Биография

From his critically acclaimed 2017 EP The Grapefruit Skies, the world quickly learned the name Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi, known widely as TEEKS. Those bright opening bars of ‘If Only’ to the gut-wrenching lines of ‘Never Be Apart’ have found a permanent place in the consciousness of Kiwis; conveying a sense of “home” for New Zealanders wherever they are in the world. By 2019, TEEKS had captivated the industry’s imagination as his towering potential came into focus. With his songbook about love and loss, the 25 year-old singer-songwriter was nominated for the 2017 Taite Music Prize, a Silver Scroll songwriting award, and won him the prestigious Best Māori Artist award at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, along with countless fans at home, Australia and the United Kingdom. What really sealed the deal was his concerts, where an ostensible initial shyness quickly gave way to a rare level of vulnerability. Speaking of TEEKS’ momentous, sold-out headliner show at the Auckland Town Hall, backed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the New Zealand Listener proclaimed his performance had the “emotional punch as, say, Adele’s version of Someone Like You at the Brits in 2011.” A Māori artist who is deeply proud of his Māoritanga, TEEKS leads from a Māori worldview which is integral to his work ethic and worldly output.