Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi (born 26 October 1993), known by his mononym Teeks, is a Māori soul singer from New Zealand. His debut album, ''

Something to Feel ''Something to Feel'' is the debut studio album by New Zealand soul musician Teeks. Released in three parts, first as the extended plays ''I'' and ''II'' in 2020, the album was released in full in March 2021. The album was a commercial success, ...

'', was released on 26 March 2021. The music video for his single, "Without You", was released on 19 August 2020. It was directed by Tom Gould and was shot in Hokianga during January 2020. Teeks has said, "It's my favourite place in the world", adding that this is the territory his father is from.

Life and career

Teeks was born in 1993 in Northland and has Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui whakapapa. He grew up in his father's home in

Opononi Opononi is a settlement on the south shore of Hokianga Harbour in Northland, New Zealand. State Highway 12 runs through Opononi. Ōmāpere is on the shore to the south of Opononi and Pakanae to the northeast. The New Zealand Ministry for Cultur ...

, near Hokianga from the age of eleven, but also spent significant time in Tauranga, where his mother lives. After high school he studied music and taught

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 ...

at Unitec. At the

2017 New Zealand Music Awards The 2017 New Zealand Music Awards was the 52nd holding of the annual ceremony featuring awards for musical recording artists based in or originating from New Zealand. It took place on 16 November 2017 at Spark Arena in Auckland and it was hosted ...

, Teeks won Best Māori Artist and was nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Best Soul/RnB Artist. He performed the New Zealand National anthem at the 1st rugby test match between New Zealand and South Africa on 15 July 2023, putting on quite an interesting spin thereon in the process.

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Singles

References

External links

* * 1993 births Living people 21st-century New Zealand male singers New Zealand Māori male singers People from the Hokianga Sony Music New Zealand artists Māori-language singers {{NewZealand-singer-stub