Finalists of the FTM's Top 7@7 Who's Next competition pose with BET's Omar Grant. Photo: Provided

President of the Follow The Movement (FTM) Group, Mr Craig Lake aka DJ Push Pop has urged finalists to bring their A-game and realise their true potential in a once in a lifetime opportunity. Photo: VINO/File

Judges for the final of the competition will include BET’s Senior Programme Director, Mr Kelly Griffin who had provided critical input in the earlier stages of the competition. Photo: VINO/File

The seven finalists in the competition are Sasha Wintz, Calden James, Marvin Bramble, Kassandra K. Malone, Rochel Lewis, Epik & Neeks and Kamyce Penn.

“All seven of the artistes are geared up and ready to go and are excited,” Lake expressed to Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview. He added that the artistes are also eager to put on display what they have learnt over the past few months through training and competition.

Artistes recently held one-on-one sessions with Omar Grant of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and benefitted substantially from the opportunity that they received.

The professional advice that the artistes received went a considerable way towards preparing them for the final showdown, Lake explained. “These guys are professionals, [music] is all they do,” he related about the music industry executives that shared their knowledge with the competitors.

He felt though, that some of the finalists may not have been fully prepared for the sessions they shared with Grant but is assured that they have emerged much wiser and more confident about the direction they need to take in order to make their dreams of music stardom a reality.

“Our word from Follow The Movement is that there is no ‘next time’,” Lake expressed, “this is it.”

He suggested that artistes sometimes underestimate the input they need to make in furthering their own music careers and often make half-steps in this direction.  

The seven finalists will each be able to choose their own song for the Who’s Next event as organisers want to ensure that they are comfortable with the tracks they perform.  

According to the FTM President, the judging criteria for the finals are anticipated to be somewhat harder and more intense but he fully expects that finalists would all be prepared for the grand stage.  

“It’s very important for the artistes to come with their A-game,” Lake insisted in noting the importance of the presence of the top executives at the event’s finals.

Judges are expected to include returning faces such as BET’s Senior Programme Director, Mr Kelly Griffin and Mr Wayne Williams who had both provided critical input in the earlier stages of the competition.

The location for the finals is expected to be transformed significantly and will feature a red carpet style event with a celebrity type backdrop and a host of photographers.

Members of the public will be able to once again vote for their favourite competitors by sending a text to 228284. The event will be held at the UP’s Cineplex Crystal Ballroom and will start at 7:30 PM sharp.