SOO Live The Dream™ Talent Hunt, scheduled to hold from 17th to 20th September, 2015 is the first of its kind in Nigeria, introducing an array of innovations in talent hunt that will give the participants a chance of a lifetime to kick-start their careers.
Powered by Hon. Barr. Sergius Oseasochie Ogun (SOO), the Honourable Member representing Esan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, and organized by Dihoo Records Ltd, the project aims at identifying budding talents in singing and music production.
Speaking to journalists during a preevent media parley, Oseasochie said that the objective of the first edition of the SOO Live The Dream is to promote gainful and socially accepted enterprise among the youth population of Esan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, as well as to jumpstart the careers of music-oriented members within the target population.
“One of the sectors that have really shown some inspiring growth in Nigeria is the entertainment industry, and the youths are the energy behind this sector that not only brings recognition and honour to the country but also adds a lot of value to the economy,” he said.
Speaking further, he noted that one of the promises he made to his constituency is to empower the youths and SOO Live The Dream is one of the platforms that will be used to launch the careers of the next super stars in Nigeria and Africa.
Eligible participants are to pick up free entry forms from any of the designated Form Collection Centers or visit the SOO Live The Dream website at http://soolivethedream.com/ to download the entry form online
The Grand Finale will hold on Saturday 20, September, will see the emergence of the winner of the competition and prize presentations by the initiator of the project, Hon. Sergius Oseasochie Ogun.
Grand Prize winner will clinch a cash prize of N200,000 and an all-encompassing record deal with Dihoo Records, while the 1st and 2nd runner-up will get a promotional contract that would see each of them recording two singles that would be promoted locally along with cash prizes of N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
This edition is open to persons between the ages of 18 and 30 as long as they are natives of Esan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency of Edo State, Nigeria.
How to Enter:
To participate in SOO Live The Dream™, eligible participants are to pick up free entry forms from any of the designated Form Collection Centers or visit the SOO Live The Dream website at http://soolivethedream.com/ to download the entry form online. Completed entry forms are to be submitted at the Form Collection and Submission Point nearest to the intending contestant. The Form Collection Points are: Ubiaja Post office, Edo State. Hon. Barr. Sergius Ogun secretariat, 67 Market Road, Ubiaja. Uromi Post Office, Edo state. 19, Mission Rd, Kuddy Ranky, Opp. 1KD Supermarket, Uromi. 52, Old Agbor Rd, After Iyere Plaza, Uromi, Edo State. Cooperative Fast Food Restaurant, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma. Auchi Poly, Esan Students Meeting Ground, Opp. Man-O- War Base.Unicafe Business Centre, Shop 1, Shopping Center Uniben Main Gate.
Auditions for SOO Live The Dream™ will take place on Thursday and Friday, 17th to 18th September, by 8 am prompt. During the auditions, it will be at the discretion of the judges to choose 20 candidates who will go on to the next level of selection, called the Performance Screening.
On Saturday 19th September, the Performance Screening will take place, during which 10 exceptionally talented contestants will be chosen to slug it out in the next stage known as the Grand Finale. Seven of the 10 contestants will be determined by the judges, while three would be ‘saved’ by the audience who would be guided to choose their three favorite contestants from the remaining thirteen.
Unlike other talent hunt shows where the winner takes all, SOO Live The Dream™ will afford the 20 contestants an opportunity to attend a one-day seminar, where heavy industry players will coach them on the business of being a recording artiste, music promotions and legal frameworks free of charge.
The Grand Finale will see the emergence of the winner of the competition and prize presentations by the initiator of the project, Hon. Sergius Oseasochie Ogun.
The SOO Live The Dream™ Grand Prize winner will clinch a cash prize of N200,000 and an all-encompassing record deal with Dihoo Records, while the 1st and 2nd runner-up will get a promotional contract that would see each of them recording two singles that would be promoted locally along with cash prizes of N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
CEO of Dihoo Record, Morgan ‘Diwise’ Uwadileke, who will be present at every stage of the competition, will be looking forward to meeting the next act that will pen down the chance-of-a-lifetime record deal with his music outfit.
“I am ecstatic, I am optimistic. I am waiting for the next artiste that will sign up with Dihoo, and it’s in your hands,” he told journalists during the unveiling.
This edition of SOO Live The Dream™ is open to persons between the ages of 18 and 30 (as at August 15, 2015), as long as they are natives of Esan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency of Edo State, Nigeria.
All prospective participants who meet this criteria and submit their application forms on time will be contacted via e-mail and text messages.
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The Judges
With thousands expected to take part in the competition, singing their hearts out to prove their mettle in different genres of music, a super select Panel of Judges, comprising Muyiwa Asenuga a.k.a Nomoreloss, Sydney Shocker, Monique D Vibes and Elcee McEdwards would be saddled with the difficult task of complimenting and criticizing the contestants in their search for true talent. It is expected, of course, that they would find some surprises along the way.
With a unique strong compelling voice and her over seven years’ experience as an OAP, Monique D Vibes will be looking for that artiste that will rock her mind and make her give a nod to their ambition of joining the stage with Tuface, Davido and P-Square.
“The task will be enormous; finding that super star will involve looking at every detail, their voice, performance, energy and charisma,” she said.
It sure would not be a problem for the presenter who also has a single to her credit as she will draw from her experience as a judge in several reality shows including MTN Project Fame.
Multi-faceted and multi-talented artiste and media specialist, Elcee McEdwards, whose creative dexterity has seen him penning down and composing over 70 songs in a musical career spanning over 20 years, will be on the lookout for uncommon balance and excellence in delivery and mastery of notes.
“I will be looking for that person that will give me a combination of styles; that is confident and knows it; that will believe in his or herself and sing a song that will make sense. I want that singer that would move from the SOO Live The Dream™ stage to join the A-List artists in Nigeria. That’s who I will watch for,” he enthused.
With a strong passion for music, two music albums and many recorded studio songs, Elcee will definitely be a tough bridge the contestants will have to cross to get to stardom.
By Edwin Usoboh