Auckland soul singer TEEKS boasts a velvety voice that he uses to create emotionally charged love songs. Born Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi in 1993, TEEKS grew up between his parents’ birth cities Hokianga and Tauranga surrounded by the storytelling songs and chants of New Zealand’s indigenous Maori people. This experience nurtured a fondness for singing and lyrical narratives. He perfected his vocal abilities by immersing himself in soul music and learning from genre greats such as Marvin Gaye, Adele, and Frank Ocean. TEEKS channeled each of them on his 2017 debut, The Grapefruit Skies EP, which showcased his rich voice over throwback soul cuts (“If Only”) and sparse ballads (“Wash over Me”). After winning Best Māori Artist at that year’s New Zealand Music Awards, he further established himself in his home country with his 2021 debut LP, Something To Feel, which featured romantic hits “First Time” and “Younger.”