Watch our interview with Tkay Maidza below!
UNDSCVRD Presented by Samsung is back for season two! This time around, ARIA and BET nominated rapper and artist Tkay Maidza is on board as a mentor for five lucky contestants. We caught up with Maidza to chat about her role on the program, nurturing emerging talent, what she's working on next and so much more!
Following on from Perth singer-songwriter Taigh Wade's epic win last year, which saw him support Australian hitmakers The Veronicas in Melbourne, UNDSCVRD is back and on the hunt for Australia's next up-and-coming recording artist. The four-week vertical video series, exclusively broadcast on TikTok, offers five contestants a platform to grow their artistry and reach a whole new audience.
With episodes uploaded daily, we'll follow Maia Efstathis, Haze Harrington, Ivana Ilic, Dylan Jett, Vanessa Sanchez as they work together on challenges, craft their own original track and music video, and take on the day-to-day tasks being an artist in contemporary times. Each contestant will be given a fourth generation Galaxy Z Flip4, where they'll receive messages, challenges, and updates throughout the competition.
The series will climax with a live concert in front of music industry executives, where each artist will go head to head to win UNDSCVRD. This year, that coveted prize is the chance to record a five-track EP. But no contestant walks away empty handed, with each artist being given the opportunity to release their original song crafted throughout the duration of the competition and an enriching insight into Australia's music industry.
Images: Vasili Papathanasopoulos ©
Filming: Katerina Papathanasopoulos and Vasili Papathanasopoulos
Maidza will guide and coach each of the contestants, bringing her own experiences as a renowned rapper, singer, songwriter and creative force to the table. Having picked up the ARIA award for Best Soul/R&B Release in 2021, the artist spent last year on the road, touring alongside global superstars Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa, and has today been revealed as a special guest on all shows of GRAMMY Award winner Lizzo upcoming Australian tour. Currently working on her next full-length release, Maidza has teased a whole lot of new music for 2023, most recently releasing her collaboration with internationally acclaimed British production-and-DJ duo Snakehips, Show Me the Money. Joining her on UNDSCVRD will be accredited producer and writer, James Angus, and music video director Sam Evans.
Samsung Australia’s Garry McGregor, Vice President, Mobile Experience Division shares of the program, “Our inaugural season of UNDSCVRD received so much love and support for the aspiring artists we have in Australia, we decided to launch a second season to continue nurturing our local musicians. We’re excited to have the incredibly gifted Tkay Maidza join us as a mentor for season two, where she will support contestants as they develop their personal sound. It will be inspiring to see more hidden music gems unearthed through this experience.”
Alex Reid, Series Producer and co-founder of Production Company Amplify, adds, “This is a new way for musicians to get noticed by the music industry without having to give up the rights to their music. Each contestant retains the ownership of the music masters and associated content they make on the show thanks to the partnership with Samsung”
UNDSCVRD has been developed in partnership with Australian production and talent agency, Amplify, for Samsung. Tune in to episode one at 4pm AEDT today on UNDSCVRD's official TikTok account.
Watch our interview with season one winner Taigh Wade below!