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Stan Walker

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Stan Walker
Born (1990-10-23) October 23, 1990 (age 36)
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
Occupation(s)Singer, actor, television personality
Years active2009–present
Known forWinner of Australian Idol (2009), judge on The X Factor NZ

Stan Walker (born 23 October 1990) is a singer, actor, and television figure with dual Australian and New Zealand heritage. He rose to prominence after winning the seventh installment of Australian Idol in 2009, subsequently signing a recording deal with Sony Music Australia. His first album, Introducing Stan Walker (2009), featured the popular track "Black Box" and entered the Australian ARIA Albums Chart at number three, later achieving platinum status. In New Zealand, the album peaked at number two on the Albums Chart and was awarded triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).

In 2010, Walker followed up with his sophomore release From the Inside Out, which included the singles "Unbroken" and "Choose You". This album reached the top position on the New Zealand Albums Chart and climbed to number two on the ARIA Albums Chart. His third studio effort, Let the Music Play (2011), debuted at number 18 in Australia and number 12 in New Zealand, featuring the single "Loud". Over his career, Walker has secured five New Zealand Music Awards victories and garnered five nominations at the ARIA.

Walker took on a judging role during the initial two seasons of The X Factor NZ in 2013 and 2015. He made his film acting debut in the New Zealand production Mt Zion (2013) and later appeared in Born to Dance (2015). His sixth studio album, Te Arohanui, released on 17 September 2021, marks his first project recorded entirely in te reo Māori.

Early life (1990–2009)

Born to Ross and April Walker, Stan Walker is related to notable figures including his uncle Tāme Iti, a Tūhoe artist and activist, and his grand-aunt Whirimako Black, a singer. Of Māori ancestry, he descends from Tūhoe, Ngāi Te Rangi, and Ngāti Porou iwi. Raised on a marae located in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, he attended Fairfield Intermediate School, Hamilton Boys' High School, and later boarded at New Plymouth Boys' High School.

Walker has compared his upbringing to themes portrayed in the 1994 film Once Were Warriors, which depicts an urban Māori family's struggles with poverty, substance abuse, and domestic violence. His father faced multiple incarcerations for domestic violence offenses, factors that contributed to Walker's early challenges with marijuana use and theft. Additionally, he endured sexual abuse by a relative over a nine-month period. Both parents were involved in drug dealing and served prison sentences related to drug charges.

At age 15, after hearing a testimony from someone with a similar background, Walker turned towards church life and credits both music and faith for helping him redirect his life. Following several violent incidents within his family, they relocated back to Australia, settling in Coolangatta, Queensland. In 2009, Walker suffered the loss of a daughter through miscarriage; he had intended to name her Ataahua ("beautiful") and now bears her name as a tattoo on his neck. Prior to auditioning for Australian Idol, he was employed as an assistant in a menswear store in Coolangatta.

Walker acknowledges that relocating to Australia was instrumental in launching his career in entertainment.

2009: Australian Idol and Introducing Stan Walker

In 2009, Walker auditioned for the seventh season of Australian Idol in Brisbane, delivering a rendition of John Legend's "Ordinary People".[1] The judges responded positively, with Kyle Sandilands notably recommending him to friends. Progressing through the theatre rounds, Walker reached the top twenty-four semi-finals and was among the initial two contestants voted into the final top twelve.[2]

Throughout the competition, Walker consistently received acclaim for his vocal talent and daring song selections, including a memorable performance of Prince's "Purple Rain" that garnered a standing ovation.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The grand finale occurred on 22 November 2009 at the Sydney Opera House, where Walker was declared the winner, marking him as the first individual of New Zealand heritage to claim the Australian Idol title.[3][4]

Following his victory, Walker secured a contract with Sony Music Australia and was awarded a $200,000 artist development fund.[3] He also founded Stan Walker Music Pty Ltd, managed by his mother April, to handle contract dealings and safeguard his financial interests.[5]

Walker’s first single, "Black Box," was digitally released on 22 November 2009. It climbed to number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and earned double platinum certification in Australia for sales totaling 140,000 units.[6][7] The track also topped the charts in New Zealand, achieving double platinum status for 30,000 copies sold.[8][9]

His debut album, Introducing Stan Walker, launched on 8 December 2009—three days ahead of schedule—comprised songs performed during Australian Idol alongside original tracks like "Black Box" and "Think of Me," produced by Guy Sebastian, the inaugural Australian Idol winner.[10][11] The album entered the ARIA Albums Chart at number three with platinum certification,[6][12] and reached number two on the New Zealand Albums Chart, where it attained triple platinum status for 45,000 sales.[8][13]

2010–2012: From the Inside Out and Let the Music Play

In April 2010, Walker took on an ambassador role supporting Compassion Australia's relief initiatives following the Haiti earthquake. His sophomore album, From the Inside Out, released on 20 August 2010, debuted at number two on the ARIA Albums Chart and secured the number one spot in New Zealand—his first chart-topping album there. The album received platinum certification from RIANZ. Its lead single "Unbroken" reached number nine in New Zealand and number 23 in Australia, both earning gold certifications. The follow-up single "Choose You", released on 20 July 2010, peaked at number three in New Zealand and number 16 in Australia, gaining platinum status in both countries. The third single "Homesick", featuring rapper Kayo, peaked at number 21 in New Zealand with gold certification but did not chart in Australia. Additionally, in June 2010, Walker collaborated with New Zealand rapper Young Sid on the single "Stuck in a Box".

In November 2010, Walker joined the Summerbeatz tour across Australia alongside artists such as Flo Rida, Jay Sean, and Akon. He also appeared at the Parachute music festival in January 2011 and embarked on his first headlining tour throughout New Zealand in February 2011.

Walker’s third studio album, Let the Music Play, was released on 18 November 2011. It debuted at number 18 on the ARIA Albums Chart and number 12 in New Zealand. The lead single "Loud", released on 2 May 2011, peaked at number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart (platinum) and reached number eight in New Zealand (gold). The second single "Light It Up", featuring Static Revenger, attained number 23 in New Zealand and number 45 on ARIA charts. In October 2011, Walker featured on Jessica Mauboy's single "Galaxy", which peaked at number 13 on ARIA charts. To promote this track, both artists toured Australia during their Galaxy Tour from January to February 2012.

The third single from Let the Music Play, "Music Won't Break Your Heart", was released in March 2012 and peaked at number 25 in Australia and number 32 in New Zealand. In May of that year, Walker supported Nicki Minaj during her Pink Friday Tour’s Australian leg.

2013–2016: Judging The X Factor, Acting Debut, Inventing Myself and Truth & Soul

On 6 November 2012, Walker was confirmed as a judge for the first season of New Zealand's The X Factor in 2013. He made his acting debut by starring as Turei, a young Māori musician striving to open for Bob Marley's 1979 Auckland concert, in the New Zealand film Mt Zion. Walker noted that the script's personal significance influenced his decision to participate. The film premiered on 6 February 2013. For the soundtrack, he recorded "Take It Easy," which was released as a single in December 2012 and later featured on his greatest hits compilation, The Complete Collection.

In October 2013, Walker served as the opening act for Beyoncé's The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour during its stops in Auckland, Perth, and Sydney, stepping in after Iggy Azalea withdrew. His fourth studio album, titled Inventing Myself, was launched on 25 October 2013. By August 2014, Walker collaborated with other New Zealand artists on the charity track "Song for Everyone". His fifth studio album, Truth & Soul, consisting of soul cover songs, was released in Australia on 17 April 2015.

Walker returned as a judge on The X Factor NZ in 2015 alongside Melanie Blatt, Natalia Kills, and Willy Moon. Following the dismissal of Kills and Moon due to inappropriate remarks, Natalie Bassingthwaite and Shelton Woolwright joined the panel. Walker's contestant Nyssa Collins finished as runner-up.

In the same year, Walker appeared with rugby star Israel Dagg and actor Rip Torn in an Air New Zealand safety video inspired by Men In Black.

2017–2019: Battle with Stomach Cancer, Stan & Faith Hope Love

Early in 2018, fans expressed concern over Walker’s health after seeing emaciated images he shared online. It was disclosed that he had undergone surgery to remove his stomach in September 2017 after discovering he carried the rare CDH1 gene mutation linked to over twenty-five family fatalities due to cancer. Walker described this experience as a transformative journey and expressed deep appreciation for surviving it. A documentary entitled Stan debuted in March 2018.

On 26 March 2018, Walker released a self-titled six-track EP featuring songs written throughout the past decade during difficult periods. Later that year, on 7 December, he dropped the single "Gimme Your Love" accompanied by a video chronicling his national tour of 2018.

In May 2019, Walker unveiled the EP Faith Hope Love, which he dedicated to those affected by the Christchurch mosque shootings.

2020–present: Autobiography Impossible: My Story, Te Arohanui & All In

Beginning in February 2020, Walker started releasing new singles weekly, starting with "Mexico". In October of that year, he published his autobiography titled Impossible: My Story, which was released alongside a compilation album that reached number 22 on New Zealand’s music charts.

In November 2020, David Hartnell MNZM recognized Walker among the best dressed men in entertainment.

August 2021 marked the release of "Don't Worry Baby", featuring Celina Sharma as the lead single from his seventh studio album All In. Walker described this album as deeply rooted in soul and R&B genres and said it explores themes such as love, heartbreak, racism, mental health struggles, and transformation over a four-year period.

On 7 September 2021, Walker announced his Māori language studio album Te Arohanui, which was officially released on 17 September.

His seventh studio album, All In, came out in August 2022. That November, he released a Christmas single titled "Favourite Part About Christmas".

In November 2023, Walker debuted "I Am", a track from the soundtrack of the film Origin. On 22 February 2024, he premiered "Māori ki te Ao", performed entirely in te reo Māori.

Musical style and influences

Walker identifies Beyoncé as a major source of inspiration, remarking, "She is the musical reason behind my artistry." As noted by Jason Birchmeier from Allmusic, Walker's sound is a fusion of pop music and R&B. His sophomore album, From the Inside Out, features a mix of pop, R&B, and hip hop, while also integrating aspects of electro, glam metal, pop-rap, and funk. The third release, Let the Music Play, shifts more towards pop and dance genres, which Walker describes as his most intimate project: "These songs tell my stories; they are my melodies, my words, my essence."

Discography

Tours

As headliner

Supporting performances

Filmography

Television and film appearances
Year Title Role Additional details
2013–2015 The X Factor New Zealand Himself Judge and mentor on television
2013 Mt Zion Turei
2015 Born to Dance Benjy
2016 Hunt for the Wilderpeople Ron
2017 The Stolen Matai
2018 Chasing Comets Rhys Stewart
2024 Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Leo (voice) Appears in two episodes
TBA The Circus Heist — Upcoming film

Awards and nominations

- Aotearoa Music Awards - "Best Māori Artist" | "Template:Nom" | - Aotearoa Music Awards - "Te Manu Mātārae" | "Template:Won" | rowspan="7" | - "Single of the Year – I AM" | "Template:Nom" | - "Album of the Year – All In" | "Template:Nom" | - "Best Solo Artist" | "Template:Nom" | - "People's Choice Award" | "Template:Nom" | - "Best Māori Artist" | "Template:Nom" | - "Mana Reo" | "Template:Nom" | - Aotearoa Music Awards - "Best Māori Artist" | "Template:Won" | rowspan="6" | - "Mana Reo" | "Template:Won" | - "Single of the Year – Māori Ki Te Ao" | "Template:Nom" | - "Best Solo Artist" | "Template:Nom" | - "People's Choice Award" | "Template:Nom" | - "Best Soul/R&B Artist" | "Template:Nom" |
Year Category Award title Outcome Notes
2010 Waiata Māori Awards Radio Airplay Record of the Year Template:Won
Nickelodeon Australian Kids Choice Awards Fresh Aussie Musos Template:Nom
2010 New Zealand Music Awards Vodafone Peoples' Choice Award Template:Won
Highest Selling New Zealand Single – "Black Box" Template:Won
Radio Airplay Record of the Year – "Black Box" Template:Won
International Achievement Award Template:Won
ARIA Music Awards Most Popular Australian Album – Introducing... Stan Walker Template:Nom
Most Popular Australian Single – "Black Box" Template:Nom
Most Popular Australian Artist Template:Nom
2011 Nickelodeon Australian Kids Choice Awards Favorite Song – "Loud" Template:Nom
2011 New Zealand Music Awards Best Male Solo Artist for From the Inside Out Template:Nom
Vodafone Peoples' Choice Award Template:Nom
Radio Airplay Record of the Year – "Choose You" Template:Won
ARIA Music Awards Most Popular Australian Artist Template:Nom
"Channel V Australia" Awards "Oz Artist of the Year" "Template:Nom"
"Single of the Year – Galaxy" (featuring Jessica Mauboy) "Template:Nom"
"Australian Male Artist" "Template:Nom"
"Deadly Awards" "Single of the Year – Galaxy" (with Jessica Mauboy) "Template:Won"
"ARIA Music Awards" "Song of the Year – Galaxy" (with Jessica Mauboy) "Template:Nom"
"Channel V Awards" "Oz Artist of the Year" "Template:Nom"
"Vodafone Peoples' Choice Award" "Template:Nom"
"Radio Airplay Record of the Year – Light It Up" "Template:Nom"
"Favorite Australian Male Artist" "Template:Nom"
"Poprepublic.tv Awards" "Favorite Australian Male Artist" "Template:Nom"
"People's Choice Award" "Template:Nom"
"Radio Airplay Record of the Year – Take It Easy" "Template:Won"
"Highest Selling Single – Take It Easy" "Template:Nom"
"Single of the Year – Take It Easy" "Template:Nom"
"World's Best Song (The Complete Collection)" "Template:Nom"
"World's Best Video (The Complete Collection)" "Template:Nom"
"Best Male Solo Artist" "Template:Nom"
"Radio Airplay Record of the Year – Bulletproof" "Template:Won"
"Best Pop Artist" "Template:Nom"
"People's Choice Award" "Template:Nom"
"Best Male Artist" "Template:Nom"
"Best Māori Artist" "Template:Nom"
"Best Soul/R&B Artist" "Template:Nom"


External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named allmusic
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ausidoltop122
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named smhartcle
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named truesurvivor
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named dailytelgphintrvw
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ausdiscography
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2010ariacerts
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nzdiscography
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nzsinglescert
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named hsartcle
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named heraldsun
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2009 ARIA certs
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nzalbumscert
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