William Singe kicked off his music career as a member of The Collective, a boy band formed for The X Factor Australia in 2012. Soon after going solo, his smooth R'n'B, reggae and hip hop sound found a legion of new fans, through his covers of popular tracks on YouTube. 'Whānau' was written after Singe (Ngāti Porou) returned home to Sydney from America, and found inspiration in his taha Māori (Māori identity). Musician Tawaroa Kawana helped Singe translate and record the song for Waiata Anthems in 2023. In this performance video, Singe delivers his ode to old friends on a pink-tinged set.
It’s just cool to hear myself and my voice in the language that my ancestors came from...I never expected or thought that I would do something like that, but to have done it, it makes me want to do it a lot more.– William Singe on performing in te reo Māori for the first time, Stuff, 3 May 2023
Made with funding from Te Māngai Pāho
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