Samsung Electronics Australia has announced that Taigh Wade is the debut winner of its TikTok-based music competition, UNDSCVRD. Wade was picked by Australian pop-rock icons, The Veronicas, alongside a panel of music and media industry experts.
After four weeks of competition where the five contestants worked to create a professionally produced single with accompanying music video, UNDSCVRD culminated in a showcase streamed on TikTok.
At the showcase finale, each contestant performed their single in front of a live audience including The Veronicas and industry professionals.
Wade, a self-taught singer/songwriter from Perth, Western Australia, will now head to the US. In Los Angeles, he will work with Aussie production duo, Twice As Nice who’ve worked with the likes of Rihanna, Post Malone, Katy Perry, TY Dolla $ign, and Ariana Grande. The pair will work collaboratively with Wade to produce his own five-track EP.
In Nashville, Wade will perform in front of live audiences at a series of gigs and film music videos to accompany his forthcoming EP.
Wade said, “It was an unbelievable and incredibly empowering experience to work with so many talented people during UNDSCVRD. I’ve appreciated all the support and guidance from everyone that I’ve worked with – The Veronicas, James Angus, Samsung Galaxy, and rest of the cast – to help realise my vision.”
The UNDSCVRD competition announced earlier in the year and presented by Samsung Galaxy, highlighted five aspiring artists across the country in a docu-style TikTok series. Each artist worked closely with The Veronicas and music producer, James Angus, to produce an original single and music video that encapsulates each of their unique styles.
Since launching in October, UNDSCVRD has amassed 22 million views and 450,000 likes on TikTok. The contestants’ group song, Something More garnered over a million views in just 24-hours.
Jason Ridge, group marketing manager, Samsung Australia, said, “We are incredibly proud of Taigh – he embodies everything we were hoping to uncover in the process of creating UNDSCVRD. A self-taught musician and lyricist, Taigh totally backed himself as he took a huge leap of faith into this competition. Couple that determination and ambition with the spirit of Samsung Galaxy to help people expand their world and you’ve got the country’s next big chart-topper. We can’t wait to see what he does with this opportunity.”
Unique to the competition, Wade and each of the UNDSCVRD contestants will maintain full ownership of their music masters and content produced ensuring that no one goes home empty-handed. Through the UNDSCVRD series, Wade released his debut single, Lost and Found.
Wade will also be supported by artist management and label services from Call & Response in the form of marketing and promotion of his EP and also open for The Veronicas at their sold-out Melbourne concerts in January, 2022.