made our way up the stairs and headed to the stage. We walked down the corridor behind the stage in single file and in the dark. Nerves were present. Anxiety was kicking in but mostly… We were PUMPED!

We headed onto the stage and we did our thing. We received a great reaction and could hear our fans screaming their lungs out. A big shout out to you all!

We sat in the dressing room and waited. The Lottery Winners performed whilst the judges were deliberating.

It was time. Here we were again, standing with our heads down outside the head teachers office. What will be the verdict? Will it be a yes or will it be a no?

Sheffield Unsigned Band Success

SainT was confident, Matty was silent and Cole was stressing. So many talented people, so many different artists. How can the judges make a decision?

The host stepped up to the mic and called out the name of the first act progressing through to the National Finals of Live and Unsigned 2011 in the London O2 … is …

XPOSE!!!!!!!!! 

We were literally shell shocked, weak legs, emotions running crazy. We ran up those stairs as quickly as we could and made our way to the stage, greeted by screams and cheers. We’ve only bloody gone and done it!

‘Believe in F.A.T.E’ and ‘Hitomi’, from our dressing room also made it through. We are very pleased for them.

Off stage we received lots of people coming up to us asking us to sign autographs and congratulating us. We had a good reception. Staff who worked at the club also congratulated us. Cole even signed one girls paper with her eyeliner pencil which he broke. “Sorry” ;-)

We jumped on the bus to applause. Our fans were smiling and so happy. It was immense. The fans have been a massive part of our journey and together we had got through. WE LOVE YOU ALL!

Unsigned band from Sheffield to The O2

What’s next for us… The O2 baby! We know the talent is going to be tough and there will be a lot of different acts to us performing. But XPOSE don’t hate on people who are different to us, we respect any artist who is doing their own thing and doing it good. Respect us, we respect you!

We don’t chase Dragons! We chase dreams!… Boom!

If you like Xpose’s blog, you have a week to vote for them on our Facebook page by pressing the ‘Like’ button! Watch out throughout the week ahead for more blog entries from bands and acts sharing their experiences from Live and Unsigned 2011.

Don’t miss your chance to win great prizes!