Who will perform at iHeart’s Jingle Ball Village, get mentored by Grammy Winners and Win $10,000? You decide!
Default Nine
Must finish first in their group to advance to the Semifinals.
BONUS MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITY Must be first in their group on Monday, 11/16 at 11:59 PM ET / 8:59 PM PT for a chance to be selected for a one-on-one mentorship with Kevin Jonas Sr. (The Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato).
Voting for this round ends on November 19, 2026 at 10:00 PM EST
About Default Nine
I’m a Metalhead from Brunswick, GA, I’m not trying to be anything I’m not. I’m just a dad trying to take care of my kids. Been playing since 2009. Music became my escape from life’s trials, even still as an adult it’s my main savior.
Performances & Content from Default Nine
Static
Inhumane
Beneath
The Kill
Learn More About Default Nine
What makes you the Next Music Star?
I believe what makes me different is that I’m not making music just to be heard, I’m making it because I have something real to say. My music comes from experiences with pain, relationships, mental struggles, loss, and trying to keep moving forward when life gets heavy. I’m still a small independent artist, but I’ve continued creating, releasing music, building my brand, and finding ways to connect with people without a major label or huge following behind me. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, and that’s exactly why I refuse to stop. I want my music to be the soundtrack for the person who needs something to hold onto for another day. I’m not trying to pretend I’ve already made it. I’m trying to prove that I belong there.
What do you love about music and performing?
Music has always been the place where I can say things I sometimes can’t put into normal words. I love taking something painful or complicated and turning it into something people can scream along to. Performing is about that connection. There’s something powerful about standing in front of people and knowing that for those few minutes, everyone in the room is feeling the same thing. I want people to walk away from my shows feeling like they were part of something, not like they simply watched another band play. Whether it’s a heavy breakdown, a huge chorus, or a quiet emotional moment, I want people to feel it.
Who are your biggest music inspirations and dream collaborators?
My biggest musical inspirations go all the way back to my childhood. Growing up listening to Linkin Park, Seether, Three Days Grace, Slipknot, Alice in Chains, and Ozzy Osbourne lit a fire in me that never really went away. But my biggest inspiration has always been my dad. Growing up, my mom didn’t allow me to have a relationship with him, so until I was about 14, his music was really the only connection I had to him. I thought the fact that my dad was a musician was the coolest thing in the world, and listening to his music made me want to follow in his footsteps. Music became more than just something I enjoyed. It was a way for me to feel connected to someone I didn’t really get the chance to know. Those bands shaped my sound, but my dad gave music a meaning that went beyond anything I could explain. Getting to collaborate with any of those artists would be a childhood dream come true. Everything I do with Default Nine comes from that same passion I had as a kid, in a way.
What would you do with the $10,000 Grand Prize?
Winning the $10,000 would mean a lot more to me than just advancing my music career. I’m a father of three, and my biggest goal is to build a better future for my kids while creating a better quality of life for myself. Over the past year, I’ve been battling a neurological condition that’s completely changed my everyday life. Things that used to be simple have become difficult, and I’ve had to accept that I can’t physically do everything I once could. But one thing I refuse to give up is music. Just because my body is struggling doesn’t mean my passion, ambition, or dreams have to stop. Default Nine is something I’ve built on my own, and I’d invest this money into recording, production, promotion, and growing it into something sustainable. I want to show my kids that even when life knocks you down, you can still get back up and fight for something better. I’m not looking for a handout. I’m looking for an opportunity to turn what I love into a future worth fighting for.
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Participation supports Musicians On Call, a 501(c)(3) charity, which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments.
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