Bengaluru-based Moksha 360 announces Supernova Star Search Contest with a prize pool of Rs 1 cr

Bengaluru: Recently launched Moksha 360, a platform for independent musicians that aims to create an ecosystem conducive for them, is planning to hold a Supernova Star Search contest.

Moksha 360 was co-founded by two veterans in the music industry -- Bobby Baskaran, Grammy voting member and bassist of rock band Moksha, and Richard Dudley, CEO and Founder of Moksha Academy.

“Supernova is basically our first initiative through Moksha 360. We will divide India into three regions -- south, west and north/northeast. We're starting with south India, as we are based out of Bengaluru. The semi-finals and finals will be held there,” Baskaran told PTI.

Dudley said the Supernova will be “one of the largest English independent voice hunts in the country”.

“The finals are scheduled for June 5-6. We will announce the contest around April 26 or first week of May,” added Dudley.

Baskaran said the focus will be more on discovering individual talents rather than bands.

“Some of the biggest artists today -- you take Chappelle Rowan, Adele, Lady Gaga or Benson Boone -- they're not bands. Today, the band vibe is sort of being phased out as we speak. People are focusing more on individual artists. That's what we also want to do,” said Baskaran.

Although the condition is that artists should perform in English, they are allowed to use up to 30 per cent regional language in their songs, added the duo.

“Participants can log on to our platform, sign up and submit a video of singing without any backing tracks. That then goes into our repository, from which the judges will choose the best. Shortlisted artists will be asked to come to Bengaluru for the semi-finals, where they will perform live,” said Dudley.

If selected, they will go on to perform in a grand finale, he added.

According to him, 10 semi-finalists will be selected from each region and there will be five winners in total -- one winner, one runner-up, and three consolation prizes.

“In terms of genre, we have reasonably open criteria. We're not locking it down. It could be pop, it could be rock... But we want to make sure it is in a slightly wider popular genre, whatever the genre might be. It can't be too niche,” said Baskaran.

The winners will also have access to over Rs 1 crore in prize pool as well as support in music production, video shoots and publicity, added Baskaran.

With Moksha 360 and now Supernova, we are trying to build an ecosystem because we believe that it is fragmented right now,” said Dudley.