Neil Gudsell
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Mika X (born Terrance John Pou on 8 February 1962, later renamed Neil Gudsell, also known as Mika and as Mika Haka) is a New Zealand
Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...
singer, performance artist, actor, filmmaker, TV producer and comedian. He has toured across the world performing his cabaret stage shows and music, including performing ten times at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...
. He has also acted in TV shows and movies including
Shark in the Park ''Shark in the Park'' is a New Zealand police procedural. It revolved around the professional and private lives of a group of officers at a Wellington police station under the command of Inspector Brian "Sharky" Finn. The title came from the in ...
, The Piano, and
Shortland Street ''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital, first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992. It is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously ...
. Mika has released five music albums including ''Do U Like What U See'', ''Mika Haka'' and ''Mika Versus Fashion''.


Name

Mika X was named Terrance John Pou at birth, but was adopted to a family who changed his name to Neil Gudsell. In 1988, Musician
Dalvanius Prime Maui Dalvanius Prime (16 January 1948 – 3 October 2002) was a New Zealand entertainer and songwriter. His career spanned 30 years. He mentored many of New Zealand's Māori performers, and was a vocal and forthright supporter of Māori culture. ...
told him to change his name to the non-binary name Mika. He has since gone by Mika, Mika Haka or Mika X, and currently goes by Mika X.


Early life

Mika X was born on 8 February 1962 in Timaru, New Zealand to Elizabeth Halkett and was adopted at birth by New Zealand European couple Dawn and Bill Gudsell. He came out as gay at age 12. While attending Timaru Boys High School, he played rugby and competed in athletics, including at the national athletics championship. In 1988 Mika placed eighth in the Inaugural Suzuki World Cup aerobic championships. After high school, Mika became a hairdresser in the small suburb of
Spreydon Spreydon is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, south-south-west of Cathedral Square. The most central street through Spreydon is Barrington Street. Spreydon is flanked by the suburbs Hoon Hay, Sydenham, and Lower Cashmere. State Highway ...
, Christchurch; however, after winning New Zealand Flash Dance Championships he quit his job and opened up his own dance studio, Miyake Dance Studio at Peterborough Arts Centre. In 1982, Mika moved to Los Angeles with his African American Navy boyfriend for nine months before eventually returning to New Zealand. Mika moved to Christchurch in 1984 and attended New Zealand School of Dance in 1985, but left the school nine months later.


Performance career


Early stage and television work

In 1985 Mika joined Te Ohu Whakaari, a Wellington Maori theatre company which toured nationally and internationally. The next year, Mika left Te Ohu Whakaari and moved to Dunedin to work on a Te Maori exhibition. He performed his one-man show ''Mahi Whakangahau'' in 1988. During the show Mika performed New Zealand songs, including "I Have Loved Me A Man" by
Allison Durbin Allison Ann Giles, who performed as Allison Ann Durbin (born 24 May 1950), is a former New Zealand Australian singer, known for her success in the late 1960s and 1970s as the " Queen of Pop". Durbin's visual trademark at that time was her lustro ...
. The single was released by Warner Music with a music video promoting safe sex. In 1989 he played Constable Ra in the TV drama
Shark in the Park ''Shark in the Park'' is a New Zealand police procedural. It revolved around the professional and private lives of a group of officers at a Wellington police station under the command of Inspector Brian "Sharky" Finn. The title came from the in ...
and also the young
Carmen Rupe Carmen Rupe (10 October 1936 – 14 December 2011), was a New Zealand drag performer, brothel keeper, anti-discrimination activist, would-be politician and HIV/AIDS activist. Carmen Rupe was New Zealand's first drag queen to reach celebrity st ...
in the TV biopic ''Carmen''. His solo show ''Neil Gudsell Uncooked'' produced by Merata Mita was performed at the 1990
Adelaide Fringe The Adelaide Fringe, formerly Adelaide Fringe Festival, is the world's second-largest annual arts festival (after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe), held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Between mid-February and mid-March each year, i ...
.


Stage shows I Loved me a Man, Lava Lover and Pearl Harbour 1990–1994

file:Carmen Rupe and Mikahaka.jpg, Mika Haka ''(right)'' in 1994 with
Carmen Rupe Carmen Rupe (10 October 1936 – 14 December 2011), was a New Zealand drag performer, brothel keeper, anti-discrimination activist, would-be politician and HIV/AIDS activist. Carmen Rupe was New Zealand's first drag queen to reach celebrity st ...
''(left)'' In 1990, the single I have loved me a man was officially released which reached 46th on the New Zealand music singles charts. The song was produced by
Dalvanius Prime Maui Dalvanius Prime (16 January 1948 – 3 October 2002) was a New Zealand entertainer and songwriter. His career spanned 30 years. He mentored many of New Zealand's Māori performers, and was a vocal and forthright supporter of Māori culture. ...
, the producer to
Poi E "Poi E" is a New Zealand 1984 number-one hit song by the group Pātea Māori Club off the album of the same name. Released in 1984, the song was sung entirely in the Māori language and featured a blend of Māori cultural practices in the song a ...
. In 1991, Mika released his first song, "Juiced", with producer
Alan Jansson OMC, or Otara Millionaires Club, were a New Zealand music group, then duo, with vocalist Pauly Fuemana later becoming the sole member. OMC was best known for the 1995 hit " How Bizarre", named one of the greatest New Zealand songs of all time b ...
. He toured a show called ''Juiced World Tour'' in 1991 and 1992. Mika played the minor role of
takatāpui ''Takatāpui'' (also spelled ''takataapui'') is a Te Reo Māori (Māori language) term, which is used in a similar way to LGBTQI+. ''Takatāpui'' can also refer to an individual who is SOGIE diverse. When speaking te reo Māori, LGBTQI+ people o ...
man Tahu in the 1993 film The Piano. Mika performed at the 1992 Hero Party at Princes Wharf in Auckland singing his original song "Lava Lover". The performance, which began with a karanga with Mika on top of the stage, included over 300 performers: drag queens, Pacific Island dancers, lesbian
taiaha A taiaha () is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand; a close-quarters staff weapon made from either wood or whalebone, and used for short, sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with efficient footwork on the part of the wielder. Taiaha a ...
, and men in semen costumes. His backdrop was Keith Haring-inspired art with yellow squares with symbols of condoms and safe sex messaging. He ended his performance with a gay haka that he created called "Tenei Toku Ure". In the following two years Mika put on four shows. Despite some setbacks when an agent stole money from him, he was the warm up act for
Grace Jones Grace Beverly Jones (born 19 May 1948) is a model, singer and actress. Born in Jamaica, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York, when she was a teenager. Jones began her modelling career in New York state, then in Paris, working for ...
at
Roxy NYC Roxy first opened in Dec. 1979 by Steven Bauman, Steven Greenberg and Richard Newhouse. Steve Haenel was the owner 1982-1985 The Roxy (sometimes Roxy NYC) was a popular nightclub located at 515 West 18th Street in New York City. Located in the ...
.


Black Carnival, Do U like what U see? and Edinburgh 1995–1999

Mika was a model for photographer
Christine Webster Christine Webster (born 1958) is a New Zealand visual artist and photographer. Background Webster was born in 1958 in Pukekohe, Auckland. She currently lives in the United Kingdom. Webster has a Diploma in Photography from Massey Universit ...
's photograph Mika: Kai Tahu. In 1996, Mika released his first debut album titled ''Do U Like What U See''. A music video was released for the title track. Mika performed at the 1997
Edinburgh Fringe Festival The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts and media festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 dif ...
. He was cast in the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Timaru Theatre in October 1997. In 1998, Mika collaborated with composer
Gareth Farr Gareth Vincent Farr (born 29 February 1968) is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and Royal New Zealand Ball ...
and Mark James Hamilton on the show Ahi Ataahua. The show was first performed at Danspaleis in Wellington and then later at the 1998 Edinburgh festival. Mika collaborated with Mark James Hamilton on multiple projects over six years including The Angel Tour, Tribal Hollywood, Mika Haka, Rawaka and on TV with Mika Live and Te Mika Show. On 1 November 1998, Mika performed on the Stonewall Equality Show 1998 at the Royal Albert Hall, and then toured internationally.


Mika Haka, Torotoro, Te Plastic Māori and return to TV 2000–2009

In 2000 Mika created a dance company, Torotoro, with Mark Hamilton and 10 young Māori and Pacific Island performers. They were the subject of a documentary, ''Mika Haka Kids''. They performed several times at the Edinburgh Festival. Mika's second album, ''Mika Haka'', was released in 2001. Torotoro dancers featured in music videos for the songs "Ahi Atāahua" and "Wera Wera". In 2004, Mika starred in his own TV variety show on Maori Television, ''Mika Live'' which first aired on 28 March. It was renamed ''Te Mika Show'' in 2006. In 2005 Mika performed with a metal band Te Plastic Māori, including at the
Montreal Fringe Festival The St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival is a festival that hosts fringe theatre, repertory, dance, music, and drag-queen performances in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The festival is held annually and lasts for 20 days in June. The festival was prev ...
in 2005. Their song Poti was nominated at the APRA MAIOHA awards in 2007.


Aotea Centre, Mika Versus Fashion, Rugby World Cup, Salon Mika 2010–2013

In March 2010, alongside the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Mika performed at the ASB Theatre at
Aotea Centre The Aotea Centre is a performing arts and events centre in Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the western edge of Aotea Square, off Queen Street, the centre provides a cultural, entertainment and conventions venue space in the heart of the city ...
to open the Aroha Festival. The show was a gala-like event that featured performances that were in the festival and Mika performing his greatest hits including "Lava Lover" and "Do U Like What U See". Later in that year, Mika released his third album, ''Mika Versus Fashion''. The album featured seven songs performed in Māori, English, Spanish and French, instrumentals of those songs, and a cover of "
La Vie en rose "La Vie en rose" (; ) is the signature song of popular French singer Édith Piaf, written in 1945, popularized in 1946, and released as a single in 1947. The song became very popular in the US in 1950, when seven versions reached the ''Billboard ...
". The album can be described as techno-dance and electronica. On 23 September 2011, Mika put together the largest show of his career called
Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras Mika's Aroha Mardi Gras was a 2011 concert show by Mika Haka. It was staged in Takutai Square, Auckland CBD, New Zealand on September 23 with two shows on the same day. The show was part of the New Zealand series of entertainment events that was p ...
. As part of the 2011 Rugby World Cup that happened in New Zealand, Mika put on a free outdoor concert at the Takutai Square, Britomart, in downtown Auckland. The show had over 760 performers and it took months of rehearsals before the event took place. The show played twice on the same day with the first show going from 6 pm to 7:30 pm and second show from 8 pm to 10 pm, with thousands of people attending both times. The second show was prerecorded and broadcast on Māori TV on 14 October 2011. The event happened at the same time as Ireland v Russia and Argentina vs Scotland in the Rugby World Cup. The event featured
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as the storyteller and MC for the evening, and Mika performing his well known singles, "In the morning" (feat Keisha Castle-Hughes), Lava Lover RWC version (feat Edward Ru), "Wera Wera" (feat Erakah), Taniwha (feat Te Tai Tonga), Caged Animals (feat Kiri Nathan), Friend (feat everyone), and "Get It On" a remix of an earlier song called Spoof. In 2012, Mika assumed the role as Chair person for the non-profit organisation, "Ngā Aho Whakaari". Ngā Aho Whakaari is a not-for-profit Incorporated Society that represents Māori who work in the New Zealand screen industry. Mika ended his role in 2013. In 2013,
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
had its own Fringe Festival. Mika did a season of cabaret shows with a live band and special guest including Megan Alatini at one of Auckland's busiest nightclubs "Switch Bar". The show was called "Salon Mika". Mika went on to perform eight shows during the festival, to a sell-out crowd. With the success of Salon Mika, he decided to take the cabaret show on tour across the world.


Dress to Express, Coffee, Loved Me a Man 2014–2016

On
Waitangi Day Waitangi Day ( mi, Te Rā o Waitangi), the national day of New Zealand, marks the anniversary of the initial signing – on 6 February 1840 – of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is regarded as the founding document of the nation. The first Wait ...
2014, Mika put together a small variety show at one of Auckland's nightclubs. At the end of the event, Mika performed his new single "Dress to Express" featuring Zakk d'Larté and Hannah Martin. The single produced a music video with all three dancing and singing the song with special effects. The single reached the top 40s on the iTunes New Zealand Charts. The success of the song led to releasing another single later in the year. This time releasing the remixed version of "Coffee" Featuring Lavina Williams. The single also produced a music video that featured well known LGBT members of the community. On 1 May 2016, Mika put on a one-day festival similar to the 2011 Mika Aroha Mardi Gras closing down Karangahape Road to perform on the street. The event was called "Mika Aroha Mardi Gras The Red Light District". The event lasted for over seven hours with people flooding the street to attend the event. The event featured
Mr Gay World 2013 Mr Gay World 2013, the 5th Mr Gay World competition, was held over 5 days in Antwerp, Belgium during the worldOutgames 2013, with the Grand Finale at Elckerlijc Theatre, Antwerp, Belgium on August 4, 2013. Andreas Derleth of New Zealand crowned ...
and New Zealand's Got Talent semi finalist Christopher Olwage, Queens Of Panguru (
Ramon Te Wake Ramon Te Wake (born 25 March 1976) is a New Zealand trans woman documentarian, singer-songwriter and television presenter. Her first presenting job was for Māori Television, where she was one of three people fronting '' Takatāpui'', which is Maor ...
,
Jay Tewake Jay Tewake (born 25 February 1990 Papatoetoe Papatoetoe is a suburb in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest suburb in Auckland by population and is located to the northwest of Manukau Central, and 18 kilometres southeast of Auckland CBD. ...
and Maihi Makiha), a music performance from Mika himself and many more performances. At the festival, some of Queens of Panguru TV series was filmed for the first episode. On 9 July 2016, New Zealand celebrated the 30 year anniversary of Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986. An event was held at the Skycity Convention Centre called the Rainbow Gala, to celebrate the anniversary. Mika Haka opened the event with a branded new song, a remixed version of "Loved Me a Man" featuring Lavina Williams. The music video of the song was released in October 2016. The video showed some of Mika's past performances in music, video and art. It shows Mika singing in a night club in an intimate setting and seeing Mika as a gay Maori Jesus-like character.


Queens of Panguru, Swimming with Sharks, Salon Mika Live 2017–2019

Throughout 2016 and 2017, the filming and editing of Queens of Panguru was in production. Mika was the creator, creative designer and executive producer of the TV series. Some of Mika's music also featured in the TV series. The show was televised weekly on Māori Television, with the premiere on 22 March 2017. In February 2017, Mika released his fourth album, ''Swimming with Sharks''. The album featured dance and electronic versions of his original music including "Swimming with Sharks", "Taniwha" and "In the Morning" which featured Keisha Castle-Hughes. Mika also featured in Costa Kerdemelidis' song "Tango on a Tightrope" from Kermelidis' 2017 album ''The Big Shake''. In October 2017, Mika put together a charity concert to raise money and supplies for the Auckland City Mission to give to the homeless in Auckland City. In August 2018, Mika released a Live Album from his Salon Mika caberate show that he performed at the Edinburgh fringe festival. In June 2019, Mika returned to his hometown of Timaru and accepted 2018 Teschemaker Cup for his contribution to demonstrating outstanding achievement in his chosen field of performing arts at his high school, Timaru Boys' High School. On 10 September 2019, it was announced that Mika was cast as Ngati Haua entertainer for "Natives Go Wild" show at the Sydney Opera House. He will perform in seven shows between 22 and 27 October.


Aroha Collective and rereleased music

On 10 April 2020, Mika released his fifth album "The Aroha Collective". The album was originally scheduled to be released on New Zealand's version of
Anti-Bullying Day Anti-Bullying Day (or Pink Shirt Day) is an annual event, held in Canada and other parts of the world, where people wear a pink-coloured shirt to stand against bullying. The initiative was started in Canada, where it is held on the last Wednes ...
, "Pink Shirt Day" on May 18, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Mika released the album early to give provide content during lockdown. The album was a collaboration album sung in Te Reo featuring artists including Lavina Williams, King Homeboy, Yorke and Te Amo. On July 13, Mika rereleased his album "Mika Haka" for Matariki and the 20th anniversary since the original release.


GURL

Mika directed, wrote, produced, and played the lead role in the short film GURL about the life of drag queen
Carmen Rupe Carmen Rupe (10 October 1936 – 14 December 2011), was a New Zealand drag performer, brothel keeper, anti-discrimination activist, would-be politician and HIV/AIDS activist. Carmen Rupe was New Zealand's first drag queen to reach celebrity st ...
. Production began in 2019 and the 20-minute film premiered at the 2020
New Zealand International Film Festival New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
as part of a collection of Māori and Pasifika short films. Mika played Carmen; the film also featured Jay Tewake,
Jackie Clarke Jacqueline Emma Clarke (born 1966) is a New Zealand entertainer, singer and comedian. She was a judge on ''New Zealand Idol'' in 2005. In 2016, she was named Top Female Artist by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand. In the 2018 Birthday ...
and Brady Peeti. Mika also wrote the album soundtrack to the movie which released on 24 July 2020.


Conviction for attempting to dissuade a witness

In April 2017, Mika X met with a sexual assault victim who wanted to get into the entertainment industry. Mika offered to pay the victim $15,000 to drop the charges against a businessman who had assaulted them in October 2016. Mika would also offer the victim work in the Gold Coast. In April 2018, Mika was charged for attempting to pervert the course of justice. He got temporary name suppression while on trial. The trial was originally scheduled in June 2020, but due to
Covid-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
it was postponed. In February 2021, Mika pleaded guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and on 30 March 2021, he was sentenced to 11 months of home detention. The businessman was found guilty for three counts of indecent assault and two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for two years and four months, however his name has not yet been revealed. In August 2021, he was granted bail while he challenged his conviction in the
Court of Appeal A court of appeals, also called a court of appeal, appellate court, appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In much of t ...
.


Politics

Mika stood for The Opportunities Party in Auckland Central at the
2017 New Zealand general election The 2017 New Zealand general election took place on Saturday 23 September 2017 to determine the membership of the 52nd New Zealand Parliament. The previous parliament was elected on 20 September 2014 and was officially dissolved on 22 August 20 ...
, and was ranked tenth on TOP's party list. He came fourth in the electorate, with 681 votes, and did not enter Parliament.


Discography


Singles

*I Have Loved Me a Man (1990) NZ Single charts #46 *Juiced (1991) *Lava Lover (1992) *Do U Like What U See? (1996) *My Angel (2000) *Ahi Ataahua (2001) *Werawera (2001) *Poti with Te Plastic Maori (2007) *The Closer I Get to You feat. Mirrah (2008) *Dress to Express feat. Zakk d'Larté and Hannah Martin (2014) *Coffee feat. Lavina Williams (2014) *Loved Me a Man feat. Lavina Williams (2016)


EPs

* Juiced (1992)


Albums

*Do U Like What U See (1996) *Mika Haka (2001, rereleased in 2020) *Mika Versus Fashion (2010) *The Aroha Collective (2020) *Gurl The Movie soundtrack (2020)


Remix album

*Swimming with Sharks (2017)


Live albums

*Kapai Kabaret (1996) *Salon Mika Live in Edinburgh (2018)


Other appearances


Notable performances and tours


Filmography


Awards


References


Further reading

* Mazer, Sharon. ''I Have Loved Me A Man The Life & Times Of Mika'', Creative Live Series, 2018 {{DEFAULTSORT:X, Mika Gay musicians New Zealand gay actors LGBT dancers LGBT musicians from New Zealand New Zealand Māori male singers People from Auckland People from Timaru Queer men The Opportunities Party politicians Unsuccessful candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election 20th-century LGBT people 21st-century LGBT people LGBT singers from New Zealand 20th-century New Zealand male singers 21st-century New Zealand male singers New Zealand dancers Non-binary artists Non-binary comedians