A career in the music industry is a prospect Picton teenager Jordan Skipper is weighing up, six months shy of finishing high school.
The 17-year-old head girl at Queen Charlotte College was raised on music and is a regular contender at the annual Smokefreerockquest.
"I grew up around music, it's always been a big part of my life."
She said her father taught her how to play the guitar at age six and she began writing songs at age 12.
Jordan performed in the Nelson heat of the Smokefreerockquest last weekend and made it through to the regional finals to be held on June 26.
Before her Nelson performance, Jordan had modest expectations for the competition.
"I just keep telling myself it's about the experience. [The Smokefreerockquest] is probably one of the biggest opportunities secondary students get to make their mark on the NZ music industry."
This is the fourth time Jordan, an avid singer-songwriter, has entered the competition.
Each time she has entered, she has been placed in the top two bands in the Marlborough region.
The best thing about competitions like rockquest and her previous performances at the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival, she said, is gaining practical experience in front of a live audience.
"That's the good thing about it, you can work on your song writing, your delivery, your stage performance and just try and get rid of your nerves in front of hundreds of people."
Jordan, who has been compared to Anika Moa and Brooke Fraser, is modest too about the idea of a career in music, but said a move away from Picton would be necessary if she were to take that step.
"I do hope [I can make it a career], but if not then even something on the side would be good enough for me."
The teen, who would consider herself "old" at 25, would be happy with the occasional paid gig and likes the idea of becoming a music teacher because she thinks of herself as a "people person".
Music, she says, is an opportunity for her to escape from the real world and to share her experiences.
"I find that when I do sing I can forget everything. Just for that little bit it's just me and my guitar. It's good."
By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express
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