DUBAI // When they performed at their annual school festival earlier this year, the group of sixth-formers were not expecting it to lead to great things. But just six months later, their band, Wait, What's Mainstream? have just released their first album and played to an audience of 300 at a concert in Dubai after being talent spotted by a recording studio.
Their lucky break came when the five pupils from Jess School in Arabian Ranches were seen in January by a sound engineer from BKP Studios who happened to be working on the school's festival. Martin Carre, who is a musician with BKP, a music, audio and post-production specialist centre, saw potential in the band's alternative indie rock style and offered them the use of the studios in Dubai. "This group of young musicians should get into the studio and make something of their potential," he said. "They will go a long way."
The students spent three months visiting the studio in their spare time and finally produced an eponymous album of six tracks - three originals and three cover versions of songs by the UK acts Snow Patrol and Newton Faulkner. On Monday, they performed their originals in front of an audience of around 300 at a school rock concert called Jess Rocks. Copies of the album were on sale at the festival, with all proceeds going to an orphanage in Vietnam chosen by the school. Orders for 108 albums were taken and people will be asked to make a donation on receipt.
Jordan Rich, 17, the band's songwriter and keyboard player, said the experience had encouraged him to pursue his ambitions by applying to music college. "Releasing your own music makes you realise things about yourself. I think I am more confident now and I definitely want to try to get into music college when I finish school." Beth Willis, 16, one of two vocalists, said she had got over her stage fright thanks to the opportunity in the recording studio.
Salman Gokal, 16, said it was like a dream come true. "We always used to talk about what it would be like to get into a recording studio even for half an hour, so when we were told we could record an album it was amazing," he said. aseaman@thenational.ae