Hernandez in competition for record deal.

Every vote counts for NWT hip hop recording artist

Nicole Garbutt
Northern News Services
http://www.nnsl.com/arts/stories/jan3_12emiX.html
Published Tuesday, January 3, 2011

SOMBA K’E/YELLOWKNIFE

A veteran NWT hip-hop recording artist, slam poet and rapper is among 30 contestants vying for a recording deal with EMI Records.

For the past nine months, Aaron “Godson” Hernandez has been advancing in month-long rounds of voting against musicians from all over Canada. Each month, EMI eliminated 10 people artists, leaving the final 30 musicians to be decided by votes from the public.

“I think they are comfortable with their selections, so this time the most votes wins it,” said Hernandez in an interview last week.

EMI Music is an international record company which represents some major names, including Snoop Dogg, Coldplay, The Beatles and Katy Perry.

The winner of this competition will be signed to the label, receive album art and design, product marketing, a release of the single to national radio stations, digital distribution of the single and the chance to the opening act for an EMI Music recording artist, plus more.

The finalists who do not win will not walk away emptyhanded, either. All will have a chance to be included on an EMI compilation recording.

Hernandez said the competition was open to any genre of music and any type of artist, from groups to solo artists. There are only three hip hop artists among the 30 finalists.

Lukas Rossi, the winner of the televised music competition 2006 Rockstar Supernova, is also one of the finalists.

“We’re all trying to take him down,” laughed Hernandez.

Hernandez may not be the only hip hop artist but he is the only one representing any of the three Northern territories.

“I think it’s opened EMI’s eyes that there is something brewing up here … hopefully it will help them take more notice of us,” said Hernandez.

Members of the public can vote for Hernandez twice a day — once online and again by mobile device. The closing date has not been officially announced yet, although Hernandez says the finalists are expecting an e-mail from EMI Music shortly and are anticipating an exciting announcement.

Hernandez says he expects a cutoff date will be announced in the e-mail and thinks there may be more prizes available for the top-five finishers.

“The support has been overwhelming. Continue to vote, get your whole family involved, co-workers … it’s going to be a big thing,” said Hernandez.

Residents can vote on a mobile device by texting VOTE GODSON to 79999.
To vote online, visit the Northern News Services website and follow the links.