Telstra Road To Discovery crowns 2014 winners

Following a five-month national search, 17-year-old Teischa Jones from Jolimont, Western Australia and 30-year-old Loren Kate from Aldinga, South Australia have been named the two winners for the 12th edition of Telstra Road To Discovery.

The announcement was made at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre last night following performances by the top 10 finalists and Sydney band The Preatures.

Jones and Kate were each given a $15,000 music development package, a return trip to the US to perform at the Americana Music Festival, access to influential figures within the Australian industry and local gig bookings.

Kate is already an established artist, having performed festivals Tamar Valley Folk Festival, Alice Springs Desert, Nannup Music and WOMADelaide in the past and recording three LPs.The last of which was recorded with $16,000 donated by 220 fans over a three-month crowdfunding campaign.

Mushroom Group’s Bill Page was on the panel of judges last night alongside Matt Fell (Producer of Love Hz Studios), Adam Booth (A&R Manager at Sony/ATV), artist Andy Bull and Noel Mengel (Chief Music Writer of Brisbane Courier Mail).

Page told TMN both winners fell in line with TRTD’s ethos of nurturing original singer-songwriters:“The key thing that’s similar about Loren Kate and Teischa is that they both had really great, original songs that talk to people and that people can relate to,” he told TMN.“Yet the winners are at slightly different stages of their careers. Teischa is only 17, she’s just starting out in her career. She has an arresting vocal and delivery and we see a lot of outstanding potential in her. To have that much confidence when you’re starting out was astounding to watch.

"Then there is Loren Kate who is a bit more established in her career with at least two albums under her belt. When she started singing Henry last night, the crowd literally stopped in their tracks. She has such great, arresting personal songs that make people stop and listen.”

:: Q&A –Toby Dewar on Telstra Road to Discovery

The project also crowned 22-year-old Hannah Rosa as the competition’s People’s Choice last night. The Brisbane artist takes home $1,000.

Teischa Jones and Loren Kate join Telstra Road alumni Neda, Christopher Coleman, Harry Hookey, Helen Shanahan and Andrew Redford.