OUSA’s annual band competition, Bring the Noise, wrapped up its seventh iteration at U-Bar last week. Presented by Radio One, the competition involved two heats and a final where Ōtepoti bands battled head-to-head, playing only original songs. Last Wednesday, Ammonita took out the title for 2025, and fellow bands Cleos and FÜBAR! snagged second and third place respectively. Critic Te Ārohi sat down with the newly-minted champions to hear about their journey to the U-Bar stage.
Ammonita is a five-piece band made up of second-years Paige Sumner, Karl Young, Zoe Eckhoff, Iván Fernandez, and Mason O’Connell. Three out of the five members study Ecology, so it's no surprise their band name was born out of the poisonous ‘Amanita’ genus of mushrooms. Paige and Zoe went to halls together, and other members were brought in through mutual friends and their courses to form Ammonita as we know it today. The five of them have all played each other's instruments (or are planning to), to the point Critic found it too confusing to label who played what.
Similar to many Ōtepoti bands, Ammonita started out playing covers – ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ and ‘All My Life’ – before evolving to their status as a staple of the Pint Night rotation this year. Original songs quickly followed, with Ivan saying that the process is very collaborative: “Every song we make feels like it's all of our song”. Their favourite original song so far has been ‘Jane’s Masquerade’. They also have a least favourite, but refused to tell Critic. Rude.
Winning Bring the Noise is more than just clout and bragging rights. Ammonita scored a pretty swanky prize package, including the recording of a single at Sublime Studios over in the Waitaki Valley (free accom included). They’ll also get a music video, radio promotion, PR, and merchandise packages. And if that many packages weren’t enough, some cheeky cash prizes, professional press photography, and free logo design were thrown in too. Zoe explained they're excited to use the prizes, but the band needs to think about what single to record – whether they wait till they’ve got “the one” or they “just go hard with what we've got already”.
Ammonita was in heat two, having to face off with six other bands to gain one of three spots in the final. Overall, seven bands performed in the finals (thanks to FÜBAR! luckily snagging a wild-card entry). The members all agreed the heat went well, with Zoe adding, “I think it's just my favorite part about the Dunedin music scene [...] the people that are involved.” Beyond winning, of course, highlights of the competition for the crew were meeting and yarning with new friends in the crowd.
In terms of the finals, the group agreed it all went smoothly (minus a mid Pokémon card pull mid-set). Impressively, the competition was the first time the band had ever played their original, ‘Jane’s Masquerade’, all together, thanks to an unlucky run of winter sickness. Paige explained to Critic that she expected Cleos to win, but after being announced as second place, “[Ivan and I] looked at each other like, we might have a chance.” Shortly after being announced as the victors, Ivan was hoisted up by his mates, with his pint of beer flying everywhere (not that the floors can get any stickier). Tears, celebrations, and adrenaline finished off the night as they walked on stage to claim their prizes.
The finals were MC’d by Monday Drive host Maddy Barnes and “friend of Radio One” Peter Barclay. Maddy told Critic, “There were heaps of people there which was really good to see.” Despite it being in the Pint Night slot, more than the usual crowd showed up who were “really engaging with Bring the Noise and with the local music”. Maddy concurred with Ammonita about the crazy atmosphere. When the winners were announced the whole crowd “went nuts” but also added the cheers were still pumping for other acts such as Dr Wazoo and 70’s Corn Syrup Explosion.