From his polarizing 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 gutwrenching 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.