Nova and Warner Fresh Discovery partnership deepens with Ed Sheeran

Nova, Warner Music and Caplice Management’s national search for unsigned talent has been kicked up a notch.

Brit Award-winner Ed Sheeran will mentor the winner of Nova’s Fresh Discovery, a team-up Nova’s Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small said was sparked from his friendship with Sheeran.

“My friendship with Ed led to Nova discovering and playing Passenger and Hozier and I can’t wait for Ed to work his magic on an unsigned Australian talent.”

David Caplice –whose Caplice Management runs artistic development workshop RumblePop in conjunction withWarner Music –is organising the mentorship.

Caplice told TMN: “The mentorship with Ed Sheeran is truly an amazing opportunity. Imagine being in a rehearsal room with your idol, talking songs, song writing, performance technique and getting practical advice from one of today’s music superstars and all round good guys. It really is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

The winner of Nova’s Fresh Discovery will also receive a recording deal with Warner Music.

“What we are looking for is an artist – someone not only with singing and playing talent but with a unique artistic proposition,” Caplice told TMN. “That artistic edge is crucial as we are searching for someone who will stand out in the music business.”

Live auditions kick off in Perth tomorrow, before auditions held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The winner will be announced during Smallzy’s Surgery on Friday 27 March.

Acknowledging the abundance of talent contests in Australia, Smallzy told TMN Warner and Nova have taken a different approach for Nova’s Fresh Discovery.

“There are many talent shows but Nova’s Fresh Discovery is judged by a panel of industry heavy weights and the winner is given genuine one-on-one mentoring, with no agenda but to provide an upcoming artist the opportunity to learn from one of the biggest artist in the world right now,” Smallzy said.

Nova Entertainment and Warner Music Australia partnered for Smoothfm's last two television commercials, with Warner signings Michael Buble and Spandau Ballet taking part.

Details of the live auditions

Wednesday 18 March – The Blue Room Theatre in Northbridge, Perth

Thursday 19 March – Adelaide Town Hall, Adelaide

Friday 20 March – Mad Dance Studios, Brisbane

Saturday 21 March – The Hub @ Docklands, Melbourne

Sunday 22 March – Brent St Studios, Sydney