Wildly popular singer-songwriter William Singe has gone back to his roots with his new reo Māori song to be released later this month.
Singe, who was a member of boy band Collective, a group formed through X Factor Australia, has hit a high note with music fans online after posting his music on Facebook and YouTube.
His R&B, hip-hop, reggae and rap-inspired sound has garnered him 2.7 million YouTube subscribers and 3.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He has done two tours to various countries. But with his commercial success, Singe said he began to lose his sense of self.
It was during the time that he returned from Los Angeles to his hometown of Sydney where he reconnected with his tereo Māori to write his first single, Whānau, which will be released in te reo Māori as part of Waiata Anthems, on May 12.
Singe was able to learn and connect to his reo while working with fellow musician Tawaroa Kawana to translate his waiata. He said it was a special experience given the scarcity of te reo Māori in Sydney.
This year Waiata (songs) Anthems will release songs in phases coinciding with NZ Music Month (May), Matariki (July) and Waiata Anthems Week (September).
Singe’s single will be one of six waiata to drop this month, including music from MOHI, Chad Chambers, Nikau Grace and Corrella.
Credit: stuff.co.nz
